In front of a crowd of passionate local party supporters in Chichester Hall, Sandgate, local lad, Simon Bishop, today launched his campaign to be the next Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe.

Bishop, 44, was also joined by author and front runner to become the next President of the national Liberal Democrat party, Dr Mark Pack and Lib Dem councillor Tim Prater.

As part of their commitment to listening to and working with local residents, Tim Prater and Gary Fuller, the new Lib Dem District Councillors for Sandgate and West Folkestone, will be holding 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 our help with. The surgeries are in a public place: if you'd prefer to speak to Tim or Gary one-to-one then please contact them directly and we can set up a personal meeting with you.

An election is coming. We can be sure of that. As I write the calling of a General Election is being debated in the Commons. Despite a flurry of amendments one thing is becoming increasingly clear: a General Election is not far away.

I've been so touched, and so humbled, by the level of support for me over the past few weeks.

George Koowaree says that Highways England should remove the M20 contraflow between Jct. 9 in Ashford and Jct. 8 in Maidstone as soon as possible. The London bound lane restrictions have been in place since April. Earlier today Highways England reintroduced the coastbound contraflow, resulting in M20 traffic being restricted to two narrow lanes each way.

Firstly, the very existence of our United Kingdom is at stake. With Boris Johnson treating Northern Ireland differently to the rest of us, it increases the calls for Independence for Scotland. If they are faced by remaining in a United Kingdom or a United Europe, they could well leave. That wasn't on the referendum ballot paper.

A fountain in the heart of the East of Folkestone will remain in place after a proposal to move it was rejected.

Local action group Go Folkestone had proposed to seek to move and restore the The Sidney Cooper Weston Fountain, at the junction of Wear Bay Road and Wear Bay Crescent, Folkestone. It is unserstood they were seeking to move it to the foot of the Leas Lift.

The new Liberal Democrat candidate for the expected forthcoming General Election will be local lad, and former Conservative Special Adviser to a Secretary of State in the coalition government, Simon Bishop.

Before entering a high-profile career which saw him work for Prince Charles, the BBC and The United Nations, Simon went to Saltwood Primary School and The Harvey Grammar in Folkestone. His first full-time job was at Saga and he also worked as a waiter at The Imperial Hotel in Hythe and as a barman at the old Bonkers nightclub in Folkestone.

I am so proud to be the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for this wonderful area. I think I am qualified to serve its constituents for three reasons:

1. I LOVE Folkestone and Hythe

2. I have the experience, skills and, most importantly, the integrity and decency to help fix our broken political system

3. I care passionately about Britain and am not going to stand by while others wreck it