Cliftonville should have been a straightforward KCC by-election. Instead, every serious party thinks it can win, and at least some of the candidates appear to treat party labels as a temporary lifestyle choice. We break down the race, plus the rest of news from across the county.
A good example of how ideologically complicated real people are.
A @kentcurrent.news interview with a former prisoner turned police officer, who is a life-long Green Party member, yet praises Margaret Thatcher.
www.kentcurrent.news/being-grey-a...
Ofwat has proposed a ยฃ22.46m fine for South East Water over supply failures affecting 286,000+ people between 2020 and 2023. We explain what the regulator says went wrong, why this is separate from the recent Tunbridge Wells mess, and what happens next.
The Conservatives have won the Hextable by-election on Sevenoaks District Council, triggered by the death of sitting independent councillor.
ยฃ500, one single, no plan. Thatโs how @damagedgoodsrecs.bsky.social started in 1988.
Steven met Ian Ballard in Broadstairs to talk 38 years of punk, releasing the Manicsโ first EP, the brutal economics of vinyl, and why failing is basically the job description.
Tunbridge Wells will trial weekend voting in May, with three 'voting hubs' open on Saturday and Sunday alongside the usual Thursday polling day. Weโve got whatโs changing, why the council wants it, and whether it might shift turnout.
Specialist teachers who support mainstream schools with children who need extra help have started strike action in Kent after the service was brought in-house. We explain whatโs changing, why staff are walking out, and what it means for schools and families.
What does Kent need to grow its economy? In our latest interview, Andrew Metcalf, the new chair of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, talks planning, development, local government reorganisation, and why growth slogans only work if the foundations are right.
A KCC councillor has been jailed, triggering a by-election in Cliftonville. We explain what happens next, alongside a packed week of budget votes, fresh water problems, planning rows and local stories from across Kent.
๐จ By-election klaxon!
Cllr Daniel Taylor (Ind, formerly Reform) has been disqualified by Kent County Council after being jailed for a year over coercive and controlling behaviour toward his wife.
A by-election will be held in his Cliftonville ward within 35 working days.
Kent Current is doing essential journalism that no one else is โ strongly recommend subscribing to support them.
Seven KCC councillors have formed a new Restore Britain group at County Hall, giving a national hard-right project a foothold in Kent. We unpack whoโs moved, why Reform fractured, and what Restoreโs first real test has looked like.
Interview: @helenzaltzman.bsky.social grew up in Tunbridge Wells before becoming one of podcastingโs longest-running voices. We spoke to her about nearly 20 years of making Answer Me This! and The Allusionist, burnout, leaving the UK, and lots more.
Unsurprisingly, we'll have a lot on this in the coming days.
Reform at County Hall gets criticised, and a cabinet member responds by hinting he could pull funding for Margateโs Turner Contemporary.
Robust politics or treating public money like leverage?
Plus Sevenoaks by-election, water disruption, the Canterbury Odeon fire, and lots more.
We met @sundersays.bsky.social in a Dartford cafรฉ for a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation where we talked about identity, immigration, free speech and the 'anxious middle'...
Ed is live at today's KCC budget meeting. Follow below ๐
Reformโs flagship 'efficiency' project at KCC has a new lead.
After last weekโs resignation over budget comments, the replacement is a councillor whose public feed is heavy on conspiracies and culture-war reposts.
Dreamlandโs Scenic Railway has been shut, with key evidence still unseen. Councillors, heritage groups and residents are now asking how a publicly funded landmark became 'unviable' overnight. Plus planning, council scrutiny and more from across Kent.
Kent County Council billed it as a friendly โcuppa and a chatโ with MPs. It ended in complaints about attendance, effort and political optics. We look at how an attempt at cooperation turned awkward, plus the latest from across Kent.
Our full briefing:
Kentโs taps are running again, but the water system behind them is still broken. Regulators are investigating, and politicians want heads to roll.
Today's Kent Current briefing:
KCC has balanced its ยฃ1.6bn budget for next year, but only by selling assets and raiding reserves, with a ยฃ95m funding gap already looming. Plus storm damage across Kent and another major water crisis.
Some of Canterburyโs Victorian lampposts are being removed and replaced after years of unresolved communication between councils, leaving replacement as the default outcome rather than a decision.
Our latest briefing explains whatโs happening and why it matters.
The final Kent County Council meeting of the year is happening this morning.
Large illegal waste sites continue to operate across Kent despite regulators knowing about them. Around Sittingbourne, dumping has continued after repeated interventions, raising questions about whether enforcement can keep up.
More great journalism from London Centric
Really encouraging to see increasing quality local media with rise of @millmedia.bsky.social @kentcurrent.news and many others
A Swale Borough Council meeting was suspended after coordinated far-right activists disrupted a debate on becoming a District of Sanctuary. Councillors reported abuse, intimidation and damage to the building.
What happened, and why it matters:
Our big weekend interview is with Sittingbourne & Sheppey MP @kevinmckenna.co.uk.
He spoke about becoming an MP, ICU nursing, living with HIV, and the challenge of uniting a constituency split between mainland and island.
Unauthorised lamppost flags in Kent are now incurring damage bills, with FOIs showing more than ยฃ4,000 has been spent by Kent County Council, which still has no checks in place to spot risks.
Our Monday briefing is out now:
Best article that I have read so far on the inept shambles that have been happening where I live in Tunbridge Wells. I still think not enough is made of the fact they sent the emergency water to a completely different town.
