The Conservatives have criticised claims by Mark Reckless that he helped secure £26million to build Strood Academy and the new Rochester railway station, with their press team saying “neither claim is true.”

They drew on the words of Cllr Alan Jarrett, deputy leader of Medway Council, who said: “The funding for Strood Academy was allocated before Mark Reckless was first elected as an MP and he had no involvement in securing it.

"Instead, it was the work of the Conservatives in Medway Council’s cabinet working with officials who successfully lobbied for this investment.”

As for the Rochester station, council leader Cllr Rodney Chambers said: “My colleagues and I on Medway Council first began lobbying for investment in our train stations, including Rochester, over a decade ago and I can say that I am not aware of any involvement by Mark Reckless before or after his election to Parliament.”

Mr Reckless made the claims in one of his by-election campaign leaflets.

Responding to the Conservatives criticisms, Mr Reckless stood by what he had previously said.

He said funding for Strood Academy was first announced under the Labour party, but suspended under the coalition government in 2010.

“One of things I was involved with was securing funding,” he said.

“I remember Rose Collinson [Medway Council’s then director of children and adult services] expressing her gratitude.”

Mr Reckless also said he had lobbied hard to ensure Medway Council would not have to contribute to the new station.