Revitalising the town centre and helping transform it into one fit for the 2020s would be the number one priority for the man who wants to be the next MP for Tunbridge Wells.

Liberal Democrat Mike Martin says the area was looking tired and needed a makeover.

He also rejected suggestions the party was no longer regarding the seat as a potential target, saying its support was strengthening.

In an interview with the Kent Politics Podcast, the former soldier and author said he was optimistic about his prospects.

He said: “There are three things going on in Tunbridge Wells; the first is there has been a big demographic shift with about 1,000 people - mostly from London - moving down each year and very very few are voting Conservatives.

“And while this shift has been going on, Tunbridge Wells looks much more a family-oriented town and much less like the stereotype of the retired colonel and his red cords.

“While this has been happening, the Conservatives have become much more right-wing and much less confident.”

On revitalising the town, he said he would bring together the borough council, KCC and others to draw up a 10-year plan for the town centre.

On tactical voting, which some believe is necessary for the party to win, he said: “Our canvassing data shows that actually far from being a safe Tory seat, we are neck and neck with the Conservatives and Labour has actually decided that it is a non-battleground seat and have given up on it.”

While he welcomed support from Labour voters, he downplayed its importance, saying the outcome of the election would depend more on persuading some 7,500-odd Conservatives the Lib Dems had a credible and convincing political narrative.

A lot of people think the town centre is looking a bit tired and has not had the attention it needs.

“And really the big thing we need to decide is what it should be like in the 2020s. A lot of people have been trying to recreate it as it was in the 1980s but Amazon happened and a lot more people go online; so that is going to be my main focus.”

You can listen to the podcast at IM Listening, or download it from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and TuneIn – just search for Kent Politics Podcast.

New episodes are available each Friday.