Rochester and Strood Ukip candidate Mark Reckless has been accused of using a prominent national Labour politician’s comments on his campaign literature without his permission.

In a flyer posted across the constituency, Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, is quoted as saying: “Mark is one of my closest friends in Parliament. You are lucky to have him.”

Mr Reckless also served on the cross-party committee and hosted a visit from Mr Vaz to Medway after the House broke up for the election in March.

Mr Vaz was invited to the Unit 1 Skate Park in Rochester, a charity which provides a safe, supervised environment for young people.

He also accompanied Mr Reckless to the Medway Towns Gurdwara Temple near Rochester Airport.

Mr Vaz’s quote continued: “Mark made an outstanding contribution to the work of the Home Affairs Select Committee. He made his arguments in a powerful and effective way.”

A Labour Party spokesman said: “Keith Vaz has said his comments were used without permission and he wants people to vote Labour on May 7.”

Mr Reckless said: "I was happy to welcome Keith Vaz to Rochester in his capacity at chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, during which he told the committee of the Medway Towns Gurdwara that they were lucky to have me as their MP as the Labour Party has now confirmed."

The first elected Member of Parliament for Ukip is visiting Chatham and Strood today.

Clacton MP Douglas Carswell will be taking a walk around the High Streets to meet people, before stopping for lunch at Strood McDonald's with mr Reckless.