Could custard pies expertise swing the commissioner poll?

Politicians require all sorts of skills – not least the ability to engage voters in a way that will persuade them to put a cross against their names on the ballot paper.

Whether the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Kent police and crime commissioner election David Naghi will need to call on his experience of helping organise the world custard pie championships is another matter.

But we rather like the fact that the election in May will boast a candidate with such experience.

The government has retreated from reforming the Freedom of Information Act, announcing after a review it had decided the legislation was working well.

There were fears the government was looking to bring in charges for requests, but that idea has been scrapped – which will disappoint one council in Kent.

Thanet council had urged ministers to consider a charge of £25 for requests.

It said a fee “would have the effect of filtering out timewasting and futile requests” and complained there was an “insatiable” appetite from the public for information.

Has the long-standing leader of Kent County Council Paul Carter dropped a hint about how long he wants to stay in the job?

He has done 10 years in the role already but, rather like Margaret Thatcher, has hinted he’d be keen to go “on and on”.

On a visit to Roseacre primary school in Maidstone, he answered pupils’ questions about his job and mentioned that elections take place next year.

“I find it so rewarding and I hope that I can carry on doing the job I’m doing and making a positive difference to everyone who lives and works in Kent,” he said.

There has been some good news for Matthew Scott, the Conservative candidate in the police and crime commissioner election in May.

That is if you think that a party candidate getting the support of a minister from the same party is good news.

Policing minister Mike Penning was asked by Ashford MP Damian Green if he had seen what Matthew had to say on the importance of collaboration between the emergency services. Indeed he had. “I have seen what Matthew Scott is proposing to do when, as we on the Conservative benches all hope, he becomes the police and crime commissioner.” It’s called politics. Follow Paul on Twitter @Paulonpolitics and watch our new political programme on www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/