Folkestone and Hythe Liberal Democrats

26/08/2026

All our thoughts and best wishes are with those caught in this disaster. We're especially thinking of the friends and family of our Gurkha neighbours from Nepal: we hope all are safe and well.

Nepal's tourist board says the missing tourists include 133 from India, 54 from the US, and 33 from the UK, as well as more than 100 from Nepal itself.

19/08/2026

Folkestone and Hythe Lib Dem members were delighted to meet Ed Davey & Max Wilkinson in St Margarets Bay today to hear the launch of a new Lib Dem drive to stop the arrival of small boats.

We need a solution to stop the flow of small boats and implement an asylum system that is fair and effective for all.

Having left the EU, Britain lost access to shared biometric data and any way to return people to the safe countries they passed through before reaching our shores.

This has become a well-documented incentive, driving up the numbers of those willing to risk their life crossing the channel. That needs to end. The Lib Dem plan gives a way to do so.

https://www.libdems.org.uk/news/article/restoring-safety-order-and-fairness-to-our-asylum-system

12/05/2026

South East England Chair, Matt Horrox, says:

"The results are in, and I want to offer my huge congratulations to Lib Dem Campaigners across South East Region. You absolutely smashed it out of the park."

https://www.southeastlibdems.org.uk/news/article/south-east-region-lib-dems-you-absolutely-smashed-it-out-of-the-park

County/Unitary Results

West Surrey UA: Won 56 of 90 seats to take control. The full result: LD 56, Cons 20, Ref 9, Other 5

East Surrey UA: Won 40 of 72 seats to take control. Full result: LD 40, Cons 10, Green 8, Ref 5, Other 9

West Sussex CC: Won 23 of 70 seats - with 13 gains - tied largest party with the council now in NOC. Full result: LD 23, Ref 23, Cons 11, Green 7, Lab 5, Other 1

East Sussex CC: Won 13 of 50 seats - with 2 gains - to become second largest party with the council in NOC. Full result: Ref 22, LD 13, Green 11, Cons 3, Other 1

Borough/District Council Gains

Tunbridge Wells: Gained 3 seats, winning 11 overall, further cementing LD control on the council - council now stands at 25 LD, 7 Cons, 4 Ind, 3 Lab

Worthing: Gained 1 seat - an important foothold. Council now stands at Lab 15, Green 8, Cons 6, Ref 5, Ind 2 and LD 1

The results are in, and I want to offer my huge congratulations to Lib Dem Campaigners across South East Region.

12/05/2026

Antony Hook, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition at Kent County Council, has condemned a series of "anti-democratic" moves by the Reform administration designed to gag opposition parties and shield the ruling group from challenge.

Antony Hook, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition at Kent County Council, has condemned a series of "anti-democratic" moves by the Reform administration designed to gag opposition parties and shield the ruling group from challenge.

12/05/2026

In the only elections in Kent on 7th May, the Liberal Democrats gained three seats to further strengthen their control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. The Lib Dems now hold 25 of 39 Councillors in the borough, and Mike Martin MP was elected in 2024.

The party won 11 of the contested seats, leaving it with 25 councillors overall on the authority.

17/04/2026

10/04/2026

If you are on a low income, when you get your bill check the issuing Council website for their Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

If you are on a low income, when you get your bill check the issuing Council website for their Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

10/04/2026

Across Kent you can now recycle liquid cartons (such as those made by Tetra Pak - other cartons are available) from home.

Across Kent you can now recycle liquid cartons (such as those made by Tetra Pak - other cartons are available) from home.

10/04/2026

Cheriton West Town Councillor Advice Surgery: April 2026

Peter Gane, Jon Renshaw and Roger West, Lib Dem Town Councillors for Cheriton West, hold regular drop-in advice surgeries on the second Saturday of each month from 11am-12pm in All Souls Church Hall, Somerset Road, Folkestone CT19 4HE.

As part of their commitment to listening to and working with local residents, Peter Gane, Jon Renshaw and Roger West, Lib Dem Town Councillors for Cheriton West, hold regular drop-in advice surgeries in the ward each month.No need for an appointment - just turn up to discuss any issue you would like...