The London Mayor Ken Livingstone has been suspended for four weeks after being found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute by comparing a Jewish reporter to a concentration camp guard.
Shepway Council have bowed to Cheriton residents power and reduced proposed increases in parking charges. Having collected 100's of parking petition signatures from residents, Lib Dem Campaigner Tim Prater is pleased the Council has been forced to listen but wants the increases stopped totally.
Willie Rennie and the Liberal Democrats have won a sensational victory in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election. There was a massive swing from the Labour Party to the Liberal Democrats, just nine months after the General Election. The Liberal Democrats turned a Labour majority of 11,562 into a Lib Dem majority of 1,800. This victory was the first ever Liberal Democrat gain from the Labour Party in a Scottish by-election.
A comparison of the cost of parking in local towns by local Liberal Democrats has revealed that Shepway residents are being charged more than in surrounding towns. Comparable parking charges in Dover, Deal, Ashford, Canterbury and Maidstone are all cheaper - with some under half the price.
Police investigating the shooting of a man from Folkestone have made two further arrests. Two local men, aged 24 and 28, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
If a week is a long time in politics, the last month has seemed almost endless. Following my assertion in my last column that I wanted Charles Kennedy to continue as leader, its best we avoid comment on the leadership contest. Lembit Opik MP backed Charles, backed Mark Oaten and is now publicly not backing anyone in order to avoid an asteroid hitting their campaign - I know how he feels!
The dates of the Liberal Democrat leadership election official hustings have been released. Following the close of nominations, the 3 candidates are Ming Campbell, Simon Hughes and Chris Huhne. The dates and times (with contact email for further information) are:
The Hawkinge Gazette has been contacted by a reader asking: "Should the public not be made aware that the Conservative Party high command is seeking to tamper with independent surveys?"
Shepway Lib Dem Treasurer and no2id campaigner Darren Briddock welcomed the defeat in the house of lords of the governments controversial ID Card Bill.
Charles Kennedy has stood down as Leader of the Liberal Democrats. Mr Kennedy made the following statement at Liberal Democrat Headquarters:
Cllr David Dickinson led the Lib Dems on Shepway Council during some very difficult times. He did so with great dignity and integrity. I'm sure that I speak on behalf of the local Party when I thank him for his marvellous contribution.
2006 promises to be an exciting year in politics both locally and nationally. Locally, our group of Lib Dem Cllrs on Shepway District Council has a new leader to lead their work through to the local elections in May 2007.
