Off the Record

If there is one issue that continues to dominate the election campaign, it is the claim the Conservatives are making over building 40 ‘new’ hospitals if they form the next government.

The party continues to assert that the new hospitals will be built but they are clearly cautious about creating a hostage to fortune.

Health secretary Matt Hancock chose his words carefully on a visit to Canterbury, saying the hospital was clearly in need of work.

“It is absolutely crystal clear to me as Health Secretary that this hospital needs investment, and is going to get investment,” he said.

Not quite a crystal clear commitment to an entirely new hospital.

Perhaps aware that other Conservative candidates in other Kent seats are taking a different view over a hospital shake-up, he added: “There will be investment into all of the hospitals in east Kent.”

That’s what is known as keeping your options open.

It seems Boris Johnson is rather underwhelmed by calls for some in his party to scrap legislation that blocks the creation of new grammar schools.

Perhaps he was reminded of the illfated bid by Theresa May to resurrect the idea only to find the then education secretary Justine Greening was not a fan and that advisers had said that the

House of Lords would inevitably block any legislation.

In a coincidence of timing, Kent County Council’s next full council meeting clashes with election day.

How to resolve this clash - given that among the 80-odd members there is at least one candidate who is standing in the election?

Well, short of cancelling the election... yes, you’ve guessed it: KCC has bitten the bullet and decided that it will have to find a new date.

For all of Kent’s latest election news and gossip, follow Paul Francis on Twitter @PaulOnPolitics