Central Government

Kent County Council is the local authority responsible for running the county of Kent. KCC works together with the district, borough and city councils which govern specific areas of the county.

Those within central government departments work to implement the government's policies and this involves working with local authorities. You can find out more about Central Government by visiting the Direct.gov website

The UK Parliament has three main functions:

• to examine proposals for new laws;
• to scrutinise government policy and administration;
• to debate the major issues of the day.

For more information we recommend you visit UK Parliament website where you will see how the House of Commons and House of Lords operate, their members and their committees.

Ministers of Parliament (MPs)

The public elects Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons. MPs are involved in considering and proposing new laws, and can use their position to ask government ministers questions about current issues.
They are 17 MPs representing Kent. Find your local MP.

Ministers of the European Parliament (MEPs)

Your MEPs are your representatives in the European Union. Their job is to represent your interests and those of your city or region in Europe. They do this by listening to people with local and national concerns, to interest groups and businesses. Where necessary, they question and lobby the Commission and the Council of Ministers. For more information go to the European Parliament website.