A LABOUR minister has called on his party supporters to switch to the Liberal Democrats to try and oust Conservative leader Michael Howard from his Kent constituency.

Europe minister Dennis MacShane also said that Liberal Democrats should "think strategically" and consider voting Labour in Conservative-held seats where their candidate was unlikely to mount a significant challenge.

The minister made his comments during a visit designed to rally support for Labour candidates in Maidstone and Sittingbourne and Sheppey. It is the first time a senior party figure has openly suggested tactical voting in Kent constituencies to get rid of Conservative MPs.

Mr MacShane said: "Everybody in Folkestone should unite to get rid of Michael Howard. He has made the Tory party unwelcome in Washington and unwelcome in Europe and is now campaigning on what are called ‘dog whistle’ issues but are what I call megaphone issues and on policies that are not worthy of a national party.

"Certainly, if I was a Folkestone resident, I would be telling people to unite around the candidate best-placed to dislodge Michael Howard."

He also urged Liberal Democrats to switch allegiance to Labour in Ann Widdecombe’s Maidstone and The Weald constituency.

"It would be very agreeable if Miss Widdecombe got the shock of her life," he said. "Beth Breeze (the Labour candidate) is the only person who can challenge Ann and everybody should vote for her. I hope the Liberal Democrats start to think strategically."

The Liberal Democrats have made Folkestone and Hythe a key target seat and have high hopes of overturning the Conservative majority of 5,907.

Prospective candidate Peter Caroll welcomed Mr MacShane’s comments but said he did not accept that Liberal Democrats should switch their allegiance to Labour elsewhere.

He said: "He is stating what is blindingly obvious and that is voting Labour here is a waste of time. I think this seat is a special case because Mr Howard is the Tory leader."

Mr MacShane insisted that Labour’s prospects were just as good in Kent as they were in 2001.

"I am very optimistic because this is an election where people have to make a fundamental judgement about whether they want to carry on with investment in public services and growth in the economy or whether they want a return to tax cuts for the very wealthy," he said.