Think carefully before voting

The claim in last week’s issue that Tom Tugendhat will have an easy time in achieving re-election ignores the fact that, at the time of the referendum, he was supportive of the Remain campaign, while a majority of those voting in Tonbridge and Malling backed the call to leave the EU.

Given the issue of Brexit will be a very significant feature of the forthcoming general election, those who support restoring British independence need a positive alternative to the policies proposed by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party, something which one who openly declared for Remain cannot supply, but which Ukip can.

In addition Brexit, while vitally important, is not the only issue at stake.

The lamentable state of the NHS, with vast sums being wasted both on PFI deals of benefit only to financiers, and the maintenance of its grossly overpaid and unnecessary bureaucracy, must be addressed.

In addition an education system which prevents bright children from poor homes enjoying the benefit of a grammar school education because of the efforts of supposed egalitarians is a scandal, particularly as the latter frequently send their offspring to private schools, while the failings of so much of our infrastructure, especially the railways, is yet another important issue, among many.

Ukip has distinct policies in all these areas.

Those who believe Mrs May will achieve the best possible deal for the British people in the negotiations with the EU are overoptimistic, as there is no guarantee the government would not back down and offer the EU far too much, thereby negating the result of the referendum, so it is essential anyone who wishes to see Britain as a sovereign nation once again consider carefully before voting for those who did not support this position last June. Colin Bullen Douglas Road, Tonbridge for a Corbyn victory because of his feebleness on defence.

This infers such a victory would make Putin think the threat of a nuclear attack on the UK had become plausible.

Fallon also said Theresa May would be willing to launch a preemptive nuclear strike, inferring that this too would be plausible.

No politician with an ounce of humanity would ever launch a nuclear strike, whether they say they would or not.

Assad has rightly been condemned worldwide for using chemical weapons and targeting hospitals in Syria.

But a nuclear strike would destroy everybody and everything in a city and render it uninhabitable for years to come. When push comes to shove what politician would want that on their conscience? Not one that I would vote for. Jim Pragnell Otford may be turning out to vote than their older counterparts but there is evidence to show they are more engaged in other ways.

There has been some debate about how many young people voted in last year’s EU referendum.

Straight after the vote, pollsters said just 36% of people aged 18-24 turned out to cast their vote.

A collective finger was pointed at a whole generation who were roundly told not to complain about the decision to leave the EU when they hadn’t bothered to have their say.

But we now know, thanks to research by the London School of Economics, the turnout was actually 64%.

That’s still not as high as their older counterparts (90% of over 65s voted, for example) but, for a generation of people branded narcissistic and apathetic, I don’t think it’s too bad.

With yet another national vote looming, young people have another chance to influence national politics.

In fact 750,000 British teenagers who were too young to vote in the referendum last year will have their first opportunity to vote on June 8 and it’s vital they don’t miss this chance to make a difference.

In the children’s sector we need to use our contact with young people to emphasise how important political engagement could be in changing lives.

At Barnardo’s we’re heading in the right direction, helping young people to tell their stories and