The man hoping to win back Gillingham for the Conservatives after 13 years was out pounding the streets long before Mr Brown drew the electoral battle lines.

Rehman Chishti, a Medway councillor, was doing what he has done at least weekly for three years - talking up Tory policies in the local shopping centres.

He had strong support in Gillingham from Francis Maude, the Shadow Chairman of the Cabinet that David Cameron hopes to form if he wins on May 6.

Mr Maude was on a whistlestop tour of north Kent constituencies.

He said he had admired Mr Chishti ever since they first met during the 2005 campaign when they were on opposite political sides.

"Rehman is like a lot of people: he supported Labour but has seen that we offer the country something better," said Mr Maude.

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