David Cameron has played down poll findings suggesting that the Conservatives are trailing Ukip badly in the by-election battle for Rochester and Strood.

Speaking on a visit to Chatham today he said: 'It is a cliche but there is only one poll that counts and that is the one on Election Day.

"We have an excellent strong candidate in Kelly Tolhurst, who has a clear local plan."

He rejected suggestions that the row over an EU demand that the UK pay an additional £1.7bn had handed a propaganda gift to Ukip.

The PM's visit to Chatham was delayed because he was in Brussels.

"It is always frustrating when you are a member of an organisation and you do not expect to be presented with a bill of this size and only four weeks left to pay it.

"I think that what people in Rochester and Strood get is that you have
to have someone in there who can get in and fight for Britain."

Mark Reckless described the demand as outrageous because it was money that would go to helping bailing out countries responsible for the Euro catastrophe.

The PM had a meeting with a group of local community representatives in which the issue of plans for 5,000 homes at Lodge Hill were raised.

Prospective candidate Kelly Tolhurst told the meeting: "I want to get this development stopped.'

Mr Cameron defended using a primary selection process to choose a candidate despite just under 6,000 people taking part in the vote.

He said it was more transparent than the Labour selection, which was 'probably decided by two men and a dog.'