Nick Clegg has announced that for the first time ever, 16 and 17 year olds in the UK will be able to get help from their local jobcentre. Young people will get support uniquely tailored to them from specially trained coaches who will help them to find work and training.
For those people of the Medway Towns who voted LibDem in the recent EU Election, every single vote that they cast, counted!
As a fellow Liberal Democrat, I dispute the assertions expressed by my colleague and Group Leader of the Medway LibDems, Geoff Juby, in last Friday's edition of the Medway Messenger, wherein he stated that most people in the UK wanted to get out of the EU.
Medway's Lib Dem leader has broken ranks with party policy by backing an in-out referendum on Europe.
It is shocking to read the Guardian article "Deportees treated as commodities by security staff, says prisons inspector", as to how those being deported from the UK are being treated by the private contractors. The recommendations of the National Independent Commission on Enforced Returns by Citizens UK, including the use of pain free restraint, independent oversight of enforced removals, and a more robust system for licensing of the staff involved in such removals should and could be implemented by Government quickly. In addition, as soon as the current contract permits, these contracts should be returned to the public sector to allow for great accountability. These operations are being done in our name, and must be done by treating people with respect and maintaining their dignity.
People of Medway have voted strongly for UKIP in the local elections. By returning 41.7% of cast votes in Medway for this party, voters have contributed strongly towards UKIP securing 4 MEPs in the South East Region. I hope that on behalf of these voters, the actions, inactions and statements of these representatives will be reported by your paper so that they can be held accountable for their representation or otherwise.