THE phoney election war is finally over and the real battle is underway. The general election will be held on Thursday, May 5, Tony Blair announced today.

In four weeks' time, voters in Kent will get the chance to deliver their verdict on the political parties and politicians.

As in 1997 and 2001, Kent promises to be a key electoral battleground when it comes to deciding who will hold the keys to 10 Downing Street after May 5. So what are the prospects for the parties in the county?

Kent MP and Tory leader Michael Howard has not disguised how disappointed he was at his party’s performance in Kent at the last general election.

The Conservatives are pushing hard to make amends. Their campaign to date has been slicker than it was in 2001 and Mr Howard, Folkestone and Hythe MP since 1983, has deliberately chosen the county for several high-profile policy announcements and speeches.

A slick campaign is one thing. Converting that into enough votes is another matter and all the polls continue to suggest the Conservatives remain some way off forming the next Government.

But they have grounds for cautious optimism in Kent. Winning back all eight Labour-held seats they lost in 1997 may be beyond them but in three constituencies - Gillingham, South Thanet and Dartford - they need a swing of less than four per cent and a further two - Sittingbourne and Sheppey and Medway, they need a swing of five per cent or less. Throw in the prospect of a low turnout and Labour could be in trouble in all of them.

Labour is keenly aware of the challenge it faces. It is not just its backbenchers who recognise the political pendulum may be starting to swing against them. Labour’s high command sees Kent as territory where a volatile “middle England” electorate could cost it precious seats.

Tony Blair has already made two pre-election visits to the county and more big hitters will be on the campaign trail in the next few weeks.

Labour’s biggest threat is the apathy factor and persuading their voters out will be key to their prospects.

As for the Liberal Democrats, it seems unlikely that 2005 will be the year that marks their parliamentary breakthrough in Kent. The party’s best chance lies in Folkestone and Hythe but it will be a tall order to oust the leader of the Conservative Party from the seat he has held since the 1980s.