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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

Labour MPs in Kent face wipe-out, says new polling

16 May 2025
Labour MPs in Kent face wipe-out, says new polling

Every Labour MP in Kent will lose their seats to Reform UK if local election trends are replicated in a national poll, new analysis suggests.

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‘Shattered’ Tories lose control of council after eight members quit

16 May 2025
‘Shattered’ Tories lose control of council after eight members quit

The Conservatives have lost control of a once true-blue council after a revolt last night when seven members resigned the whip.

Fears for school farm’s future after ‘temporary’ closure

16 May 2025
Fears for school farm’s future after ‘temporary’ closure

The future of a much-loved school farm is feared to be in doubt following a temporary closure.

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Tory group pick new leader at Kent County Council

13 May 2025
Tory group pick new leader at Kent County Council

The Conservative group has chosen their new leader at Kent County Council - less than a fortnight after being trounced by Reform UK at the elections.

Bitter backlash over Reform plans to remove flag from council chamber

13 May 2025
Bitter backlash over Reform plans to remove flag from council chamber

The new leader of Kent County Council has sparked a furious backlash over plans to remove the Ukrainian flag.

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Police facing lawsuit from former officer arrested over tweet

12 May 2025
Police facing lawsuit from former officer arrested over tweet

Crime commissioner Matthew Scott has described the arrest of a former special constable as “unacceptable” as it emerges the man is suing Kent Police.

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‘Could Reform's council victories herald the start of a new era in British politics?’

09 May 2025
‘Could Reform's council victories herald the start of a new era in British politics?’

This week, local democracy reporter Simon Finlay looks at how Reform won control of Kent County Council, and what challenges it now faces…

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New KCC Reform UK leader reveals plan for council

08 May 2025
New KCC Reform UK leader reveals plan for council

The newly-elected leader of Kent Council Council reveals her plan to bring in auditors and remove the Ukrainian flag at its HQ.

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Reform UK elect new Kent County Council leader

08 May 2025
Reform UK elect new Kent County Council leader

Reform UK councillors have tonight chosen the new leader of Kent County Council.

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KCC victory was a Reform political Exocet but the hard work starts now

02 May 2025
KCC victory was a Reform political Exocet but the hard work starts now

Local democracy reporter Simon Finlay warns that as stunning a victory as Reform UK’s was, the really hard work lies ahead.

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Kent Tories’ 28-year reign ends in a Reform UK ‘political earthquake’

02 May 2025
Kent Tories’ 28-year reign ends in a Reform UK ‘political earthquake’

The Conservatives’ 28-year rule at Kent County Council has ended in dramatic style as Reform UK caused a “political earthquake”.

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Taking the election temperature on Kent’s hottest day

01 May 2025
Taking the election temperature on Kent’s hottest day

On the hottest day of 2025 so far, Kent’s voters have been leaving their homes in steady numbers to vote in today’s elections to Kent County Council.

Lib Dem leader rules out coalition deal with county council Conservatives

30 April 2025
Lib Dem leader rules out coalition deal with county council Conservatives

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has ruled out a deal with the Conservatives to run Kent County Council after tomorrow’s election.

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Parties reveal what they’d do to fix adult social care

30 April 2025
Parties reveal what they’d do to fix adult social care

Ahead of tomorrow’s Kent County Council election we asked the different parties how they’d tackle one of the biggest problems facing local government.

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How do we fix Kent’s ‘crumbling’ roads?

29 April 2025
How do we fix Kent’s ‘crumbling’ roads?

It’s one of the most frustrating issues facing people in Kent, but how do we fix the pothole problem on Kent’s roads?

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Top Lib Dem brands Farage as Trump’s ‘friend’ and Putin’s ‘apologist’

28 April 2025
Top Lib Dem brands Farage as Trump’s ‘friend’ and Putin’s ‘apologist’

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper has launched an attack on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on a visit to Kent today.

Kent County Council Election 2025 - the big SEND debate

28 April 2025
Kent County Council Election 2025 - the big SEND debate

Ahead of this week’s Kent County Council election, we ask the main parties how they will approach Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

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Kent County Council Elections: The 12 seats to watch

27 April 2025
Kent County Council Elections: The 12 seats to watch

The result of Kent County Council election on May 1 is far from certain - but will tactical voting play its part?

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Green Party willing to be part of left-leaning ‘rainbow alliance’ at Kent County Council

25 April 2025
Green Party willing to be part of left-leaning ‘rainbow alliance’ at Kent County Council

The Green Party joint leader says a left-leaning “rainbow” coalition is possible at Kent County Council after May 1.

Tory leader says party can win Kent election

22 April 2025
Tory leader says party can win Kent election

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch made her second visit to the county in weeks, promising to scrap inheritance tax rule changes affecting farmers.

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