One man has represented Gravesham in parliament for nearly 20 years, however, this could be set to change come this year’s general election.

Conservative Adam Holloway has been the area’s MP since 2005 but with Labour running ahead in the national polls, pollsters think he could be unseated by his socialist opponent Lauren Sullivan.

Historically, the constituency has voted for the Tories since it was created in 1983 with an eight-year blip from 1997 when Tony Blair’s Labour Party won in a landslide.

When the seat was last contested in 2019, the Conservatives won with an overwhelming majority with Holloway picking up 62.2% of the votes cast — Sullivan received just 29.4%.

According to the latest polls, the borough could be in for a shock shake-up as pollsters predict Labour is the favourite to win the seat this year.

They anticipate a big swing in favour of Sullivan with her pinching the majority of the votes with Holloway, who is standing again, losing some of his supporters.

Some argue it could reflect the vote of the local elections last year where the party won 22 out of the 39 seats up for grabs.

But the party representing the council has not always mirrored the party of the area’s MP.

During Holloway’s almost two-decade stint as MP, Gravesham has had a Labour council four times and has only been run by the Tories twice following victories in 2007 and 2015.

As with general elections, local issues are likely to take a step back with national concerns at the front of everyone’s minds, but some constituency-specific matters might make up people’s minds.

Issues such as a lack of affordable housing, the cost of living crisis continuing to hit more deprived areas, perceptions of crime, traffic concerns over major highway schemes such as the Lower Thames Crossing, and pressures on public services such as GPs and hospitals could sway voters.

Conservative Adam Holloway, Labour’s Lauren Sullivan and Liberal Democrats’ Ukonu Obasi are all re-standing alongside newcomers Rebecca Drake Hopkins for the Green Party and Reform UK’s Matthew Fraser Moat.

The candidates

The full list of candidates:

Rebecca Drake Hopkins, Green Party

Ukonu Obasi, Liberal Democrats

Lauren Sullivan, Labour

Matthew Fraser Moat, Reform UK

Adam Holloway, Conservative