This week’s Kent Politics Podcast welcomes outgoing Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson who discusses his record, the upcoming general election and education issues on the Island.

The veteran Tory, who is stepping down after 14 years in the role, explains why he thinks Brexit has been a success and how current opinion polls can’t be trusted.

Available now, the show also features discussion on Medway Council’s decision to halt a proposed innovation park project and concerns over a development near a key historic site in the county.

The weekly podcast, which launched last month, brings together local democracy reporters, Simon Finlay, Robert Boddy, Dan Esson and KM Media Group political editor Paul Francis.

Simon covers Kent County Council while Robert reports on Medway Council and Dan specialises in borough and district councils.

Paul brings his weekly Westminster Watch review – highlighting what’s happening in parliament and how it affects the county.

Mr Henderson will be standing down at the next election with his constituency party selecting Aisha Cuthbert as the Tory candidate.

Labour has yet to announce who it has selected for the constituency, which it previously held from 1997 to 2010.

Next week, we hope to welcome Thanet District Council leader Cllr Rick Everitt to the show.

You can listen to the podcast at IM Listening, or download it from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and TuneIn – just search for Kent Politics Podcast.

New episodes are available each Friday.

The podcast is the latest move to increase KentOnline’s political coverage ahead of a general election likely to be held later this year.

In recent months we also launched bespoke sections on KentOnline highlighting Kent Politics and Medway Politics.

Added to this is the highly-respected Kent Politics Show which airs on KMTV each Friday evening.