Best We Re The Defects Podcasts (2025)

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EP65: Kent goes to the polls, disorder in Dover, and Labour lets suspended councillors back in. Plus special guest Martin Baxter of Electoral Calculus 31:13

6d ago31:13

31:13

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 65 - Kent goes to the polls, disorder in Dover, and Labour lets suspended councillors back in. Plus special guest Martin Baxter of Electoral Calculus Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your go-to source for insightful discussions on local and national political matters. This episode delves into the complexities …

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EP64: Cost of democracy, Kemi visits again, and protests planned. Plus special guest, Cllr Teresa Murray 38:51

12d ago38:51

38:51

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 64 - Cost of democracy, Kemi visits again, and protests planned. Plus special guest, Cllr Teresa Murray Welcome to the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential guide to local and national political discussions with a focus on Kent. Episode Highlights: By-Election Costs in Medway Robert Boddy repo…

1
EP63: Investigation reveals £20m of unspent funds, Premier Inn homes latest and special Labour's Roger Truelove 37:59

20d ago37:59

37:59

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 63 - Investigation reveals £20m of unspent funds, Premier Inn homes latest and special guest Labour's Roger Truelove Welcome to another engaging episode of the Kent Politics Podcast. Here's a rundown of what's covered: Local Politics and Funding Discussions Introduction to Section 106 Payments: Dan opens up about h…

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EP62: Spiky public meeting, council contractor goes under, and special guest Martin Baxter from Electoral Calculus 35:24

26d ago35:24

35:24

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 62 - Spiky public meeting, council contractor goes under, and special guest Martin Baxter from Electoral Reform Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential source for insightful discussions on local and national political matters. This week on the Kent Politics Podcast, we delve into the fluid and dynamic …

1
EP61: Farage, flat blocks, and park and ride flak, with special guest Nigel Farage 22:36

1M ago22:36

22:36

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 61 - Farage, flat blocks, and park and ride flak, with special guest Nigel Farage Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential source for insightful discussions on local and national political matters. On this week's episode; Episode Highlights: Medway's Housing Initiative: Robert Boddy discusses Medway Cou…

1
EP60: Fire and rehire, university strikes, road plans, and special guest Alan Jarrett 38:50

1M ago38:50

38:50

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 60 - Fire and rehire, university strikes, road plans, and special guest Alan Jarrett Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential guide for insightful discussions on both local and national political matters. Join Simon and the team as they explore the intricate workings of local government across Kent. In …

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EP59: Town misses out on £6m health cash, predictions for future of Kent's Councils, and Special Guest - Reform's William Fotheringham-Bray 23:38

2M ago23:38

23:38

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 59 - Town misses out on £6m health cash, predictions for future of Kent's Councils, and Special Guest - Reform's William Fotheringham-Bray The latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast delves into pressing issues in Kent, including a funding reallocation controversy in Medway, proposed council restructures, roadw…

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EP58: Two-year road closure rumbles on, Innovation Park finally gets tenant, and special guest Labour's Cllr Alister Brady 36:07

2M ago36:07

36:07

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 58 - Two-year road closure rumbles on, Innovation Park finally gets tenant, and special guest Labour's Cllr Alister Brady In this week's episode; Key Segments: 1. Innovation Park Medway Update Discussion Lead: Robert Boddy Highlights: BAE Systems becomes the first tenant at Innovation Park Medway. The park is restr…

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EP57: Innovation Park scaled back, traffic chaos in Hawkhurst, and Medway hospital gets bad CQC rating - this week's special guest is Gary Cooke 34:48

2M ago34:48

34:48

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 57 - Innovation Park scaled back, traffic chaos in Hawkhurst, and Medway Hospital gets bad CQC rating. This week's special guest is Gary Cooke. Welcome to the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential guide to local and national political affairs. Key Topics Discussed This Week: Medway's Innovatio…

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EP56: Balancing the books, 40-year road scandal and special guest Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards 40:44

2M ago40:44

40:44

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 56 - Balancing the books, 40-year road scandal and special guest Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards Welcome to another episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential guide to local and national political discussions. In this episode, we delve into key financial strategies at Medway Council, a long-awaited…

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EP55: Redevelopments, Budgets and Henry Bolton 41:00

3M ago41:00

41:00

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 55 - Redevelopments, Budgets and Henry Bolton Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential guide for engaging discussions on both local and national political landscapes. This episode delves into key issues affecting Kent, from council budget challenges to redevelopment plans and contentious planning inquir…

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EP54: Reform make progress, Tories receive good news and special guest Cllr Sean Holden 29:20

3M ago29:20

29:20

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 54 - Reform make progress, Tories receive good news and special guest Cllr Sean Holden In this week's Episode; Local Election Dynamics: Labour's mixed results in Medway with Reform UK gaining ground. The impact of low voter turnout on election outcomes. Current council composition post-elections and potential shift…

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EP53: Devolution blow, MP comeback and special guest Cllr Ian Chittenden 33:26

3M ago33:26

33:26

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 53 - Devolution blow, MP comeback and special guest Cllr Ian Chittenden Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your definitive guide to local and national political discussions. This episode delves into the complexities of local government finance, devolution developments in Kent and Medway, upcoming council electio…

1
EP52: Three Dodgy Dealers, One Dodgy Copper and a City for Medway, featuring Sir Paul Carter 38:36

3M ago38:36

38:36

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 52 - Three Dodgy Dealers, One Dodgy Copper and a City for Medway, featuring Sir Paul Carter On this week's episode: Episode Highlights: Empowering Entrepreneurs: The host discusses the importance of supporting entrepreneurs to boost the economy. Local Government Insights: Dive into Medway's bid for city status, pol…

1
EP51: Taxpayer millions, Medway's Big Brother and MPs raised voices and special guest John Britt 39:08

3M ago39:08

39:08

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 51 - Taxpayer millions, Medway's Big Brother and MPs raised voices and special guest John Britt Join us as we delve into pressing issues affecting local communities, from uncollected fines in Medway to a controversial housing development in Lenham. With special guest John Britt, Parish Council Chairman and campaign…

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EP50: Care Home Construction, Dover Defections, Local Government Re-organisation Latest and Special Guest Richard Hicks 40:18

4M ago40:18

40:18

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 50 - Care Home Construction, Dover Defections, Local Government Re-organisation latest and Special Guest Richard Hicks In our milestone 50th episode, Simon & the team explore significant events across Kent County, focusing on council devolution and its implications. Key Discussions: Medway Council’s New Proposals: …

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EP49: Money for Medway, Blue Bell Hell and a Piece of Yellow Paper with Special Guest Mike Martin MP 42:13

4M ago42:13

42:13

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 49 - Money for Medway, Blue Bell Hell and a Piece of Yellow Paper with special guest Mike Martin MP Welcome to the first Kent Politics Podcast of 2025! Dive into a year full of political developments with Simon Finley and his team as they explore local government issues in Kent. Key Topics Discussed: Local Governme…

1
EP48: Devolution, Revolution, and Special Guest Kevin McKenna MP 43:46

5M ago43:46

43:46

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 48 - Devolution, Revolution, and Special Guest Kevin McKenna MP Is devolution the end of Kent's local councils as we know them? Dive into this week's gripping episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, where big changes are on the horizon. Join Simon and the team as they explore the potential dissolution of Kent County …

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EP47: Winter Fuel Allowance, Housing Developments and what's wrong with the NHS plus Special Guest Dr Julian Spinks 28:57

5M ago28:57

28:57

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 47 - Winter Fuel Allowance, Housing Developments and what's wrong with the NHS plus Special guest Dr Julian Spinks Welcome to the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, your essential guide to understanding local and national political matters. This episode dives into pressing issues facing the NHS, housing d…

1
EP46: Housing, Housing & the first possible Kent Mayor contender with special guest Cllr Thomas Mallon 37:08

5M ago37:08

37:08

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 46 - Housing, Housing & the first possible Kent Mayor contender with special guest Cllr Thomas Mallon Episode Highlights: Medway Council's Social Housing Review: Medway Council underwent a new inspection process post-Grenfell tragedy. Rated C2 by regulators; plans are underway for improvements. Key issues included …

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EP45: Dirty beaches, Reform UK does the double and former MP Kelly Tolhurst 39:49

5M ago39:49

39:49

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 45 - Dirty beaches, Reform UK does the double and former MP Kelly Tolhurst Join Simon and the team as they explore the political landscape of Kent, providing insights into both local issues and national debates. This episode covers a range of topics from school initiatives to electoral changes. Key Topics: School S…

1
EP44: Farmer’s fury, the first Brexit domino, and Kent’s biggest solar farm, with special guest Polly Billington MP 44:43

6M ago44:43

44:43

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 44 - Farmer’s fury, the first Brexit domino, and Kent’s biggest solar farm, with special guest Polly Billington MP Welcome to the latest edition of the Kent Politics Podcast, your go-to source for insightful discussions on both local and national political matters. In this episode, we delve into significant events …

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EP43: What new tax could mean for farmers, council at risk of bankruptcy and Special Guest Peter Carroll 44:27

6M ago44:27

44:27

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 43 - What new tax could mean for farmers, council at risk of bankruptcy and Special Guest Peter Carroll In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, our host Simon Finlay and the team dive into pressing political issues affecting both Kent and broader regions. Key Discussions: Medway Council Financial Crisis Gabri…

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EP42: Schools going mixed, police misconduct, and the cost of special needs education, featuring special guest Cllr Mark Hood 33:26

6M ago33:26

33:26

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 42 - Schools going mixed, police misconduct, and the cost of special needs education, featuring special guest Cllr Mark Hood In this episode, we discuss pivotal local issues like education reforms and police misconduct while also delving into broader political dynamics within the county. Key Segments: Local Governm…

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EP41: Docklands, trolleys Budget bombshells and a broken bridge, with special guest Ashford MP Sojan Joseph 36:30

6M ago36:30

36:30

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 41 - Docklands, trolleys Budget bombshells and a broken bridge, with special guest Ashford MP Sojan Joseph Welcome to the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, your ultimate source for in-depth discussions on both local and national political matters. This week we explore significant developments impacting b…

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EP40: Levelling up, pothole perils and the cost of a name change, with special guest Cllr Sean Holden 35:34

6M ago35:34

35:34

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 40 - Levelling up, pothole perils and the cost of a name change, with special guest Cllr Sean Holden Dive into the intricate world of local politics with Simon Finlay and the team as they discuss key issues affecting Kent County Council and its political landscape. Key Segments: Council Challenges & Name Changes: M…

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EP39: Medieval manor up for sale, Dover checks delayed again and special guest Cllr Antony Hook 43:11

7M ago43:11

43:11

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 39 - Medieval Manor up for sale, Dover checks delayed again and special guest Cllr Antony Hook Dive into the Kent Politics Podcast and explore the intricacies of local governance, national affairs, and international relations. This episode unravels Medway Council's financial strategies, discusses delays in EU borde…

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EP38: Obese children, Reform eyes KCC takeover and special guest Cllr Stanley Forecast 34:43

7M ago34:43

34:43

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 38 - Obese children, Reform eyes KCC takeover and special guest Cllr Stanley Forecast Welcome to another engaging episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, where we delve into both local and national political landscapes with a friendly, insightful approach. This week’s discussion features conversations with key politi…

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EP37: Rosie Duffield quits Labour, school place troubles and special guest Dartford MP Jim Dickson 31:06

7M ago31:06

31:06

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 37 - Rosie Duffield quits Labour, school place troubles and special guest Dartford MP Jim Dickson Key Discussion Points: 1. Accountability of MPs Examining the expectation for MPs to consult constituents post-election. Debate on triggering by-elections if significant changes occur. 2. Local Political Landscape Medw…

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EP36: Safer school streets, failing park and ride, and special guest Medway council’s Cllr Andrew Lawrence 44:17

7M ago44:17

44:17

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 36 - Safer school streets, failing park and ride, and special guest Medway council’s Cllr Andrew Lawrence Key Discussions: Local Government Reform Unitary System Proposal: Debate on moving to a county unitary system to eliminate districts and consolidate resources. Discussion includes potential cost savings from re…

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EP35: Care controversy in Medway, Shop stripped of licence after assault, is Reform trying to recruit Tory councillors and special guest, the Green Party's Rich Lehmann 34:07

8M ago34:07

34:07

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 35 - Care controversy in Medway, Shop stripped of licence after assault, is Reform trying to recruit Tory councillors and special guest, the Green Party's Rich Lehmann Episode Highlights Introduction: Welcome to The Kent Politics Podcast, your go-to source for insightful discussions on local and national political …

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EP34: Disabled boy let down by council, controversial homes plan and A228 road woes - Special guest is Lib Dem councillor Richard Streatfeild 35:03

8M ago35:03

35:03

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 34 - Disabled boy let down by council, controversial homes plan and A228 road woes. Special guest is Lib Dem councillor Richard Streatfeild Welcome to The Kent Politics Podcast, your go-to source for insightful discussions on local and national political matters. In this episode, Simon, Robert & Dan dive into the c…

1
EP33: Michael Howard – Reflections on a Political Journey 32:11

8M ago32:11

32:11

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 33: Michael Howard – Reflections on a Political Journey In this special episode of The Kent Politics Podcast, Simon Finlay interviews for leader of the Conservative Party Michael Howard, Lord Howard of Lympne. Key Discussion Points: 1. Political Career Overview Elected as MP for Folkestone and Hythe in 1983. Served…

1
EP32: Special guest Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat, council chasing £24m in lost tax, and anti-crime project loses funding 27:24

8M ago27:24

27:24

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 32 - Special guest Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat, council chasing £24m in lost tax, and anti-crime project loses funding This week’s episode dives deep into local government issues across Kent, including Medway Council's unpaid council tax dilemma, a major crime-fighting initiative losing its funding, and…

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EP31: Dirty Secrets, Far-right Fizzling and a Village Green, and Swale Independent Richard Palmer 29:19

9M ago29:19

29:19

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 31 - Dirty Secrets, Far-right Fizzling and a Village Green, and Swale Independent Richard Palmer Episode Overview Welcome to the Kent Politics Podcast, your go-to source for insightful discussions on local and national political matters. In this episode, we delve into recent events in Medway, anti-immigration prote…

1
EP30: Dodgy tweets, solar farms and crime commissioner Matthew Scott 36:31

9M ago36:31

36:31

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST EP30: Dodgy tweets, solar farms and crime commissioner Matthew Scott Uncover the pulse of local politics with the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast! 🎙️ Dive into a riveting discussion where our hosts, Simon Finlay, Dan Esson, and Robert Boddd, along with special guest Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Sc…

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EP29: Riots, children's centre closures and Chatham and Aylesford MP Tris Osborne 29:58

9M ago29:58

29:58

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 29 - Riots, children's centre closures and Chatham and Aylesford MP Tris Osborne Episode Highlights: Fake News and Societal Impact: The podcast opens with concerns about the influence of fake news on society and its potential to cause destruction. Local Government Insights: Dive into local government operations acr…

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EP28: Special Edition - The 'Bionic Lord' Craig Mackinlay 45:00

9M ago45:00

45:00

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 28 - Special Edition - The 'Bionic Lord' Craig Mackinlay In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, host Simon Finlay sits down with former Conservative MP and newly appointed Lord, Craig Mackinlay. They discuss his harrowing experience with sepsis that led to the loss of his limbs and how he has turned a person…

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EP27 : Tower blocks, cameras and local government expert Jonathan Carr-West 38:19

10M ago38:19

38:19

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 27: Tower blocks, cameras and local government expert Jonathan Carr-West In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we explore pressing issues affecting local government and national politics. The discussion focuses on the financial struggles of councils, potential policy changes under Labour leadership, housing…

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EP26: Solar farms, Medway’s future, court jams and Katie Lam 32:13

10M ago32:13

32:13

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 26 - Solar farms, Medway’s future, court jams and Katie Lam In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we tackle pressing issues affecting both local governance in Kent and national political matters. Our conversation spans topics like immigration, solar farms, backlogs in courts, and the implications of new pol…

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EP25: New Government, changes in Kent and Iain Dale 32:02

10M ago32:02

32:02

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 25 - New government, changes in Kent and Iain Dale This Week’s Topics: Local government insights from Simon Finlay and Dan Esson Paul Francis' analysis on Westminster happenings. Special guest Iain Dale shares his brief candidacy journey for Tunbridge Wells. Key Discussion Points: Labour's Planning Policies & Impac…

1
EP24: UK GENERAL ELECTION SPECIAL 23:17

10M ago23:17

23:17

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 24 - UK Election Special In this special episode of The Kent Politics Podcast, we look at the results and implications of a historic UK General Election win for Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party. Our panel discusses his challenges as he promises change, and how various parties fared during election night. We also exp…

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EP23: Hustings, more hustings and Electoral Calculus boss Martin Baxter 37:05

10M ago37:05

37:05

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST EPISODE 23 - Hustings, more hustings and Electoral Calculus boss Martin Baxter In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we delve into the final week of a riveting general election campaign. Our host Simon Finlay is accompanied by local democracy experts Robert Boddy and Daniel Esson, as well as KM Group political edit…

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EP22: Election Hustings in Kent, KCC eyes £80m savings, and is Labour heading for supermajority? 45:59

11M ago45:59

45:59

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 22 - Election Hustings in Kent, KCC eyes £80m savings, and is Labour heading for supermajority? In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we delve into the intricacies of local and national politics with a special focus on upcoming parliamentary elections. Host Simon Finlay is joined by Robert Boddy, Daniel Ess…

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EP21: Private school SEND costs, cat bans, manifesto madness and special guest Howard Cox 38:24

11M ago38:24

38:24

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 21: Private school SEND costs, cat bans, manifesto madness and special guest Howard Cox Welcome to the latest episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, where we delve into the complexities of local and national political dynamics. This week, our panel discusses a range of topics including a unique housing development i…

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EP20: Planning sagas, Eurostar and a mystery unsolved with special guest David Naghi 37:15

11M ago37:15

37:15

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 20 - Planning sagas, Eurostar and a mystery unsolved with special guest David Naghi In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast: We explore the controversial approval of Chatham Docks redevelopment despite public outcry and potential legal challenges. Discover how this decision has led to accusations of Labour's p…

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EP19: Farage back in Kent, Radio star Iain Dale eyes seat and Special Guest Cllr George Perfect 32:31

11M ago32:31

32:31

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 19 - Farage back in Kent, radio star Iain Dale eyes seat and special guest Cllr George Perfect Welcome to another episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, where we delve into the pressing political issues affecting both local governance and national policies from a uniquely Kent perspective. This week, we tackle an ar…

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EP18: Kent's major general election role and special guest Gravesham parliamentary candidate Dr Lauren Sullivan 32:22

12M ago32:22

32:22

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 18 - Kent's major General Election role and special guest Gravesham parliamentary candidate Dr Lauren Sullivan In this week's episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we unpack the highly anticipated announcement of a general election set for July 4th. With Britain at a crossroads, our panelists explore how key decisi…

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EP17: Former deputy PM Damien Green, Natalie Elphicke fallout and bus pass price hike anger 33:46

12M ago33:46

33:46

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 17 - Former deputy PM Damien Green, Natalie Elphicke fallout and bus pass price hike anger This episode of the Kent Politics Podcast delves 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 traf…

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EP16: Local elections, Electoral Calculus polling expert Martin Baxter; and Dover MP Natalie Elphicke defects … 37:08

12M ago37:08

37:08

THE KENT POLITICS PODCAST Episode 16: In this episode of the Kent Politics Podcast, we 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 parties, highlighting a significant shift away from traditional patterns. Key Poi…

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