The Kent Politics Podcast
Welcome to The Kent Politics Podcast, your go-to source for insightful discussions on local and national political matters. Join us as we take a deep dive into local government across the county, find out what the key decision makers have to say, what your money is being spent on and how the party’s policies could affect how we live. Stay tuned for our regular feature, ‘Westminster Watch', where we dissect the latest developments and decisions shaping the political landscape in the heart of the UK’s capital. Engage with us as we delve into the issues that matter to you and explore the dynamic world of politics from a Kent perspective.
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Episodes
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EP17: Former deputy PM Damien Green, Natalie Elphicke fallout and bus pass price hike anger
Friday, 17 May 2024
In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, Simon and the team delve into a variety of pressing political topics, both at the local level in Kent and on the national stage. We cover Dover MP Natalie Elphicke's party defection, controversial traffic meas
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EP16: Local elections, Electoral Calculus polling expert Martin Baxter; and Dover MP Natalie Elphicke defects …
Friday, 10 May 2024
In this weeks episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, Robert, Dan & Paul unpack the recent local elections and their implications for the political landscape. The discussion begins with an overview of how conservative voters have dispersed across various pa
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EP15: Docks decision, spying on the council and Rwanda / Mike Baldock
Friday, 3 May 2024
In this episode of the Kent Politics podcast, we discuss London's office-focused development causing housing shortages and price hikes in Kent. We also cover Chatham Dock scheme approvals and the government's Rwanda migration policy. Host Simon Finlay is
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EP14: Bracing for Dover chaos,12,000 homes for Dartford and potholes row in Medway / Matt Boughton
Friday, 26 April 2024
In this podcast episode, we tackle the complexities of local planning and political challenges in and around. Discussions include the impact of housing developments in Dartford and Medway Council's budgetary constraints for road repairs. We also explore D
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EP13: Big bucks, the Olympics and a public health warning / Cllr Stuart Jeffery
Friday, 19 April 2024
In this episode, Simon and the team discuss outdated voting systems and disparities in health outcomes and the impact of environment and lifestyle on health. High salaries of local officials are debated against financial challenges in government. Preparat
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EP12 : Medway potholes, a Whitstable town council and the Kent crime commissioner election / Canterbury Council Leader Alan Baldock
Friday, 12 April 2024
In this week's episode, the focus is on Kent's local politics and its impact on infrastructure. Discussions include Medway's pothole issues, Whitstable's town council rejection, and the competitive police commissioner election. Canterbury City Council lea
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EP11 : Citizens advice cuts, a bridge too far, and asylum seeker backlash / Mike Tapp Labour MP
Friday, 5 April 2024
In this episode, we delve into Kent's critical issues: the cost of living crisis, service cuts like Citizens Advice in Medway, and housing asylum-seeking children in Sheppey. Faversham Creek bridge restoration woes and Conservative polling declines are al
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EP10 : More housing, more traffic and more problems with the Port of Dover / Cllr Kevin Mills
Friday, 29 March 2024
In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we discuss Maidstone's housing plan for 17,000 homes and the strain on infrastructure. We examine Medway and Swale's health initiative, Sittingbourne's traffic woes, and Kent's potential gridlock due to new tr
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EP9 : Yvette Cooper, Planning Issues and Operation Brock / Jeremy Kite
Friday, 22 March 2024
In this episode, Robert, Dan, Sam & Paul delve into the pressing need for the Low Thames Crossing and frustrations with planning delays. We cover local political issues including housing plans near Canterbury, a community dispute in Ellington, and Yvette
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EP8 : Sewage Makes a Stink, Jam-Packed Roads and Why Top Tory Quit / Elizabeth Turpin
Friday, 15 March 2024
Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, a weekly podcast that delves into local and national political issues affecting Kent. Discussions this week include Medway Council's E. Coli response, Canterbury's housing plan, road regulation non-compliance, a forme
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EP7 : Bankruptcy Delayed, Solar Farm Concerns and Budget Reaction / Vince Maple Interview
Friday, 8 March 2024
In the latest Kent Politics Podcast, Simon Finlay and the team discuss Medway Council's financial woes, Faversham's contentious solar project, and Kent's life expectancy disparities. Guest Vince Maple talks about his political journey and local challenges
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EP6 : Budget Woes, Levelling Up, 11 Plus & Biosecurity - Tracey Crouch MP Interview
Friday, 1 March 2024
Welcome to the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, where we explore pressing issues in local and national politics from a Kent perspective. In this episode, our host Simon Finlay is joined by regular contributors Daniel Esson, Robert Boddy and Pa
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EP5 : Navigating Political Currents - From Local Councils to Westminster Woes
Friday, 23 February 2024
In this week's episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we dive into local government affairs across Kent County and Medway. We discuss the challenges faced by councils in setting budgets amidst financial pressures and explore how national political issues
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EP4 : Failure to Innovate, MPs Leaving and 11-Plus Problems / Gordon Henderson MP
Friday, 16 February 2024
In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, Dan Esson and his team discuss housing dilemmas, local council debt, and political retirements. We also dive into Medway Council's paused Innovation Park project due to a shift in office space needs post-COVI
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EP3 : Cutbacks, Unpopular Police and Dodgy Pork / Jim Martin
Friday, 9 February 2024
In this week's Kent Politics Podcast, we discuss the neglect of water infrastructure in Kent and its impact on bathing water quality with Jim Martin. Also on this week's episode we discuss Medway Council's financial troubles, Dover District Council's bud
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EP2 : Job Losses, Wine Woes and Rallying the Troops / Mike Martin
Friday, 2 February 2024
In Episode 2 of The Kent Politics Podcast, we discuss Medway Council's £42 million housing investment, debate on council systems in Folkestone, and the impact of proposed job cuts in KCC's children's services. We also explore political strategies for upco
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EP1: Libraries, Docks & Farage in Kent / Natalie Elphicke MP
Friday, 26 January 2024
Welcome to episode 1 of the Kent Politics Podcast with your host Simon Finlay. In this episode Simon delves into Kent County Council's financial woes, Library threats, and Chatham Docks development controversies. We discuss the diverse criminal networks
