Ed Jennings
@edjennings.bsky.social
Local news bore. Editor @kentcurrent.news @localauthority.news // He/him.
📍 Medway, UK
📍 Medway, UK
I didn't get into local journalism to set up a pen pal scheme with another Medway in Canada, but that's where life takes you sometimes.
📮 We've launched something different: A pen pal scheme between Medway and a tiny village called Port Medway in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Learn more about the project and how to get involved here 👇
Learn more about the project and how to get involved here 👇
Connecting two Medways
A new pen pal project linking Medway and Port Medway, one handwritten letter at a time
www.localauthority.news
November 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I didn't get into local journalism to set up a pen pal scheme with another Medway in Canada, but that's where life takes you sometimes.
Reposted by Ed Jennings
Hardly any of the newly elected Reform councillors had experience of local government. Among their ranks were decorators, landlords, gas engineers, teachers, a carpet-store owner, a photographer and a paramedic
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
Reform’s sinking Kent flagship
The council was supposed to show how effective Nigel Farage’s party would be in power. Those watching from close quarters have instead been treated to a spectacle of chaos, spite and division
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Hardly any of the newly elected Reform councillors had experience of local government. Among their ranks were decorators, landlords, gas engineers, teachers, a carpet-store owner, a photographer and a paramedic
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
Reposted by Ed Jennings
🗞️ Our latest issue is on sale - Welcome to Kent: A Reform UK council
Featuring @edjennings.bsky.social, @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social, Jessica Cecil, @jamesrball.com, @sonia-sodha.bsky.social and more
Get 10 weeks for £10: buff.ly/hI3VUVd
Featuring @edjennings.bsky.social, @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social, Jessica Cecil, @jamesrball.com, @sonia-sodha.bsky.social and more
Get 10 weeks for £10: buff.ly/hI3VUVd
November 20, 2025 at 9:48 AM
🗞️ Our latest issue is on sale - Welcome to Kent: A Reform UK council
Featuring @edjennings.bsky.social, @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social, Jessica Cecil, @jamesrball.com, @sonia-sodha.bsky.social and more
Get 10 weeks for £10: buff.ly/hI3VUVd
Featuring @edjennings.bsky.social, @alastaircampbell2.bsky.social, Jessica Cecil, @jamesrball.com, @sonia-sodha.bsky.social and more
Get 10 weeks for £10: buff.ly/hI3VUVd
Some personal news.
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Some personal news.
Kent politics keeps getting weirder.
🗳️ Wincheap (Canterbury) by-election result:
🟢 Peter Campbell (Green): 842
🔶 Guy Meurice (Lib Dem): 518
➡️ Colin Spooner (Reform): 351
🌹 Jasmin Dallos-Foreman (Labour): 276
🌳 Elliott Curryer (Conservative): 166
Green GAIN from Liberal Democrat
🟢 Peter Campbell (Green): 842
🔶 Guy Meurice (Lib Dem): 518
➡️ Colin Spooner (Reform): 351
🌹 Jasmin Dallos-Foreman (Labour): 276
🌳 Elliott Curryer (Conservative): 166
Green GAIN from Liberal Democrat
November 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Kent politics keeps getting weirder.
Good evening from tonight’s full Medway Council meeting.
A big meeting tonight where the council will set out their local government reorganisation position, and we also have the remaining business from last month’s abandoned meeting.
Full agenda here: democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
A big meeting tonight where the council will set out their local government reorganisation position, and we also have the remaining business from last month’s abandoned meeting.
Full agenda here: democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Good evening from tonight’s full Medway Council meeting.
A big meeting tonight where the council will set out their local government reorganisation position, and we also have the remaining business from last month’s abandoned meeting.
Full agenda here: democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
A big meeting tonight where the council will set out their local government reorganisation position, and we also have the remaining business from last month’s abandoned meeting.
Full agenda here: democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
I still can’t believe that reference survived the edit.
Listen to the interview with the Stephen Hendry of local journalism, @edjennings.bsky.social
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
November 10, 2025 at 1:28 PM
I still can’t believe that reference survived the edit.
I'm on a podcast! Sadly I wasn't asked for my views on tunnelling to the Isle of Wight though.
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
- A new episode of THE ABUNDANCE AGENDA, where we also speak to @edjennings.bsky.social about a maddening NIMBY assault on a proposed battery storage facility in Kent.
www.abundancepod.com/p/isle-of-wi...
Let's build a tunnel to the Isle of Wight!
And we check in on what Reform is doing to Kent County Council
www.abundancepod.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:34 PM
I'm on a podcast! Sadly I wasn't asked for my views on tunnelling to the Isle of Wight though.
Reposted by Ed Jennings
🎄 Flags spark as a festive stand-off, with one village claiming it can't put up Christmas lights until flags come down
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
Flags spark festive stand-off
Plus what's going on at KCC this week, a chaotic council meeting, news in brief, and more
www.kentcurrent.news
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
🎄 Flags spark as a festive stand-off, with one village claiming it can't put up Christmas lights until flags come down
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
🗣️ A chaotic Kent County Council meeting
➡️ What else is happening at KCC this week?
🗞️ News in brief, and more
Kent County Council is getting underway.
Slightly odd arrangements in place where usual press seats have been closed, leaving us in the public gallery, which has 14 seats. Far more than 14 people are here, leading to several journalists and others being left outside of the room.
But we’re in.
Slightly odd arrangements in place where usual press seats have been closed, leaving us in the public gallery, which has 14 seats. Far more than 14 people are here, leading to several journalists and others being left outside of the room.
But we’re in.
November 6, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Kent County Council is getting underway.
Slightly odd arrangements in place where usual press seats have been closed, leaving us in the public gallery, which has 14 seats. Far more than 14 people are here, leading to several journalists and others being left outside of the room.
But we’re in.
Slightly odd arrangements in place where usual press seats have been closed, leaving us in the public gallery, which has 14 seats. Far more than 14 people are here, leading to several journalists and others being left outside of the room.
But we’re in.
Another one gone in Kent.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
November 6, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Another one gone in Kent.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
Cllr Isabella Kemp, elected for Reform in May, is now listed as an independent. It is unclear at this point precisely why Cllr Kemp has exited the party.
This means Reform has now lost 9 of the 57 councillors they saw elected only six months ago.
Reposted by Ed Jennings
Characteristically excellent local reporting from @edjennings.bsky.social today. "Kent has said for years that it cannot cope alone. Geography turned the county into the UK’s de facto reception service for unaccompanied children, and capacity has repeatedly buckled."
November 3, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Characteristically excellent local reporting from @edjennings.bsky.social today. "Kent has said for years that it cannot cope alone. Geography turned the county into the UK’s de facto reception service for unaccompanied children, and capacity has repeatedly buckled."
Reposted by Ed Jennings
Reform is still in charge, at least on paper, but much of its authority now exists only in theory. If this is Reform’s model for government, Kent may have provided Britain with a warning.
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
Reform’s shambolic Kent experiment
The catastrophic mess at Kent County Council shows what happens when a populist party, with no idea how government works, gets into power
www.thenewworld.co.uk
November 2, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reform is still in charge, at least on paper, but much of its authority now exists only in theory. If this is Reform’s model for government, Kent may have provided Britain with a warning.
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
Reposted by Ed Jennings
This is fantastic. Well worth reading to get a glimpse of what a Reform government might look like.
So, er, I have the main story on the front page of the @thenewworldmag.bsky.social. Not bad for a random guy with a blog that got out of hand.
Reform’s shambolic Kent experiment
The catastrophic mess at Kent County Council shows what happens when a populist party, with no idea how government works, gets into power
www.thenewworld.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This is fantastic. Well worth reading to get a glimpse of what a Reform government might look like.
Reposted by Ed Jennings
St John's, Tunbridge Wells by-election result:
Joe Dore (TW Independents) - 20
Kit Hawes-Webb (TW Alliance) - 105
Chris Hoare (Reform) - 177
Ukonu Obasi (Lib Dem) - 629 - ELECTED
Kate Sargeant (Green) - 160
David Sumner (Conservative) - 90
Turnout: 28.4%
Joe Dore (TW Independents) - 20
Kit Hawes-Webb (TW Alliance) - 105
Chris Hoare (Reform) - 177
Ukonu Obasi (Lib Dem) - 629 - ELECTED
Kate Sargeant (Green) - 160
David Sumner (Conservative) - 90
Turnout: 28.4%
October 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
St John's, Tunbridge Wells by-election result:
Joe Dore (TW Independents) - 20
Kit Hawes-Webb (TW Alliance) - 105
Chris Hoare (Reform) - 177
Ukonu Obasi (Lib Dem) - 629 - ELECTED
Kate Sargeant (Green) - 160
David Sumner (Conservative) - 90
Turnout: 28.4%
Joe Dore (TW Independents) - 20
Kit Hawes-Webb (TW Alliance) - 105
Chris Hoare (Reform) - 177
Ukonu Obasi (Lib Dem) - 629 - ELECTED
Kate Sargeant (Green) - 160
David Sumner (Conservative) - 90
Turnout: 28.4%
Reposted by Ed Jennings
The catastrophic mess at Kent County Council shows what happens when a populist party, with no idea how government works, gets into power
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
Reform’s shambolic Kent experiment
The catastrophic mess at Kent County Council shows what happens when a populist party, with no idea how government works, gets into power
www.thenewworld.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The catastrophic mess at Kent County Council shows what happens when a populist party, with no idea how government works, gets into power
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
✏️ @edjennings.bsky.social
So, er, I have the main story on the front page of the @thenewworldmag.bsky.social. Not bad for a random guy with a blog that got out of hand.
Reform’s shambolic Kent experiment
The catastrophic mess at Kent County Council shows what happens when a populist party, with no idea how government works, gets into power
www.thenewworld.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 7:41 AM
So, er, I have the main story on the front page of the @thenewworldmag.bsky.social. Not bad for a random guy with a blog that got out of hand.
Three more Kent Reform councillors have been expelled from the party.
Cllrs Brian Black, Oliver Bradshaw, and Paul Thomas have all been kicked out for showing "a lack of integrity" and "a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour."
Cllrs Brian Black, Oliver Bradshaw, and Paul Thomas have all been kicked out for showing "a lack of integrity" and "a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour."
October 27, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Three more Kent Reform councillors have been expelled from the party.
Cllrs Brian Black, Oliver Bradshaw, and Paul Thomas have all been kicked out for showing "a lack of integrity" and "a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour."
Cllrs Brian Black, Oliver Bradshaw, and Paul Thomas have all been kicked out for showing "a lack of integrity" and "a pattern of dishonest and deceptive behaviour."
Two Kent Reform councillors have been formally expelled from the party.
Cllr Robert Ford and Cllr Bill Barrett have been kicked out after being suspended over the last fortnight for "bringing the party into disrepute."
Cllr Robert Ford and Cllr Bill Barrett have been kicked out after being suspended over the last fortnight for "bringing the party into disrepute."
October 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Two Kent Reform councillors have been formally expelled from the party.
Cllr Robert Ford and Cllr Bill Barrett have been kicked out after being suspended over the last fortnight for "bringing the party into disrepute."
Cllr Robert Ford and Cllr Bill Barrett have been kicked out after being suspended over the last fortnight for "bringing the party into disrepute."
Reposted by Ed Jennings
We've shared lots more photos from Saturday's UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester over on our Instagram:
localauthoritynews on Instagram: "More photos from Saturday’s UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester. All photos: Authority Media.🔗 Link to full coverage in bi…"
More photos from Saturday’s UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester. All photos: Authority Media.🔗 Link to full coverage in bio/story.
www.instagram.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:01 PM
We've shared lots more photos from Saturday's UKIP march and counter-protest in Rochester over on our Instagram:
Yes, Medway is doing just fine, thank you very much. Why do you ask?
October 22, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Yes, Medway is doing just fine, thank you very much. Why do you ask?
Four Reform councillors in Kent have been suspended following a leaked video of internal disagreements over the weekend.
Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Maxine Fothergill, and Bill Barrett have all lost the whip this morning.
Reform in Kent have now lost 7 of the 57 councillors elected in May.
Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Maxine Fothergill, and Bill Barrett have all lost the whip this morning.
Reform in Kent have now lost 7 of the 57 councillors elected in May.
October 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Four Reform councillors in Kent have been suspended following a leaked video of internal disagreements over the weekend.
Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Maxine Fothergill, and Bill Barrett have all lost the whip this morning.
Reform in Kent have now lost 7 of the 57 councillors elected in May.
Paul Thomas, Oliver Bradshaw, Maxine Fothergill, and Bill Barrett have all lost the whip this morning.
Reform in Kent have now lost 7 of the 57 councillors elected in May.
Turns out basing your entire business model around Substack isn't necessarily ideal when Amazon decides to break the internet.
October 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Turns out basing your entire business model around Substack isn't necessarily ideal when Amazon decides to break the internet.
Reposted by Ed Jennings
Really enjoyed doing this!
Fantastic discussion on #local #journalism at @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social @mediacomgold.bsky.social with @bbcnews.bsky.social's Jason Gibbins, @davidfloydnews.bsky.social & @localauthority.news's @edjennings.bsky.social. Please join us for the next one, Oct 21.Details👇 www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id...
October 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Really enjoyed doing this!