Voters in Kent look likely to go to the polls in December after Labour said it was prepared back an election before Christmas.

MPs are now debating a government motion calling for an election on December 12 while the Liberal Democrats and SNP have proposed a poll three days earlier.

Leader Jeremy Corbyn said the party was now satisfied that there was no prospect of the UK leaving without a deal and as a result was now prepared to back a poll.

Speaking in the Commons, he said: "Whatever date the house decides the election will be, I’m ready for it, we’re ready for it.

"Because we want to be able to say to the people of this country there is an alternative to austerity. There is an alternative to inequality.

"There is an alternative to sweetheart trade deals with Donald Trump.

"There is an alternative of a government that invests in all parts of the country, a government that’s determined to end injustice in our society."

But he came under fire from the Prime Minister, who said it was time to "refresh this Parliament and give the people a choice" about the future of Brexit and the country.

"There is only one way now to move this country forward and that is to have this debate and get Brexit done.

"There is only one way to get Brexit done in the face of this unrelenting parliamentary obstruction.

"That is to refresh this Parliament and give the people a choice."

A potential flashpoint came in the pledge by Labour to extend the vote to 16-year-olds - with the Conservatives saying they were prepared to withdraw the Bill if the amendment was passed.

A vote yesterday to trigger a ballot under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act failed to reach the required support of two thirds of MPs - largely because Labour MPs abstained.

Vince Maple, Labour opposition leader on Medway council and chair of the party's South East Regional Board, said that if the December poll was voted for by MPs, Labour would face a "challenging environment."

He said: "It will be a challenging environment and even in the good years we have only ever held half of the seats in Kent. But I am confident that we will have good candidates in place."

But he acknowledged that the delays in selecting candidates for Kent seats had not been helpful, saying that he had written to the party's National Executive Committee to express concern over the length of time it had taken.

The party has only just selected its candidate for South Thanet, one of two target seats Labour has in its sights.

"It has taken us a lot longer than I would have wanted and the process has been too slow."

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