Can a Labour kick-boxer save Cameron's skin in Rochester?

As PM walks a tightrope in this crucial by-election, his best hope might be a win for Labour over Ukip

Columnist Don Brind

You have to feel for Kelly Tolhurst, the Conservative candidate chosen to take on Ukip’s Mark Reckless in what Nigel Farage has called – possibly with good reason – “the most important by-election in British politics in over 30 years”.

The Conservatives made a big deal of holding an open primary so that the voters of Rochester and Strood could pick the Tory candidate themselves.

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is a former BBC lobby correspondent and Labour press officer who is watching the polls for The Week in the run-up to the 2015 election.