The Pub Landlord, aka Al Murray, officially launches election campaign in Kent

Al Murray began his career into politics today as he hit the campaign trail to beat Ukip leader Nigel Farage for the Kent constituency of South Thanet.

Standing for the newly-formed 'Free United Kingdom Party' or 'FUKP' the parliamentary hopeful visited a local pub, brewery and school.

Outlining some for his elections pledges Murray said he'd make Thanet the capital city and bring HS7 to the area.

On his website Murray has pledged to leave "Europe by 2025 and the edge of the Solar System by 2050" as well as to "brick up the Channel Tunnel. With British bricks" to stop immigration.

Asked why he chose the Kent seat, he said, "I heard destiny's call like a trumpet in the far distance and it sounded like it was saying Thanet, so Thanet had to be the place"

The comedian faces an uphill struggle with Mr Farage remaining the odds on favourite to take the seat.

The Free United Kingdom Party has been tweeting The Pub Landlords visit.

Ukip has welcomed the intervention with a spokesman for the party saying, "At last, serious competition in the constituency".

Mr Farage stood in South Thanet in 2005, only to finish fourth with 2,079 votes, a 5% share.

However, Ukip's recent electoral success has made victory in the seat a very real prospect.