Tories 'committed' to South East, says Cleverly

Home Secretary said he had no doubt the prime minister would visit the region

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Conservative Party was "committed to the people of the South East" as he visited Strood in Kent.

He was responding to a question over why Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not yet visited the region during the general election campaign.

The Tories secured 51 out of 55 seats in Kent, Surrey and Sussex in 2019, but opposition parties are hoping to make gains this year.

Mr Cleverly told the BBC: "The prime minister will undoubtedly come to the region. I'm here as home secretary coming once again to Kent to support my colleagues."

He denied his party would tack to the right to counter a threat from Reform UK and its new leader, Nigel Farage.

He said Conservative policies were based on their "assessment of what is in the best interest of the British people".

It has come as the Conservatives vow to cap the number of migrant visas, reducing the number each year for five years, and to give MPs a vote on annual limits.

Mr Cleverly was joined by Rochester and Strood candidate Kelly Tolhurst

Mr Cleverly, who was joined by the Tory candidate for Rochester and Strood, Kelly Tolhurst, said: "Immigration levels have been too high, we've taken action to bring them down and we're committed to continue doing so."

The other candidates known to be running for the seat are Graham Colley for the Lib Dems, Daniel Dabin for Reform UK, Lauren Rae Edwards for Labour and Cat Jamieson for the Green Party.

After his visit to Strood, Mr Cleverly visited a Folkestone dessert parlour opened in memory of a seven-year-old boy killed as he crossed a road.

Owner William Brown Snr told the BBC the home secretary had bought a bubblegum ice cream with a blue bubblegum cone and sauce, "because obviously he's all about the blue".

They also spoke about raising road safety awareness among children.

The general election will take place on 4 July.

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