Kent Lib Dems

16/06/2026

Congratulations to Kent residents recognised in the King's Birthday Honours

Order of the British Empire
Dame Commander (DBE)
Dame Anna Taylor DBE – Services to Reforming the Food System
Commander (CBE)
Thomas Attwood CBE – Services to Education
Rebecca Bench CBE – Services to Space
Andrew Start CBE – Services to Defence
Officer (OBE)
Helen Adam OBE – Services to Families, Children and Young People
Dean Ames OBE – Services to Public Safety
Elizabeth Butler OBE – Voluntary Service to Veterans and to Public Service
Steve Elderkin OBE – Services to the Environment and to Transport
Ian Joseph OBE – Services to the Voluntary Sector
Andrew Ransom OBE – Services to the Business Support Services Sector
Member (MBE)
Alexandra Clements MBE – For Charitable Service
Mark Downs MBE – Services to Biology
Ian Drysdale MBE – Services to Policing
Kyle Gordon MBE – Services to Transport Policing
Ian Lovett MBE – Services to Cricket and to Charity
Helene Martin Gee MBE – Services to Women in Enterprise
Winston Michael MBE – Services to Inclusivity and Sport in Kent
Stefania Passamonte MBE – Services to Music
Matthew Pavitt MBE – Services to Maritime Safety
Jeremy Penn MBE – Services to Young People
Pamela Rawling MBE – Services to Early Years and for Sustainable Development
Shekeila Scarlett MBE – Services to Education
Susan Sharp MBE – Services to Accessibility in Transport
Neerasha Singh MBE – Services to Early Years Education
Wilhelmina Smallman MBE – Services to Social Justice and to Women's Safety
Pauline Smith MBE – Services to Education, Skills and Employability
Diana Springall MBE – Services to Arts and Crafts
Medallist (BEM)
Sally Chesters BEM – Services to the Community in Hythe, Kent
Leslie Coe BEM – Services to Maritime Safety
Martin Cuthbert BEM – Services to the Community in the London Borough of Bexley
Cynthia Davis BEM – For Political Service
Warren Dunkley BEM – Services to Mental Health Support
Lawrence McVeigh BEM – Services to the Community in Medway, Kent
Bernard Pinner BEM – Services to the Air Cadets and to International Missionary Work
Martyn Steers BEM – Voluntary Services to Community First Aid

King's Police Medal
Tim Smith KPM – Chief Constable, Kent Police
Unnamed Officer

30/04/2026

Yesterday’s tragedy in Golders Green is a somber reminder of the work ahead.

We stand in solidarity with Shloime Rand, Moshe Shine, and the Jewish community during this painful time.

It is imperative that we intensify our fight against antisemitism in all its forms.

16/04/2026

Conservative-run KCC broke its promises to fix Faversham's bridge. Reform-run KCC continues this failure.

The government has failed to use its powers in breach of the law

The Lib Dem run Town Council is stepping up.

20/03/2026

If we hadn't been forced to leave the chamber yesterday, this is the speech Richard Streatfeild would have given on Reform's cowardly, Ill informed, wrong little motion.

It's just 🔥 Richard served in Afghanistan in the British Army. Listen.

Richard Streatfeild was planning to speak on the Reform UK motion on Thursday afternoon before the rulings and chairing of the debate made reasoned participation impossible and all opposition Councillors left. This is what he would have said.

19/03/2026

Today at Kent County Council, the Liberal Democrats and other Opposition Groups refused to give legitimacy to a political stunt from the Reform Party.

KCC’s essential services—such as adult care, supporting children with special needs, and maintaining our highways—are getting worse under Reform since they took control of the council last May.

Instead of addressing these local issues, Reform brought forward a motion today about channel crossings—an issue that is not a KCC responsibility. The motion proposed no real action and relied on claims unsupported by evidence, some of which are demonstrably untrue.

In our view, this was a political stunt designed to influence the Cliftonville by-election and a misuse of the Council Chamber and its resources. We were not prepared to remain and legitimize a "debate" with a pre-ordained outcome.

The public deserves better.

We had tabled a constructive motion to support seafarers and mark Merchant Navy Day in September. We will seek to bring these proposals back to the County Council at the next available opportunity. 🚢⚓️

16/03/2026

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