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Kent's most memorable general election campaign moments

The celebrity visits. The scandals. The gaffes. The protests - both peaceful and otherwise. The run-up to the general election in Kent has been nothing if not eventful.

Here, we bring you the most memorable moments from the past few months as election fever grips the county.


THE CELEBRITIES

As well as a throng of high profile politicians, a whole host of celebrities from the worlds of music, television, comedy, film and fashion dropped by to support one party or another.

Last month, Queen guitarist Brian May popped into Bradfields Academy in Walderslade to support Conservative hopeful Tracey Crouch's campaign.

Rock legend Brian May forms a new band with Bradfields Academy pupils
Rock legend Brian May forms a new band with Bradfields Academy pupils

It followed a visit from Happy Mondays dancer Bez, who paid a visit to Ramsgate back in January.

He was there to launch his Reality Party's campaign in South Thanet, where pub landlord Nigel Askew is standing.

Bez and Nigel Askew
Bez and Nigel Askew

Also supporting Mr Askew was Dame Vivienne Westwood, who visited Ramsgate last week to endorse the party.

While there, the fashion designer officially opened a cafe funded by her son Joe Corré.

Dame Vivienne Westwood
Dame Vivienne Westwood

TV hardman Ross Kemp joined Thanet South's Labour candidate on the campaign trail last month.

Ross, who played Grant Mitchell in EastEnders before becoming a documentary maker, toured the area and met constituents with Will Scobie.

Ross Kemp in Broadstairs with Labour's Will Scobie
Ross Kemp in Broadstairs with Labour's Will Scobie

TV comic Harry Hill was the latest star to join the election battle in Kent when he campaigned in Sheerness on behalf of the Labour Party on Saturday.

Harry, who has a house in Whitstable, greeted shoppers in the High Street and happily posed for photos.

Harry Hill in Sheerness. Picture by @CorrieDTaylor
Harry Hill in Sheerness. Picture by @CorrieDTaylor

We can't mention celebs campaigning in Kent without looking back on Al Murray's bid to take the South Thanet seat for the Free United Kingdom Party.

From a hilariously unsuccessful attempt to parachute into the county to announcing his pledges on the back of a fag packet, the Pub Landlord has injected some much-needed humour into the proceedings.

Al Murray enjoying a sandwich...in Sandwich.
Al Murray enjoying a sandwich...in Sandwich.

THE SCANDALS

Ukip candidate Janice Atkinson was unceremoniously expelled from the party after one of her staff members allegedly plotted to make a bogus expenses claim.

Atkinson faced a disciplinary hearing in March and was replaced as prospective MP for Folkestone and Hythe by Labour defector Harriet Yeo.

Janice Atkinson
Janice Atkinson

Another Ukip politician who found herself in hot water was Thanet councillor Rozanne Duncan, who made "jaw-droppingly racist" comments on a BBC documentary.

Cllr Duncan, who was expelled after the remarks were revealed on the Meet the Ukippers programme about the party's activities in Thanet, now represents Cliftonville East as an Independent.

Former Ukip councillor Rozanne Duncan on the BBC2 documentary
Former Ukip councillor Rozanne Duncan on the BBC2 documentary

Just yesterday, Ukip was hit by an eve-of-election racism row when footage emerged of a candidate threatening to shoot his rival at a meeting in Kent.

Robert Blay, who was standing in North East Hampshire, was recorded in Ramsgate saying he would "put a bullet" between the eyes of Conservative Ranil Jayawardena if he became Prime Minister.

Robert Blay was filmed making the comments by Mirror journalist Lee Sorrell. Picture: Mirror.
Robert Blay was filmed making the comments by Mirror journalist Lee Sorrell. Picture: Mirror.

THE ANGRY PROTESTS

In an unusual move, South Thanet political rivals Will Scobie, for Labour, and Conservative Craig Mackinlay issued a joint statement against abuse from a far-right group.

Police investigated the incident last month, in which Labour activists canvassing in Broadstairs were allegedly threatened and intimidated.

Will Scobie is standing for Labour and Craig Mackinlay for the Tories in South Thanet
Will Scobie is standing for Labour and Craig Mackinlay for the Tories in South Thanet

Several campaign offices were also targeted by vandals, including Ukip's HQ in Mortimer Street, Herne Bay which was sprayed with swastikas and other graffiti.

Elsewhere, in Folkestone, opponents smashed the windows of the party's offices and added a Hitler-style moustache to a billboard in Blackbull Road.

The part cleared windows after the attack
The part cleared windows after the attack
Ukip leader Nigel Farage with the added moustache and quote from The Simpsons character Moe. Picture: Paul Amos
Ukip leader Nigel Farage with the added moustache and quote from The Simpsons character Moe. Picture: Paul Amos

The Hitler 'tache has been a common theme among election graffiti vandals.

They not only targeted Mr Farage, but also Conservative candidate for Folkestone and Hythe, Damian Collins, and Tory Sittingbourne and Sheppey hopeful Gordon Henderson.

The Damian Collins poster has been defaced in New Romney
The Damian Collins poster has been defaced in New Romney
A Hitler-style moustache was drawn on several of Gordon Henderson's campaign posters in the Sheppey and Sittingbourne area
A Hitler-style moustache was drawn on several of Gordon Henderson's campaign posters in the Sheppey and Sittingbourne area

THE 'ARTISTIC' PROTESTS

Others have been more creative, including the mystery person who defaced this Ukip billboard in Ramsgate.

The poster showed escalators going up from the beach to the top of the White Cliffs of Dover - but welcome mats were added as a protest against the party's immigration policy.

The poster in Ramsgate was 'defaced' with welcome mats
The poster in Ramsgate was 'defaced' with welcome mats

Over in Medway, drivers had to look twice at this poster of Rochester and Strood Conservative candidate Kelly Tolhurst on the B2000 towards Cliffe.

An unsettling image, Miss Tolhurst's face had been obscured by a photo of a grinning Nigel Farage.

Nigel Farage's face was plastered over Kelly Tolhurst's on this election poster near Wainscott
Nigel Farage's face was plastered over Kelly Tolhurst's on this election poster near Wainscott

THE GAFFES

It was a young dyslexic woman who spotted an embarrassing spelling error on a flyer produced by Conservative Damian Green.

The politician, who has represented more than 80,000 Ashford district residents since he was first elected in 1997, leafleted thousands of homes with the document spelling Tenterden as "Tenderden" in a prominent heading.

Tenderden? Shouldn't that be Tenterden!
Tenderden? Shouldn't that be Tenterden!

Ukip's Nigel Farage also suffered a leafleting nightmare when more than 100 addressed "Dear constituent" were delivered to homes outside the South Thanet constituency.

It prompted a flurry of comments on Twitter, with Neil Wiggins saying: "Just as the Pub Landlord is openly ignorant of the location of South Thanet, Nigel is not entirely sure either."

Nigel Farage South Thanet candidate leaflets delivered to homes in Betteshanger
Nigel Farage South Thanet candidate leaflets delivered to homes in Betteshanger

Chancellor George Osborne was also accused of a lack of knowledge about the key constituency, after he described Thanet as a "town".

He tweeted on Saturday: "We'll extend the Coastal Communities Fund to the end of the decade to benefit towns like Thanet, Hastings, Brighton and Hove #First100days"

What is your most memorable election moment? Let us know by commenting below.


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