by political editor Paul Francis

pfrancis@thekmgroup.co.uk

The Conservative election campaign in Kent received a small boost today when the United Kingdom Independence Party said it would not be fielding a candidate in a key target seat.

UKIP announced it would be urging its supporters in Rochester and Strood - formerly the Medway constituency - to back the Conservative candidate Mark Reckless instead.

The seat is marginal and a top Conservative target.

In a move that has been welcomed by Mr Reckless, UKIP said Robin Johnson, the candidate it had chosen would not now be fighting the seat because of Mr Reckless's well-documented Euro-scepticism.

In a statement, UKIP said: "Robin was due to represent this constituency but has stood down in order to put country before party. This is part of UKIP's unique strategy of standing down candidates in areas where there is another euro-sceptic candidate standing."

The decision was welcomed by Mr Reckless, who said that had it not been for UKIP standing in 2005, there was every chance he would have become an MP last time.

In 2005, UKIP polled 1,488 votes and Medway returned Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews, who scraped in with a majority of just 213 and had interrupted the count to declare wrongly that he had lost.

Mr Reckless said: "I welcome UKIP's decision. I am on record as saying I believe in trading with Europe but governing ourselves. If UKIP had not stood last time, I do believe that I would have become an MP five years ago."

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Lord Pearson, the new leader of UKIP, said tactical voting was appropriate. He is due to visit Kent today.

"I think voters will understand this. These are all seats where if we stand we are likely to make a difference."

UKIP will field candidates in all other Kent constituencies. It polled best in 2005 in Dover, where it secured more than 10,000 votes.

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