Speculation the Lib Dems would not stand a candidate in a Kent constituency has been put to bed today after the announcement of the party's election hopeful.

Following the unexplained suspension of its selection contest, rumours were rife that the party would step aside in Canterbury to allow pro-Remain Labour incumbent Rosie Duffield a free run at the Conservatives.

But today, Tim Walker, a journalist who once worked alongside Boris Johnson, has been revealed as the man tasked with turning the district yellow at next month's election.

An award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author who currently writes for The New European, Mr Walker previously worked at the Daily Telegraph for 12 years.

“A lot of the main architects of Brexit are fellow journalists and I know them only too well," he said.

"Leaving the EU was always a pipe dream that they hadn't a clue how to implement” he said.

“We are all sick to death of the mess the Tories and Labour have got us into with Brexit. We talk more about Brexit than we do about issues such as homelessness or climate change.

"Any form of Brexit will clog up the government and parliament for years. The best Brexit deal is the membership of the EU we currently have.”

The party trailed in third place in Canterbury at the election in 2017 but is optimistic that its strong position on Brexit, which would see it scrap leaving the EU if it was to form the next government, will appeal to Labour 'remain' voters.

He said that he hoped to ensure the election was not just a two-way fight between the Conservatives and Labour.

Asked how he intends to persuade voters the party has a realistic chance of winning, Mr Walker said he would focus on key local issues, such as the future of the hospital.

“It is much easier for me to look people in the eye and say that we want to bring an end to Brexit - Labour’s position is ambiguous," he added.

He says if Boris Johnson is elected with a massive majority it would lead to a right-wing government “which would do great damage to society.”

As a media strategist, he has advised Gina Miller and the climate change think tank E3G.

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