Globalisation is changing our world. Liberal Democrats have generally welcomed it - as well as putting forward views about how we should seek to influence its development.
Award winning artists Leigh Mulley and Charlotte Harris are turning the Grocery Gallery into an open studio this Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 4pm. The popular local artists, who exhibit internationally, are rarely seen creating their work but this weekend they will be painting in the Grocery Gallery in the Old High Street, Folkestone.
It's been 100 days since I was elected leader of the Liberal Democrats - and I wanted to update you on the progress we've been making. It's a huge privilege to be your leader at such an exciting time.
Many messages of support have come in for the Gurkha justice campaign and demonstration held in Westminster on 19th March. If you would like to have your say too, visit http://tinyurl.com/2dtbyn or email mail@shepwaylibdems.org.uk - we will publish a selection of comments submitted.
Thanks to Cllr Carey for pointing out in last weeks Herald that the Liberal Democrats opposed the Shepway Council budget. The Conservative budget saw a massive increase in the expenditure on "strategy and leadership", but precious little for improving front line services such as street cleaning or safety. The budget also saw the Council Tax raised as far as possible without capping, some Council fees raised hugely, and the introduction of the Councils new £35 Garden Tax on recycling. What's not to oppose?
Liberal Democrats are rightly proud of the fact that we remain the only major party to be internally democratic. Unlike the other parties, party policy can only be decided by the democratic vote of the representatives of the party membership, after debate at the party conference.
Cllr Carey put the case in a letter to the Herald last week that a Council's budget is the 'single most important work the Council does'.
Claims by local Conservatives that Hythe West could be properly represented by Councillors who moved to Bath last year have been destroyed by official figures. Attendance records show Conservative Councillor Linda Oliver has attended just TWO of the last 8 Hythe and Shepway Full Council meetings.
Britain only invaded Iraq because MPs voted for it. Asked on 18th March 2003 to support Tony Blair's motion for military action against Iraq, Labour and Conservative MPs lined up to vote "aye". Both the Conservative and Labour front benches in the House of Commons, including Folkestone and Hythe MP Michael Howard, supported the war. The Conservatives even argued that the Government wasn't being tough enough.
The Lib Dems are available on Facebook with a new page where you can sign up as a fan of the Liberal Democrats - click on www.facebook.com/pages/Liberal-Democrats/5883973269 to do so.
Lord Lee of Trafford has introduced the "Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill 2008" into the House of Lords where it received its first reading on the 18th March. Full details of the bill in support of the Gurkha Justice campaign can be found at www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldbills/043/08043.1-i.html
A documentary featuring the Gurkha Justice campaign and including recording taken in Folkestone and Cheriton and talking to a number of local residents will be shown for the first time this week. FOCUS: A Friend in Need will air on Friday 21st March at 20:00 on ITV1 Meridian.
