This week’s Kent Politics Podcast welcomes the leader of Thanet District Council Rick Everitt, who discusses social housing in the district, water quality and Manston airport.

The Labour councillor was voted in in 2011 and became the leader in 2019 having been the cabinet member for finance and assets management between 2011 and 2015.

The show also features discussions about the latest on 15 weeks of roadworks in Medway, protests over university closures and Kent County Councils budget which was approved this week.

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.

Next week, we hope to welcome Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch, who has recently revealed she will not be standing at the next general election.

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.