On this week’s episode, we talk with Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Kevin McKenna, about his decision to request Angela Rayner intervene on a planning application for 8,400 homes.

The proposals, split across two planning applications, were anticipated to be rejected by Swale council, but three hours before a meeting where the items were to be discussed, councillors were informed the deputy PM had stepped in.

It has been revealed Mr McKenna wrote a letter asking for Ms Rayner to intervene - our reporters ask him why, what he thinks it means for his political future, and how he responds to accusations he is treading on democratically-elected councillors’ toes.

The team also discuss the three council by-elections which are due to take place in Medway next year, and the breakdown of the coalition of Labour, Greens and Independents on Swale council.

They also discuss the latest news on planned devolution - with a possible mayor of Kent - and local government reorganisation - which might see all district and borough councils, as well as KCC, dissolved and new unitary authorities created.

The weekly podcast, which launched earlier this year, 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.

And KM senior news editor Nikki White takes us through the latest developments 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.

The podcast is now taking a break for Christmas and the New Year - it will be back on January 10.