Kent Politics Podcast: Labour’s first 100 days, Lower Thames Crossing delay, and Kent’s first Reform councillor
05:00, 11 October 2024
In this week’s episode of the Kent Politics Podcast our reporters discuss Labour’s first 100 days.
They also look at delays to a decision on whether the Lower Thames Crossing will go ahead, Kent MP Tom Tugendhat’s exit from the Tory leadership contest, and Reform UK’s first councillor in Kent.
On October 13 it will have been 100 days since the election, when many Kent seats flipped from Tory to Labour - some for the very first time - but how do voters think about it now?
We discuss how people in Folkestone and Hythe, which went to Labour after being a Conservative seat since it was created in 1950, feel about the new government, and if it’s even reasonable to expect significant changes in such a short time.
Our special guest this week is Stanley Forecast, who was Kent’s youngest councillor when he was elected to KCC in 2020.
We talk with him about getting into politics at only age 20, his work as Maidstone and Malling MP Helen Grant’s assistant, and how she narrowly held on to her seat on July 4.
He also looks forward to the KCC elections next year and discusses how Reform UK might change the dynamics in the authority.
Our reporters discuss the biggest stories from around the county this week, including the first Reform UK councillor in Kent in the shape of David Wimble on Folkestone and Hythe district council.
Hear why he chose to move from the Tories and whether he’s likely to be joined by many others.
We also discuss an intiative in Medway to tackle childhood obesity which, 10 years on, seems to have had no impact.
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 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.
