POLLING expert Sir Robert Worcester says a number of Kent’s Labour MPs are at risk of losing their seats on May 5 but the number of possible Conservative gains will hinge on turnout.

Sir Robert, who lives in Kent and heads the polling company MORI, said it was difficult to make predictions for Kent on the basis of national polls but said it was clear that the Tories stood to make ground on Labour.

“Kent has been a Conservative county council for well over 100 years and the fact there will be a swing to the Conservatives, could mean several Labour MPs may lose their seats - unless they are able to convince their constituents they have done such a good job over the last eight years that they deserve another term,” he said.

The biggest factor that would affect Labour’s fortunes was the volatility of the electorate and the fact polls indicated more than 40 per cent of those who said they intended to vote also indicated they were prepared to change their mind before polling day.

“This is the most volatile electorate of all. Of those who say they will vote, 41 per cent say they may change their mind over the campaign. In the last election, that figure was 34 per cent and in the one before, it was around 25 per cent.”

He rejected claims that people were apathetic. “It is not apathy but disengagement among voters. What they are saying is that they are fed up with all the politicians and the way they are being treated by the parties,” he said.