Labour began to unveil its big guns today as it stepped up campaigning for the Rochester and Strood by-election.

Deputy leader Harriet Harman and shadow transport minister Mary Creagh were both in the area today, supporting candidate Naushabah Khan. There are also suggestions that leader Ed Miliband could visit by the end of the week.

It comes as the party dismissed claims that it had given up on the November 20 by-election, believing it to be a straight fight between Ukip's Mark Reckless and the Conservative candidate who will be announced on Thursday night.

Ms Creagh was asked why, with the the Prime Minister and Chancellor already visiting Rochester and Strood, the Labour party seemed to be slow off the mark. She said: "This by-election campaign started today and we can expect some high-profile politicians in the next few weeks."

Constituency chairman Derek Munton said: "As soon as the by-election was triggered our efforts were put into overdrive."

Ms Harman visited Kelly House sheltered housing development in Leander Road, Rochester, while Ms Creagh met Medway taxi drivers who are fighting proposed changes to the industry and the invasion of cabbies from other areas pinching their business.

Ms Creagh and Ms Khan listened to drivers' concerns over safety of passengers and Ms Creagh said she supported their campaign to amend the Law Commission' interim report on how the taxi trade across the UK works.

She also pledged that, should Labour be elected, it would curb the spiralling cost of train fares for Medway commuters. She said surveys had revealed that passengers in the south east had one of the poorest levels of satisfaction in the country and that fares had increased by more than £1,000 per person since the coalition got in.