Tory leader David Cameron came to the Kent Messenger offices in Maidstone to talk grammar schools, Operation Stack, and why Kent is so important to him.

It was part of an "away day" for the shadow cabinet on Tuesday, when the top Tories came to Kent for a private policy discussion at Maidstone's County Hall.

Mr Cameron and his colleagues also attended a series of carefully-staged public events in key marginal constituencies in the county.

Kent Messenger senior editor Bob Bounds and political editor Paul Francis found out how Mr Cameron intends to turn Kent blue for the first time since Margaret Thatcher's heyday.

~ Read the full, exclusive interview at kentmessenger.co.uk >>>