Labour party chiefs have played down reports that former PM Tony Blair could be heading to Kent as part of a drive to shore up the party's faltering campaign.

Mr Blair re-entered the campaign today with a visit to a clinic in north London and is understood to be heading north to try to give fresh impetus to Labour's efforts to cling on to marginal seats under threat from the Conservatives.

But party managers have downplayed national newspaper reports suggesting that Mr Blair could then be on his way to the south east - and possibly Kent - to boost Labour's campaign.

Mr Blair has not been seen on the campaign trail since making a speech in his former Sedgefield seat at the beginning of the month.

Labour is privately acknowledging that it is facing a major battle to defend its seven key marginals in Kent in the face of a resurgent Conservative party and the last few days of the campaign are critical.

As Prime Minister, Mr Blair was a frequent visitor to the county during three election campaigns, reflecting the importance the party placed on retaining its seats here.

With or without Tony Blair, the last week is expected to see a final flurry of visits from political VIPs from both parties, with speculation that John Prescott could be among them.

Foreign secretary David Miliband told the KMG today: "We are fighting every day to win and we know they are tight contests but we have outstanding candidates and they are fighting very good campaigns."

However, the Liberal Democrats are unlikely to see their campaign given a fillip by Nick Clegg. He will be focusing his final week in areas where the party has higher prospects of securing gains from the Conservatives in the south west and elsewhere.