In a rare bit of positivity, our columnist takes a jaunt to one seaside town and declares it a potential Whitstable-beater.

Why are political leaders obsessed with telling voters about their ‘deprived’ childhoods, asks our columnist.

Votes for 16-year-olds, the decline of bus services, the expansion of ULEZ and the benefits cap are among topics tackled on this week’s letters page.

From surgery conducted from the other side of the world to restarting hearts remotely, Secret Thinker explores remarkable advancements in healthcare.

With two weeks until the election where are people’s party posters asks our columnist - or has politics become too nasty and voters disillusioned?

It’s wrong for political candidates to evade scrutiny and accountability at hustings debates without good reason, says political editor Paul Francis…

Our columnist reflects on the increasing frequency of getting a waft of a cannabis joint being smoked on Kent’s streets.

After toying with the idea of standing for election, columnist Melissa Todd has revealed her hypothetical manifesto pledges…

Political editor Paul Francis gives his analysis of Labour’s general election manifesto, which he says was more cautious than groundbreaking.

The continuing ‘war on drivers’, the PM’s D-Day debacle, people smuggling and benefits are among topics tackled in our readers’ letters this week.

Secret Thinker’s love-hate relationship with the NHS continues after an eye-opening wait in A&E, where he witnessed an ‘astonishing’ number of errors.

Post-Brexit border checks for travellers are looming and whoever wins next month’s election, says our columnist, must focus on getting this right.

Just who was advising Rishi Sunak when he ducked out of D-Day commemorations early to do an election interview, asks political editor Paul Francis.

As the election nears, perhaps those who daub weird stuff on their ballot papers have a point, says our columnist.

National Service, the two-child benefit limit, the infected blood scandal and hard-working carers are among topics discussed in this week’s letters.

Secret Thinker has high hopes for the Three Lions at the Euros, who he thinks could go all the way now Southgate has dropped certain players…

Moaning about the ‘youth of today’ is nothing new but it doesn’t mean they all need whisking into National Service, argues our columnist.

The Nigel Farage Reform roadshow pitched up in Kent and rolled out all the hits last week - but what impact can the party have?

It’s been 10 years since they removed the toll booths at the Dartford Crossing but the traffic delays haven’t eased one bit, complains our columnist.

Rather than banning sex education, Melissa Todd argues our children need a great deal more of it - and says we cannot rely on families to teach it.