KentOnline

The two men hoping to become our next Prime Minister have played down the impact a no-deal Brexit could have on Kent.Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were in Maidstone last night answering questions from Conservative party members on everything from policing to tax cuts – and of course the UK’s departure from the EU.Also in today’s episode we speak to campaigners against a new housing development as they take a petition to Downing Street; with a year to go until The Open comes to Kent we’ve been taking a look at preparations, and cyclists set off on a 150-mile journey to raise money for the Royal British Legion Industries.
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There’s more criticism for Disney today after they turned down a request from a Kent family to use an image of Spider-Man on the gravestone of a four year-old boy…More than 12-thousand people have now signed a petition calling on the film giant to reconsider, after Ollie Jones from Maidstone – who a big fan of the superhero – passed away in December from a rare genetic disease.Also in today’s episode, as the battle to become the next Prime Minister heats up we’ve been looking ahead to tonight’s hustings meeting in Maidstone, a woman is sentenced for running an illegal waste site, and a children’s author says children shouldn’t be branded ‘failures’ if they don’t achieve academically at school.
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An inquest into the death of a young man who was stabbed in Cyprus three years ago has ruled he was unlawfully killed.George Low was on holiday in Ayia Napa with a friend when a fight broke out leaving both men with stab wounds, but the 22-year-old didn’t survive.Despite two men being identified as suspects and now thought to be in Turkey, no one’s ever been brought to justice.Also in today’s episode we find out more about plans to introduce a congestion charge in Maidstone and have reaction from Prince Charles’ visit to Folkestone.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/

For the first time, all year 8 boys in Kent are going to be offered the HPV vaccine to help protect them against some forms of cancer.Girls have been given the jab since 2008 in a bid to reduce the number of cases of cervical cancer caused by the virus, and now experts say 12 and 13 year-old boys should have it too.Also in today’s episode we’ve been looking ahead to the Medway Youth Awards and getting an update on work to create what’s thought to be the world’s first triple deck stake park in Folkestone.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/

A Kent MP says whoever leaked sensitive diplomatic messages from the British ambassador in America should face prosecution.
The memos revealed Sir Kim Darroch described the Trump administration as “inept.”
The US President says the diplomat has “not served the UK well.”
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It’s feared county lines gangs could be partly to blame for recent attacks on police in Kent.
Earlier this week we told you how 11 officers were hurt in just three days from last Friday.
Raids have also been taking place across the county recently to try and disrupt groups who’re coming here to deal drugs.

A Folkestone woman’s calling for the law on assisted dying to change after her husband ended his life at Dignitas.Sandra Barclay travelled to a clinic in Switzerland with 65 year-old Andrew in 2016.
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The mum of a little girl from Kent with a severe form of epilepsy says a change in the law around medicinal cannabis was brought in too quickly with no education.
A report by a group of MPs says recent legislation was communicated badly and unfairly raised patients’ hopes.
The Health and Social Care Committee is now calling for clinical trials focusing on the treatment of children to take place as a matter or urgency.
Emma Appleby from Aylesham has been stopped from bringing cannabis oil back to Britain from Holland for her daughter Teagan twice in recent months – but still doesn’t have an NHS prescription.

Five of the UK’s biggest gambling companies have agreed to spend 100-million pounds between them to help problem gamblers.The firms will increase their financial support to fund treatment for addicts over the next four years – they’ll also review the tone and content of their advertising and marketing campaigns.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/

Boris Johnson has been in Kent as he continues his bid to be our next Prime Minister.
The former Foreign Secretary has been to a garden centre in Sevenoaks to explain how he’s planning for Brexit and what might happen if there’s a no deal.
Our political editor Paul Francis was among those to question him about how it would affect Kent.