Thanks for the continued help.
I am still no nearer understanding the cause, as Puffs said, it would be a common complaint if every bike was like mine.
That's an interesting comment about original kick starts being non-chromed Gerryman. Mine is chromed so perhaps it is from another bike.
In the end I have bent the kickstart out near the bottom and then again near the top to set the rubber bit horizontal again.
It is satisfactory and doesn't affect my left leg when seated on the bike.
This will do for me.
BTW - the chrome was already flaking off - it wasn't the bending that caused that!
Oh - I should add. I am not able to lean the bike far enough to scrape the pegs
. Something in my instinct always gets in the way. I admire people who can.