The Conservative candidate hoping to oust Edward Davey in May's general election kicked off his campaign yesterday with a visit to ID card company Databac.

James Berry followed the Liberal Democrat's lead in bringing a political big gun to bolster his campaign, and was joined in Kingston by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith

Mr Berry said: "It's companies like Databac that are leading the economic recovery and helping create local jobs. I am four square behind small and medium businesses and will do everything I can to promote and support local businesses in Kingston.

"The successful Conservative 30 minute free parking campaign I launched last year is just one example of that support."

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Mr Duncan Smith said: “It was fantastic to visit the impressive manufacturer Databac with our excellent Kingston and Surbiton candidate James Berry.

"To continue to create more businesses, more jobs and more apprenticeships, it’s absolutely vital we have a strong local Conservative MP and stick with the Conservative long term economic plan."