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Simon Finlay, Local Democracy Reporter

Simon Finlay started his career at a news picture agency in his home city, Belfast, during the Troubles. He moved to London in the 1980s and worked on local and national Sunday newspapers as well as a five year stint in television. He moved to Kent in 1999 where he has edited the Dover Express, Folkestone Herald, Times of Tunbridge Wells and latterly the Downs Mail. He joined the KM Group in 2023 at a Local Democracy Reporter covering Kent County Council

Simon Finlay, Local Democracy Reporter

Cash-strapped council sells art collection at auction

15 July 2025
Cash-strapped council sells art collection at auction

Artworks stored in the basement of County Hall are to go under the hammer today (July 15) and could realise tens of thousands of pounds.

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Kent County Council leader pleas for changes to immigration white paper

14 July 2025
Kent County Council leader pleas for changes to immigration white paper

The Reform UK leadership at Kent County Council has expressed "grave concerns" to the government about plans to reduce health and social care visas.

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Reform UK target two borough council seats

14 July 2025
Reform UK target two borough council seats

Following the departure of two incumbent Tory councillors, two seats are up for grabs at a borough council by-election behind this week.

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KCC leader: ‘Give us a cut of the Crossing cash - we bear the brunt after all’

08 July 2025
KCC leader: ‘Give us a cut of the Crossing cash - we bear the brunt after all’

Kent should receive a cut of the new Dart Charge toll to offset the cost of maintaining the county’s road network, claims Reform’s council leader.

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KCC cabinet member replaced just weeks into new job

07 July 2025
KCC cabinet member replaced just weeks into new job

Reform UK's new administration at Kent County Council has reshuffled its cabinet less than seven weeks into taking charge.

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Farage takes aim at school transport costs, trans books and local government reorganisation

07 July 2025
Farage takes aim at school transport costs, trans books and local government reorganisation

Nigel Farage has taken aim at local government revamp plans, the cost of transporting SEND pupils, and the inclusion of trans books in libraries.

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Kent’s old people’s nursing care demand to rocket by 56%

05 July 2025
Kent’s old people’s nursing care demand to rocket by 56%

The number of old people in Kent needing long-term nursing care is set to rocket more than 50% in the next few years.

Angry backlash at Kent council ruling on trans literature

04 July 2025
Angry backlash at Kent council ruling on trans literature

LGBTQ+ rights campaigners have joined a chorus of outrage at a decision not to display trans literature in the children’s sections of libraries.

‘I miss my Westminster colleagues but I don’t miss the death threats’

04 July 2025
‘I miss my Westminster colleagues but I don’t miss the death threats’

A year after a catastrophic general election, we catch up with some Conservatives to find out about life after Westminster

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Survey finds 80% of reisdents blame roadworks for daily life disruptions

03 July 2025
Survey finds 80% of reisdents blame roadworks for daily life disruptions

A major survey carried out by a Kent MP has revealed road works are causing massive headaches for residents.

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Reform UK council leader under fire over trans library book

03 July 2025
Reform UK council leader under fire over trans library book

The new Reform UK leadership at Kent County Council (KCC) is under fire for removing trans books from a library’s children’s section.

‘PIP u-turn still leaves fears for disabled in Kent’

30 June 2025
‘PIP u-turn still leaves fears for disabled in Kent’

Disabled people in Kent fear a two-tier benefits system despite the government’s recent u-turn on welfare reforms.

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‘Free’ home-to-school taxi bill is ‘absolutely enormous’ says Reform leader

26 June 2025
‘Free’ home-to-school taxi bill is ‘absolutely enormous’ says Reform leader

Kent County Council’s new leader has pledged to find savings after revealing the bill for ferrying some children to school is nearly at £100m.

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Over 20% of Kent’s working-age population unemployed

26 June 2025
Over 20% of Kent’s working-age population unemployed

More than a fifth of Kent’s working-age population are unemployed, a new report has revealed.

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‘It’s a hard no’: government turns down Reform bid for KCC extension

24 June 2025
‘It’s a hard no’: government turns down Reform bid for KCC extension

A request by the Reform UK leadership at Kent County Council for a delay to the first stage of local government reorganisation has been turned down.

112

Kent council tax-payers ‘could see bills rise in government bid to fund the north’

23 June 2025
Kent council tax-payers ‘could see bills rise in government bid to fund the north’

Kent’s council tax-payers are set to see their bills rise in order to fund local projects in the north, say reports.

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Reform’s £100 million KCC work-from-home claims branded ‘ridiculous nonsense’

23 June 2025
Reform’s £100 million KCC work-from-home claims branded ‘ridiculous nonsense’

Opposition councillors have hit out at Reform UK’s waste-cutting tsar Zia Yusuf’s claims that KCC is spending huge sums on people working from home.

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‘Could Reform genuinely win the general election?’

20 June 2025
‘Could Reform genuinely win the general election?’

Local democracy reporter Simon Finlay looks at how Reform has gained votes from the big two parties and suggests a general election win could happen.

106

‘Reform won bigger here than anywhere else - but we’re worried’

09 June 2025
‘Reform won bigger here than anywhere else - but we’re worried’

Nigel Farage’s party hit this corner of Kent like a “tsunami” - but not everyone is happy. We spoke to the political outsiders in “Reformland”.

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Counting the cost of top crime role few people know exists

02 June 2025
Counting the cost of top crime role few people know exists

A special KentOnline investigation has revealed how much the poorly supported Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election cost the taxpayer last year.

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