Farage says Reform will make KCC more efficient using ‘business brains’

On this week’s Kent Politics Podcast we speak with Nigel Farage as he eyes his party making gains at the KCC elections next month. The Reform UK leader was in the county this week and held a rally with members at the Kent Showgrounds at Detling, near Maidstone. He said KCC was “horrendously financially mismanaged” and that if Reform UK were to take control, as some polls predict, the party would apply “business brains” to get it running more efficiently and effectively.

However, Conservative Cllr Harry Rayner, deputy cabinet member for finance at KCC, and the Local Government Information Unit both say the authority is “about as well run as is possible” Our reporters discuss Mr Farage’s visit and how the local elections may play out in Kent, as well as on-going problems with Canterbury City Council’s park and ride services. They also talk Medway Council’s initiative to purchase flat blocks to be used as temporary accommodation due to rising private rental costs. And they discuss KentOnline’s new campaign, the Blue Badge Battle, to try and get the government to change rules and address injustices in the way some people who need blue badges are unable to get them.



The weekly podcast brings together Simon Finlay, Robert Boddy and Dan Esson, of the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Simon covers Kent County Council while Robert reports on Medway Council and Dan specialises in borough and district councils. They are regularly joined by KM Group news editor Nikki White who looks at what’s happening with Kent and Medway’s MPs in Westminster.

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 on KentOnline or sign up for our weekly politics newsletter ..