A MASSED meeting of Conservative Party members in Chatham and Aylesford have supported their parliamentary candidate, Anne Jobson, despite a move to oust her.

The Tories threw their weight behind Mrs Jobson's plan to dislodge Labour MP Jonathan Shaw at a crisis meeting on Wednesday night.

Speculation before the meeting suggested that her days were numbered and she was to be replaced only months before the election.

But a jubilant Mrs Jobson said: "I'm delighted that the constituency has confirmed my selection and now we are working together to win this seat at the next election.

"We have a campaign strategy in place and we will be pushing that over the coming months. I am really looking forward to getting out on the streets and meeting people once again."

The members listened to arguments that Mrs Jobson had failed to establish a high profile in the Labour-held constituency 13 months after being selected.

They also listened to Mrs Jobson put up a determined defence to the allegations, and set out what she had done for local people since she was chosen in 2003.

The Conservatives appointed their deputy chairman (political) for Kent, county councillor Keith Ferrin, to chair the meeting.

He took the chairmanship from Medway Council’s deputy leader, Alan Jarrett, who is the constituency chairman, under Central Office rules that call for an independent chairman.

After more than two hours of discussion and debate, Mr Ferrin put the formal motion that Mrs Jobson should be deselected, and it was rejected by a majority.

Members were told not to speak to the press, but one admitted: "The position for anyone in a position like this is extremely difficult. It was not something a right-minded constituency party would enter into lightly. It was most unpleasant."

Cllr Jarrett said yesterday: "We decided to select Mrs Jobson to stand for this seat. We now have to go out and fight for the next election and get a Conservative MP in place of the Labour one."

Before the crisis meeting Ms Jobson received backing from the Tory party chairman Theresa May who said there needed to be more women candidates.