Labour let down the party in Kent at the general election, candidates vying to succeed Ed Miliband as leader have admitted.

The acknowledgement that the party could have done more in a campaign which saw it fail to win any seat in the county - including two targets - came at a hustings event in Medway on Wednesday.

More than 200 activists and members from across the county quizzed hopefuls for the job of leader and deputy leader during a three-hour meeting at Gillingham’s Mid Kent College.

Questions about how the party could address the challenge posed by Ukip and the tightening of rules on trade union ballots were among the issues raised.

Labour’s poor performance in Kent was described as outrageous by MP Alison McGovern, who was representing leadership contender Liz Kendall.

She said: “It is outrageous that we do not have an MP in Kent...it is terrible. We cannot form a government without them,” she told the audience.

There was also a concession that Labour had let down its candidate Naushabah Khan in the Rochester and Strood by-election.

“We did not do nearly enough to fight it. Liz Kendall understands the real challenge in areas like this,” said McGovern.

Andy Burnham, tipped by many to win, echoed: “We could have done more, we needed to do more in Kent.”

He said Labour had lost its way and had failed to set out a coherent set of policies, particularly on the economy.

“The party is directionless. I am going to bring it back and show what we stand for,” he said.

On the need to win back supporters who had switched to Ukip in Kent, candidates for the job of party deputy leader warned Labour should not fight on their territory.

“We should not try to out-Ukip Ukip. We must not adopt their language,” said Ben Bradshaw.

Caroline Flint said the party had to start listening to people to understand why they had backed Ukip.

“We have to start listening to people - we need policies that make people feel there is something in it for them,” she said.

There were last minute withdrawals by leadership candidate Yvette Cooper, while Jeremy Corbyn and Liz Kendall were absent because of a clash with other meetings.

Medway’s Labour’s former parliamentary candidates have shared their views on the leadership debate.

Tristan Osborne for Chatham and Naushabah Khan for Rochester and Strood are both backing Liz Kendall.

Former MP Paul Clark, who stood for Gillingham and Rainham in this year’s election, said: “I am supporting Yvette cooper – I know Yvette and her work and dedication from the days when she was a Minister in what was then the Department of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now CLG).

"I think she has the commitment needed in a leader and she would be the first elected female leader of the party. Yvette is approachable, a mum with a family and communication skills that I believe resonate with the wider communities such as those here in Medway.”

Meanwhile Medway Labour’s leader Vince Maple stayed firmly on the fence in the leadership debate. He said: “There is a long road to when voting closes and I am looking forward to attending many more hustings. All the candidates have great ideas and I think whoever is elected will have something positive to bring to the party."