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Clegg supports apprenticeships


NICK Clegg visited Maidstone to support what the party describes as an “eminently winnable seat”, but also to back Maidstone’s appren- ticeship schemes. The former deputy prime minister


met students at MidKent College, in- cluding apprentice of the year Han- nah Gibbs and fellow apprentices Arrie Hadley from the Big Body Shop in Aylesford, and Charlie Croucher, who attends the college when he is not working at Mar- shams Cars in Upper Stone Street. All three will vote in this year’s election, so how did Nick Clegg’s appearance affect their view? Charlie, of Bazalgette Rise, Fant is studying for anNVQin light vehicle maintenance. He said: “There is plenty of capacity on my course, with students coming from across the country. I was pleased Nick Clegg felt more should be done to raise awareness of the scheme.” The Lib Dem leader told lecturers


and students: “Iamglad thatwe ap- pear to be moving away from a rather snobbish attitude to put ap- prenticeships, where you can earn


and learn, on the same footing as ac- ademic qualifications.” He said he would double the number of apprenticeships avail- able.Headded: “Colleges like Maid- stone take away all the hassle for employers when it comes to taking on an apprentice.” Mr Clegg was also encouraged to


back a student’s suggestion that the voting age should be dropped to 16. He said: “If you are of an age


whenyou can go towar it seems you should be able to vote. I don’t believe that familiarity with politics or an in- dividual’s level of interest is limited by age and younger people would enrich debate.” Helen Grant, the Conservative parliamentary candidate, said: “We are putting apprenticeships at the forefront of our long-term economic plan, funding more of them and making sure they are high quality, teaching skills that businesses need. “We have delivered 2.2million ap- prenticeships since 2010, andwe will deliver three million more by 2020. Maidstone and TheWeald will be a beneficiary of this ongoing policy.”


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NICKClegg’s battle bus fell victim to rush-hour traffic as it came in to Maidstone for the Lib Dems’ as- sault on its only target seat in Kent. The national party leader stepped


from the campaign bus 20 minutes late to meet apprentices, employers, and party faithful at MidKent Col- lege, along with Jasper Gerard, can- didate for the coveted Maidstone and TheWeald seat. The former deputy prime minis-


ter said: “We believe you can’t just build in a town without investing in its infrastructure.” While refusing to be drawn on Maidstone’s particular issues, he recognised the burden of finding land for development and reiter- ated the party’s preferred policy of creating garden cities over piece- meal development. He also stated


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Nick Clegg (left) with Jasper Gerard at MidKent College in Maidstone


Traffic delays bale bus


his general support for brownfield- first development. Jasper Gerard added: “In areas


like Maidstone, which is hemmed in, there isn’t space for a garden city, but we are fighting hard to protect greenfield sites.” Helen Grant, Conservative candi-


date for the seat, said: “I have been campaigning for improved road in- frastructure and opposing housing developments that will add further pressure to the situation in Fant Farm, Postley Road and Cripple Street, North Street in Barming and others. “I will continue to work with the borough and county councils to find the right long-term solutions for Maidstone, not least seeking a strategic alternative to Operation Stack on the M20.”


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