Big names head for Folkestone & Hythe

A succession of top names including Charles Kennedy and Simon Hughes are set to visit our area in the coming weeks to back Peter Carroll's campaign. Other star names include Baroness Shirley Williams and top Agony Aunt Claire Rayner.

Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Peter Carroll said, "I delighted that our campaign is receiving such high profile backing. It shows just how serious the Lib Dems are about winning here and defeating Michael Howard."

The election in Folkestone & Hythe Constituency is set to be the closest ever. Michael Howard's majority has a slim 5907 majority, but crucially there were 9200 Labour votes at the last election - many of whom are switching to back the Lib Dems this time.

The Labour vote has crumbled since the last election. At the local elections in 2003, Labour lost 12 of their 13 Councillors and saw their vote plummet from 25% to just 7%.