General Election 2019: North Thanet hustings to be held at Margate Caves

Election count

A North Thanet hustings will be held at Margate Caves on Saturday, December 7.

Organised by the Save Our NHS in Kent group the panel will comprise of Rob Edwards {Green}, Dr Coral Jones {Labour} and Angela Curwen {LibDems}. Conservative Sir Roger Gale has declined the invitation.

It will be chaired by The Isle of Thanet News print edition co-editor Jodie Nesling.

The hustings, which starts at 4.30pm at the Northdown Road venue, will be a chance to hear views from the General Election candidates on everything from health services to the environment.

The General Election takes place on December 12 amid the ever-changing Brexit position for the UK. It was proposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last month.

Parliament was officially dissolved on November 9 and candidates are now busy promoting their campaigns.

The polls on December 12 open at 7am and close at 10pm. Thanet’s count will take place after voting closes and this year will be held at Hartsdown Leisure Centre.

The deadline to register to vote  is midnight tonight (November 26) To vote by post, apply for a postal vote pack by 5pm today.

If you can’t get to your polling station and you’d like someone to vote on your behalf, apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on Deemberc 4.

Cast your vote in person at the polling station on your polling card.

The last General Election was called in 2017 by then-PM Theresa May. The results saw Craig Mackinlay, for South Thanet, increase his poll on the 2015 vote despite being mired in court proceedings over election expenses fraud, of which he was later acquitted.

Mr Mackinlay took the South Thanet seat with  25, 262 votes. Raushan Ara, for Labour, polled 18,875 votes.

In North Thanet veteran MP Sir Roger Gale again took the seat with more than 27163 votes. Frances Rehal, for Labour, polled 16,425 votes.