In this week’s episode of the Kent Politics Podcast our reporters discuss prisoner releases across the UK and the controversial vote in parliament to cut the winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners.

Our special guest is Richard Streatfeild, a long-time Kent councillor and the Lib Dem’s candidate for Sevenoaks at the general election, who tells us about what his party needs to do with its raft of new MPs to make a difference.

He talks about his campaign to unseat Conservative MP Laura Trott, why he ran on being the local candidate, and where to go next after shrinking her majority to just 5,400.

He discusses the Liberal Democrats’ strategy for the KCC elections next year and how his party would face the challenges in county hall if they manage to grab a majority.

He also tells us about his career in the military and what he learned from it, as well as his route into politics, starting on his local parish council before gradually working up to KCC and standing for parliament.

Our reporters also discuss the release of 1,700 inmates from Britain’s prisons due to overcrowding, why this has happened, what might happen next, and why it’s a consequence of serious problems facing the justice system.

We also talk about the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners who aren’t on pension credit, why they’ve decided to do it now, and what the response has been from the general public.

The weekly podcast, which launched earlier this year, brings together local democracy reporters, Simon Finlay, Robert Boddy, and Dan Esson.

Simon covers Kent County Council while Robert reports on Medway Council and Dan specialises in borough and district councils.

You can listen to the podcast at IM Listening, or download it from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and TuneIn – just search for Kent Politics Podcast.

Readers can also keep up-to-date with the latest political news on our dedicated Kent Politics page.

New episodes are available each Friday.