Deborah Holmes has lived in Thanet for most of her life and witnessed the years of local government neglect that made a mess of the district.

Full statement

 
Slowly working through a college education and into design, she learned the
discipline of working problems until they are solved. Moving through a very varied
career which has also included aviation and the film industry, she now runs a small
restoration firm in Kent and holds a belief in sustainable local business.
The negative direction, and politics around Brexit, galvanised her into giving the
Liberal Democrats her full support, as she feels they are the best party to protect the
values of fairness, kindness and decency. 
Deborah also has a passion for passing down skills and confidence to younger, and
less able people. She has mentored people through her business, holding strongly
the Christian value of supporting those in need, and she strives to empower the next
generation. 
Her pastimes include researching and preserving local history, protecting the
environment, and spent nearly a decade running a Kent LGBTQ+ support group. 
Living in the Villages, and experiencing the blight of poor-quality housebuilding, she
wants to see an evidence-based approach to stop over development in densely
packed areas such as Thanet, unless it is strictly for local social housing needs. 
Behind all of this is a desire to see political misinformation and misconduct ended,
and a Thanet where young working people are given better opportunities. 
This of course means ensuring Manston Airport is reopened without fail.