On the evening of June 13th, St Margaret’s Church in Rainham was packed. At a long, cloth-covered table in front of the altar, six would-be mps answered locals’ questions about schools, homelessness and the state of the high street. The Labour Party went through the church beforehand, putting leaflets on every pew, like orders of service. But despite the presence of so many voters and a broadcast-tv camera, the Conservative candidate and sitting mp for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti, did not turn up. He skipped another hustings four days later. If he loses the seat on July 4th, it will be partly for lack of trying.