Wednesday, June 22 2016
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Tonbridge Castle
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PAPER
DAME KELLY OPENS SOUTHBOROUGH LIONS GALA DAY Pages 88-89
TIM PEAKE WOULD RETURN TO SPACE IN A HEARTBEAT Page 14
TONBRIDGE MP PAYS TRIBUTE TO HIS FRIEND JO COX Page 3
It’s time to decide
TOP CHEFS HELP MAKE POP-UP RESTAURANT A HIT Page 70-71
INSIDE GRAND DESIGNS
Six West Kent College students triumph in competition. Page 3
History in the making as crucial EU vote hangs in the balance By Neill Barston LOCAL representatives from both the Leave and Remain groups will be canvassing Tonbridge residents right up until the last minute before the European Union Referendum vote takes place tomorrow (Thursday). With people being asked to make one of the biggest decisions in a generation over the UK’s EU membership, commentators say the outcome is too close to call. Among the core topics have been the perceived value of the EU and its social and economic policies, as well as issues such as immigration, which has proved a central platform for those seeking ‘Brexit’. The Remain camp has argued staying in the European Union would offer stability through access to the single market and this will protect jobs. Howard Porter, Chairman of West Kent Green Party, has lobbied to remain within Europe. He signed a joint
open letter urging residents to vote Remain alongside the area’s other party leaders including Douglas Ramsay of Labour, and Lib Dem Frani Hoskins. Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat was also a signatory and spoke in Parliament last Wednesday
‘Whatever the outcome of the Referendum, we must come back together as a nation’ about ‘severe implications’ for the economy if we leave. “Whatever the outcome of the Referendum, we must come back together as a nation and act according to the will of the people and in the best interests of the country.” Mr Porter said: “We have been part of the EU for 40 years and are part of a single market of 500 million people, so to leave that would be folly. “All the independent economic organisations from around the world including the IMF have recommended
we stay in Europe and we should listen to them. There’s a uniform view that the UK would be worse off in the short and the long term if we leave the EU.” Jacques Arnold, the former Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling Conservative Association Chairman, is campaigning for the area’s Leave group. He dismissed as ‘nonsense’ Chancellor George Osborne’s warning that the UK faced a £30billion financial black hole if we leave. Mr Arnold said: “The EU is a declining economic area that is strangling itself with regulation. Britain’s history of being great was achieved through our setting out to trade with the world and invest globally. “It’s time to set ourselves free and make our own trade agreements,” added the former Gravesham MP, who said levels of immigration into the region were putting an unprecedented strain on public services.
More on the Referendum vote, page 4
ONE WOMAN PLAY
New production previews at EM Forster theatre. Pages 8-9
HOSPITALITY
Queen’s jeweller and Savoy MD open new hotel. Pages 6-7
Global sensation THE SUN came out on Sunday – as did thousands of people for the annual Tonbridge Carnival. Families lined the High Street to watch a colourful ‘Countries of the World’ procession including samba drummers and groups from Bulgaria and Nepal before making their way to the castle for a fete and live entertainment.
For a full story and more pictures see page 2
PROPERTY
44 pages of the finest homes. See property section