Conservative plans to lift the ban on new grammar schools is not as strong as it was among Kent voters, according to an exclusive poll for the KM Group.

The policy pledge has proved controversial since Theresa May announced her commitment to allow a new generation of selective schools.

As the county with the largest number of grammar schools in the country, you might expect there to be solid support for the pledge.

An exclusive poll for the KM Group reveals that 62% of respondents saying they support the policy.

However, that is 13% down on a similar poll carried out in 2015. At the same time, opposition to selection through the 11-plus has appeared to harden, with 26% against compared to 10% in our survey in 2015.

Those over the age of 55 are most likely to support more grammars and in Kent, that support is greatest in Sevenoaks - where a new grammar annexe is to open - and Rochester and Strood.

Opposition to selection is probably attributable to the very public debate on the pros and cons of the eleven plus that has been sparked by the Conservative commitment.

It has argued that new grammars can help poorer brighter children get a good education and enhance social mobility.

More than 30 headteachers in the county wrote to the Prime Minister in December to denounce the policy.

They said selection eroded children’s confidence and the system should be scrapped.

They argued that there was no evidence to support the government’s claim that selection improves standards.

HOUSING

The number of voters who think the government should make housing a priority has risen slightly in our poll.

At the same time, the number of people who regard the protection of the countryside as important has dropped.

The findings illustrate the continuing tension over the two issues, with pressure to build on green field land growing as the economy grows and concerns about the lack of affordable homes.

Our poll reveals that 47% of voters agreed with the statement that building new houses should be a top priority for the government - a small rise on the 45% who agreed in a survey in 2015.

Support for new houses was particularly strong in Canterbury, Gravesham, North Thanet and Tunbridge Wells.

When it came to protecting the countryside, 55% agreed that it should be a top priority - compared to 61% in our survey two years ago.

THE POLL

Facts International conducted interviews with 1,000 residents between May 15 and May 22.

Quotas were set and weighting applied to ensure a nationally representative sample in terms of gender, age, socio-economic group and constituency. Weighting was based on data from the ONS. A 10 minute interview was administered with closed and open questions.