In the grand scheme of things, Sittingbourne and Sheppey is a relatively new seat, having only been formed in 1997.

It has been dominated by the Conservatives for the last 14 years but that could be about to change if polls are to be believed.

The latest polling suggests Labour candidate Kevin McKenna could win by a landslide majority.

The area's two main populaces are the industrial towns of Sittingbourne and Sheerness, with other residential areas including Minster as well as Queenborough and Rushenden and Iwade.

There are also the rural areas of Hartlip, Newington, Borden, Eastchurch and Harty.

Altogether the electorate stands at some 75,000 – as per the 2021 census.

The seat includes some of the most deprived areas in the county, according to the government's latest deprivation report, and the average household income stands at £42,000 –below the South East average of £50,000.

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Whatever happens on July 4 there will be a change of sorts, as Tory Gordon Henderson, who has been the constituency’s MP for 14 years, is stepping away from politics.

The Sheppey resident most recently retained the seat in 2017 with a majority of more than 24,000, after wins in 2010 and 2015.

Mr Henderson has been replaced by Aisha Cuthbert who will be seeking to defy the polling.

Swale council elections in May last year have also signified a shift away from the Conservatives.

The Tories won 12 seats but a rainbow coalition of Labour – who won 14 – the Swale Independents – with 11 – and the Green Party – with 3 seats – took power.

Key issues for this election include healthcare with GP-to-patient ratios well below national averages – 0.53 GPs per 1,000 people in the borough compared to 0.75 across the country.

Such is the situation that the council is calling for government intervention over GP shortages in the borough.

Housing, like much of the county, is also a cause for concern for constituents not only in villages such as Newington, Minster and Borden but also in Sittingbourne town centre.

Across the borough of Swale there has been an 11.7% population increase between 2011 and 2021, although these stats include Faversham and its surrounding areas which are not part of the Sittingbourne and Sheppey seat.

This was well above the national average of 6.6% and shows how the urban centres have expanded.

People want to see more investment in roads – traffic chaos is not unusual – and health facilities before new homes are built.

Some of this infrastructure is on its way with the Grovehurst Junction Improvements and Stockbury Flyover works under way, although some fear this will just pave the way for more homes to be built.

But there are delays with a state-of-the-art GP practice in the heart of Sittingbourne.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey has been a bellwether – where voters back a candidate from the party that wins the greatest share of the overall vote – since 1997.

They backed Labour under Tony Blair, with Derek Wyatt winning consecutive elections.

His first victory was comfortable but in 2005 he managed to hang on to the seat by just 79 votes – and that was after a recount.

When the votes are counted at The Swallows leisure centre once the polling stations close on July 4, the winner will be hoping the bellwether trend continues.

The candidates

The full list of candidates:

Frances Kneller, Liberal Democrats

Kevin McKenna, Labour

Aisha Cuthbert, Conservative

Same Banks, Green Party

Mike Baldock, Swale Independents

William Fotheringham-Bray, Reform UK

Mad Mike Young, Monster Raving Loony Party

Matt Brown, Independent