Trudy Dean and Rob Bird demand immediate action to stem the spread of the new strain of the Covid-19 virus.

It makes no sense to close schools in London which is in tier 4, but to keep them open in other tier 4 areas including parts of Kent.

The Imperial College study of the new strain of the virus, UK B117, shows that it is hugely more infectious. It also shows that cases are highest in children and young people from birth to 19 years right now.

Brexit means that the UK will no longer be a member of 30 EU criminal justice bodies which every day help keep people in Kent and across Europe safe.

The Liberal Democrats have demanded the Prime Minister declares a "State of Emergency" in Kent with over 5,000 lorries left stranded after the border between France and the UK was closed to trade and travel.

According to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, an emergency can be declared if "an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in the United Kingdom or in a Part or region."

For the past 6 months Kent's Liberal Democrats have been calling for Covid tests for all drivers arriving in Kent from Europe, or better still, before they depart. Back in May our calls were dismissed.

Ironically, there is now a strong likelihood that the French and Belgian authorities will insist on drivers being tested for Covid before they travel to Europe. The Government is under acute pressure to set up rapid testing units for drivers heading to Dover and the Channel Tunnel. All within the next 24 hours.

At last week's County Council meeting I called on Kent County Council to celebrate the role and contribution of the thousands of young carers who have supported family members through some of the most challenging of circumstances during the past 9 months.

I was very pleased that both the Chairman and Leader of Kent County Council agreed that the Council would look to participate in the Young Carers' Action Day being organised by The Carers Trust in March.

I very much hope that we will be able to celebrate our young carers in March and that the County Council will work with partner agencies to ensure that this will be a day when the County as a whole remembers the immense contribution of these remarkable young people.

The Government's failure to control numbers of lorries parked up in Kent could have serious consequences for Kent's residents and businesses

We are now just two weeks before the end of the Brexit transition period. Regardless of whether the Government reaches any sort of trade deal with Europe, we know that both exporters and importers will be bogged down with time-consuming and costly bureaucracy following the Conservative Government's insistence on leaving the Customs Union.