by political editor Paul Francis

A clutch of politicians from Kent are among the most influential right-wingers in the country - and not all of them are Conservative.

A survey conducted by the Daily Telegraph has ranked what it says are the one hundred politicians who hold most sway in setting the right-wing agenda.

The list which was compiled by the well-known Kent-based political blogger Iain Dale, includes the former Conservative party leader and Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard, who is ranked at 86.

But the highest ranked politician is the maverick Conservative Kent MEP Daniel Hannan, who is at number ten - up 76 places from last year and ahead of many shadow ministers in his own party and three places above Margaret Thatcher.

Mr Hannan has made headlines recently with some trenchant views about the NHS and became an overnight "YouTube" sensation when a speech he made in the EU Parliament berating the Prime Minister Gordon Brown was watched by 2.5million people.

The survey says: "His ‘YouTube’ attack on Gordon Brown, ideas on constitutional reform and controversial comments on the NHS have ensured that he is the darling of the Tory Right."

There are also high-ranking places for the Ashford MP and shadow immigration minister Damian Green, who was embroiled in one of politics greatest controversies when he was arrested in connection with a Home Office leak inquiry last year.

He, too, has gone up in the survey and is ranked at 27th in the list. "Entirely vindicated by a Commons committee, he is destined for a major role in government," is the verdict on the MP who faced no charges.

There are places in the list for Tunbridge Wells MP and shadow environment secretary Greg Clark (33) and Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon (51).

And the outspoken UKIP MEP Nigel Farage, who is stepping down as leader to fight a by-election against John Bercow, is ranked 41st.

But in a possible sign of her diminishing political influence, there is no place in the top 100 for the straight-talking Maidstone and Weald MP Ann Widdecombe, who is standing down at the next election.