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14:21 UK time, Thursday, 24 May 2012
Youth unemployment in South East
Iain Duncan Smith has made it his priority since becoming Work and Pensions Secretary to get people off benefits and back into work.
His motto has been "work will always pay".
Louise Stewart Political editor, South East
This is where you can find updates on all things political from Westminster to Whitstable, and my thoughts on how they affect you
20:26 UK time, Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Louise added analysis to:
A21 scheme 'could create growth'
As far back as 2001 the then Labour Transport Secretary Stephen Byers accepted the need to upgrade the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury.
This year's proposals will see the single carriageway between these towns dualled with a flyover at the North Farm roundabout.
13:39 UK time, Saturday, 5 May 2012
Louise added analysis to:
PM hails Johnson mayoral victory
It had been a long night and Boris Johnson arrived at City Hall this morning looking slightly dishevelled (though perhaps no more than usual) next to the immaculately turned out David Cameron.
But there was no doubt who was the man of the moment - Boris had narrowly beaten Ken Livingstone, but however narrow the margin, it was a sweet victory for the Conservatives after an otherwise dismal election showing.
14:37 UK time, Friday, 4 May 2012
Labour makes gains in South East
It was a good night for Labour in the South East.
Hastings, a Labour-led council, was a key target for them in the local elections.
12:31 UK time, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Local elections: One week to go
There's only a week to go until the local elections across England, but you could be forgiven for being largely unaware of which councils are up for election and what the big issues are.
I live in an area which is holding an election on 3 May and I've only received one leaflet through my letterbox from a candidate (it was from the Green candidate) and not a single person knocking on the door campaigning.
12:40 UK time, Thursday, 12 April 2012
Can Labour eat into Tory heartland?
The local elections on 3 May are only three weeks away but what will they mean for the South East?
At the local elections in May 2011 Labour made a slight resurgence and took control of Gravesham from the Conservatives.
18:01 UK time, Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Assisted dying law debated
Tony Nicklinson, who is paralysed and has locked in syndrome, can't speak and communicates through his wife. Jane.
Just over two weeks ago a High Court judge ruled that he should be allowed to proceed with his "right-to-die" case.
14:34 UK time, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Budget impact for South East
There's always a lot of speculation in the run up to a Budget but what's been different about this one is the kind of mega-phone diplomacy that the Liberal Democrats have chosen to take part in.
They were clearly keen to differentiate between themselves and the Conservatives, and also to try and hold the government to account and demonstrate that they're on the side of fairness.
16:22 UK time, Sunday, 18 March 2012
Branson in aviation capacity plea
The government is currently holding a consultation on the future of aviation policy. However, all three main political parties have ruled out the expansion of Heathrow by building a third runway.
Now Sir Richard Branson - a man who knows a bit about aviation - has added his voice to the growing chorus of business leaders calling for the government to act to tackle the lack of aviation capacity.
13:07 UK time, Thursday, 15 March 2012
UK and US look at extradition
From eating hot-dogs together at a college basketball game to warmly toasting each other at an official state dinner at the White House, Barack Obama and David Cameron have been keen to show the strength of the "special relationship" between Britain and the US.
The leaders held two hours of talks yesterday about weighty issues including Iran, Syria and troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
14:07 UK time, Thursday, 26 January 2012
Thamesteel news 'devastating blow'
The news the Thamesteel plant in Sheerness has gone into administration, threatening 400 jobs, has been described as a "devastating blow" to one of the most deprived parts of Kent.
Local MP Gordon Henderson said it's an "employment disaster".
16:30 UK time, Sunday, 22 January 2012
Louise added analysis to:
Clegg says NHS plans must proceed
The NHS is often referred to as the nation's most treasured asset, and that is why plans to change it always prove controversial.
There has been growing opposition to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's reforms. Initially, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Midwives said they were willing to work with ministers on the Bill, but last week they called for it to be scrapped.
16:57 UK time, Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Boris Island airport considered
It's a new year but a familiar story. Once again the prospect of building a hub airport in the Thames Estuary has been raised.
The government has said it is to hold a formal consultation on UK aviation - including controversial plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
12:50 UK time, Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Kent County Council must save £97m
Kent County Council has an annual budget of more than £2.2bn.
It sounds like a huge amount of money but out of that it has to provide care for the growing elderly population, as well as look after children in care and foster homes, and provide education services, waste management etc.
17:58 UK time, Monday, 5 December 2011
Pfizer and new 'catalyst' fund
When Pfizer pulled the plug on its research facilities at Sandwich in Kent with the loss of thousands of jobs in February this year, local politicians and business leaders warned the knock-on effects could cost the local economy £380m.
But it also had wider consequences with critics warning that the decision by Pfizer to close its entire research and development facility in Sandwich showed the UK's pharmaceutical industry was facing long term decline.
16:45 UK time, Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Strike impact on South East
We've long known this public sector strike was coming and it was estimated that two million workers would take action.
But what impact has it had on the South East?
16:39 UK time, Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Autumn Statement in South East
Many of the things I predicted yesterday would be in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement were confirmed by George Osborne today.
A planned 3p a litre rise in fuel duty in January has been cancelled and a further rise in August limited.
12:37 UK time, Monday, 28 November 2011
Chancellor and 'squeezed middle'
The Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his Autumn Statement to the Commons on Tuesday in what effectively is a "mini budget".
The Chancellor will deliver his statement to Parliament against a very gloomy backdrop of economic figures from the independent Office for Budget Responsibility and from the OECD which says the economy is about to slip back into recession.
18:02 UK time, Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Millions entered country under pilot scheme
The row over who knew what about the relaxing of immigration checks doesn't seem to be going away.
The government has confirmed that more than 10 million people entered the UK in August when a pilot scheme - introduced by the home secretary - was operating.
15:45 UK time, Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Border row Minister answers back
The Immigration Minister Damian Green took his place next to his boss, the Home Secretary, for the debate called by Labour on the row about the relaxation of passport controls during a pilot scheme in the summer.
The Chair of the Commons Home Affairs Committee Keith Vaz suggested yesterday that Mr Green, the MP for Ashford, has been "missing" since the row broke out.
About Louise
Louise joined the BBC as a news trainee when she graduated and has held a variety of roles from TV reporter to radio and television presenter in Scotland, political reporter based at Westminster and most recently - since September 2010 - political editor for BBC South East.
Louise's career highlight was covering the last general election at Westminster.
She was the late reporter the night Gordon Brown came out of 10 Downing Street and announced he was stepping down, and when David Cameron and his wife Samantha arrived. She also covered the coalition agreement, emergency budget and has been following the spending cuts.
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