Blue flags are flying on more beaches run by Thanet District Council than in any other part of the country, Keep Britain Tidy said today (Wednesday, May 22).

The Kent authority has claimed the title for most exemplary blue flag beaches with eight, while the South East now has 15 in total - down from 20 last year.

The conviction today (Tuesday May 14th) of Oxford men for trafficking teenagers across our city is a wake-up call for everybody.

OXCAT (Oxford Community Against Trafficking) praised the victims for their bravery in ensuring these brutal men faced justice. But the case has pulled into sharp focus the horror of human trafficking in our neighbourhoods and communities.

Turning our back on the EU could threaten around 500,000 jobs across the South East, Catherine Bearder MEP has said.

Catherine made the warning ahead of Europe Day tomorrow (Thursday, May 9), which marks the establishment of the first European Community in 1950.

She said: "I believe Britain's place in the European Union is vital to our economic recovery in the South East.

A Government pledge to strengthen EU ties will highlight the benefits of the UK's place in the European Union.

Details were outlined in today's Queen's Speech to relaunch an EU for Citizens programme, which could include fresh town twinning and war memorial schemes.

Catherine Bearder, an MEP for the South East, believes the bill could help improve connections between the UK and Europe.

It's time to put UKIP on the spot, Catherine Bearder MEP has said.

The party picked up a number of county council seats at last week's election and Catherine said it was time to turn the spotlight on its policies.

She said: "UKIP better get its thinking cap on because it's got some questions to answer. We are hearing about the party's broader appeal and it has become a home for the disillusioned, angry and concerned.

A ground-breaking project encouraging young people to protect our planet is taking to the European Union stage.

Dr Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots programme encourages young people to spot problems in their communities and take action.

It has already involved tens of thousands of youngsters from more than 120 countries taking part in a number of campaigns.

MEPs have reinforced demands for a single European Parliament seat in a bid to end the monthly travelling circus to Strasbourg.

It comes as the European Council ignored treaty obligations to move meetings from Brussels to Luxembourg for three months each year.

Catherine Bearder, an MEP for the South East, has campaigned vigorously for a single seat to save money and cut carbon emissions.

The British Government is failing thousands of victims of trafficking despite pledging to clampdown on the problem, Catherine Bearder MEP has said.

It comes as a Eurostat report criticised 21 EU member states, including the UK, for failing to implement into national law the EU directive on human trafficking.

UKIP and the Tories in the European Parliament have been accused of damaging British industry by blocking an attempt to further reduce carbon emissions.

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) sets a price for carbon dioxide emission permits in a bid to combat climate change. It was hoped companies would instead investment in green technology, rather than shell out for permits.

New transparency rules for banks and a cap on bonuses were today (Tuesday, April 16) backed by Lib Dems at the European Parliament.

Catherine Bearder, a Liberal Democrat MEP for South East England, said the Strasbourg vote would make the British banking system 'more resilient'.

She said: "Capping bankers' bonuses would usher in a much-needed culture change, putting an end to the excessively risky behaviour that led to the financial crisis.