KentOnline

Podcast: Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces confidence vote following Partygate scandal

Kent's MPs will vote tonight on whether they still have faith in Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

Hear from our political editor Paul Francis on why the confidence vote is happening now and what the ramifications could be.

North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale has also spoken out and we've been asking some of you what you think.

Also in today's podcast, a Gravesend mum says her special needs son no longer wants to leave the house because he's been out of school for a year.

10-year-old Ethan has autism and ADHD, as well as additional speech and language needs. Find out how it's affecting them.

A Dartford woman who was born with a birthmark on her face has been explaining how she uses TikTok to campaign against bullying.

Caitlin Ounsworth grew up being ashamed of her port wine stain - and was even picked on at school.

She's shared her story as part of the Changing Faces campaign.

And in sport, Kent have got their first win of the season and Gillingham now know all of the teams they'll be taking on in league two next season.

Podcast: People in Kent recognised in Queen’s birthday honours as Platinum Jubilee celebrations take place

One of Kent's MPs has been recognised in the Queen's birthday honours.

Tracey Crouch, who represents Chatham and Aylesford, has been awarded a CBE for the work she did on the fan led review into football governance.

Meantime, the CEO of a company that arranges community events across the county to bring people of all faiths together has also been honoured.

Gurvinder Sandher gets an MBE.

Also in today's podcast, it's two years since a large cliff collapse destroyed a home on Sheppey.

People living there say they are still battling to protect their properties.

Hear about the many events taking place in Kent to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

And in sport, Gillingham have made their first signing of the summer.

Podcast: Customer’s post about size of pizza from Westgate Pizza goes viral

The KentOnline Podcast has been told people are missing medical appointments because they simply can't afford the petrol to get there.
Prices at the forecourts have reached another record high - and there's a warning it'll get even worse within days.
Hear from Kent campaigner Howard Cox from FairFuelUK.
Also in today's episode, Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner is accusing the Met of trying to "poach" the county's best officers.
As part of a major recruitment drive, the London force is offering new officers a £5,000 incentive to join them.
We've spoken to Matthew Scott and got a response from the Met.
Meantime, more than 1 in 10 police officers are struggling to make ends meet, according to the results of a survey seen by the KentOnline Podcast.
130,000 members of the police federation were invited to take part at the end of last year - before the cost of living crisis really took hold.
Laoise Gallagher has been speaking to the man who heads up the federation in the county.
Ahead of the long jubilee weekend, we've been speaking to the Queen's representative in Kent.
Lady Bella Colgrain is the Lord Lieutenant and carries out duties on her majesty's behalf.
She'll be at a thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral which forms part of the national celebrations.
And, a takeaway in Canterbury has come under fire after a customer complained over the size of their pizza.
The disgruntled customer ordered a 12 inch pizza, but whipped out the tape measure when it arrived - Joe Wright has the full story.

Podcast: Warning after ’tracker’ found on car parked at Bluewater shopping centre

A woman has issued a warning after a suspected tracker was found on her car.

The device had been attached to the Audi and was spotted when the owner returned to the vehicle while it as parked at Bluewater.

Also in today's podcast, a woman who broke her friend's eye socket and assaulted two children at a birthday party has avoided being sent to prison.

Hear from our reporter Sean Axtell from Canterbury Crown Court.

For the first time ever, we've found out just how long it takes police forces across the country to answer 999 callls. And it's not great news for Kent.

Out of 43 forces in total, the county came 33rd when it comes to speediness - we've got reaction from Chief Superintendent Mark Nottage.

It's been revealed children as young as 10 in Kent are worrying about the cost of living crisis.

The findings are from UK Youth charity.

A Folkestone barber who's dedicated his salon to his favourite TV comedy is hoping it'll lift spirits and help get men talking about their mental health.

Nathan Scotford has rebranded his business Cushty Cuts in honour of Only Fools and Horses and has been speaking to reporter Rhys Griffiths.

And, a new LGBTQ+ audio tour is being set up in Maidstone to celebrate pride month.

Hear from Amy Riley from the Hazlitt Theatre which is setting up the project.

Podcast: Dog attacks in Marden near Maidstone leave pet owners fearing for their animals’ safety

Pet owners in a village near Maidstone say they are worried about their animals' safety following a series of dog attacks.
Residents in Marden say a Bully breed dog has attacked several other animals - including a Dachshund that died from the injuries.
Find out what the RSPCA and police have had to say.
Also in today's podcast, drivers are still being urged to avoid part of Gravesend town centre after a huge fire saw part of a building collapse into the street.
It's still not known what started the blaze at the listed property on Queen Street last Thursday.
The councillor for the area has described the devastation.
A best man and his wife from Snodland have been injured after a car ploughed into a wedding convoy as they headed to the ceremony in Crete.
Dean and Gemma Fitton were left trapped and had to be flown back to Britain by air ambulance after it happened earlier - Dean has been recounting what happened.
As half term gets under way, lifeguards are returning to patrol beaches in Kent.
Last year, the RNLI teams attended more than 500 incidents on the coast in the county and saved four lives.
And, with just days to go until the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, hear from the hospice in north Kent recording a song for her Majesty.
You can also find out where to get information on the beacons being lit across the county.

Podcast: Buildings left badly damaged after fires at Whitstable Harbour and in former Gravesend pub

Buildings have been left badly damaged following two large fires in Kent.
The blazes broke out at Whitstable Harbour and in Gravesend town centre at around the same time yesterday lunchtime.

Hear from our reporter who's seen demolition crews turn up to tear down the cockle shed on the coast.
Also in today's podcast, two men have been arrested after a fight involving a knife in Chatham High Street.
Hear the moment it was caught on camera.
A Medway charity has been reacting to the Chancellor's announcement to help struggling families with the cost of living.
Neil Charlick is from Gillingham Street Angels which supports a number of people through their food bank.
The KentOnline Podcast has been told there is now an "epidemic" of mental health issues among students.
Bosses at The Howard School in Rainham have told us children are coming to them every day asking for help.
Hear from assistant headteacher, Julie Parish and Steve Julian who is deputy head of sixth form.
It's being claimed the Lower Thames Crossing will be the "greenest road ever built in the UK".
It's hoped the tunnel linking the A2 near Gravesend with Tilbury in Essex will help reduce congestion at Dartford and we've been speaking to one of the chiefs behind it.
And, in sport, the Kent Spitfires are back in T20 Blast action and find out how the Gillingham boss is getting on with signing new recruits.

Podcast: Fires break out in building at Whitstable Harbour and former pub in Gravesend

Firefighters have been tackling a large fire in a building at Whitstable Harbour.
Crews were called at around 1.30pm - hear from our reporter Lydia Chantler-Hicks at the scene.

Meantime, there's been disruption in Gravesend following a blaze at a former pub.
Aerial footage shows the roof of the building on Queen Street has collapsed.
Also in today's podcast, ahead of schools breaking up for half term tomorrow, we're being warned there could be major disruption on Kent's roads as people look to get away.
Highways bosses are predicting lorries will need to queue within Operation Brock on the M20.
Hear from Toby Howe who is part of the Kent Resilience Forum.
Eight million low-income households are getting a one-off payment of £650 to help with the rise in the cost of living.
The Chancellor's been detailing measures in the House of Commons, to support the most vulnerable.
Friends of a Kent teenager who was murdered while walking to meet a friend have paid tribute at the opening of a new centre named in her memory.
16-year-old Claire Tiltman was attacked in an alleyway in Greenhithe back in 1993.
A new 145-mile cycling route is being launched in Kent.
It starts and ends in the village of Wye near Ashford with the people behind it saying it's the perfect introduction to cycling tourism - we've been speaking to Cycling UK.
And, ahead of next week's long weekend, the first of many Jubilee street parties has been held in Kent.
Hundreds of school children gathered in Gravesend along with people from the town celebrating their 70th birthdays.

Podcast: Canterbury man reacts after his picture was shared in an appeal to track down suspected fly-tippers

A Canterbury dad has spoken out after his picture was posted online in a bid to track down suspected fly-tippers.

Liam Blackwell says his children are being picked on in school after the image was circulated by Canterbury City Council.

Hear what he's had to say at the reaction from the authority.

Also in today's podcast, research has found you can book a flight to some European cities for less than the price of train ticket from Kent to London.

Commuters have to pay as much as £65 a day if they're travelling from somewhere like Ashford to get to work.

That's twice as expensive as a seat on a plane to Barcelona - which we found online for just £30.

We've got reaction from campaign group We Own It.

A report's revealed what life's like inside a prison housing some of Kent's most notorious killers.

Wayne Couzens, David Fuller and Michael Stone among those being held at HMP Frankland - a Category A jail in County Durham.

The KentOnline Podcast has been told how a new programme in Kent will hopefully stop young people from ending up in county lines drug gangs.

It's called Catch22 and is all about preventing vulnerable youngsters from being targeted - hear from one of the people in charge.

And, Kent get their T20 blast campaign under way tonight.

The defending champions welcome Somerset to Canterbury - hear from captain Sam Billings and coach Matt Walker.

Podcast: Police chief says violence in ’lawless’ Ramsgate is being tackled with new officers on patrol

If you thought Partygate had all been dealt with, it seems you would be wrong.
Hear from the Kent MP who is calling on the Prime Minister to resign after a picture emerged of Boris Johnson raising a glass with colleagues during a lockdown party.
Also in today's podcast, police insist action is being taken to tackle violence and late-night disorder in Ramsgate.
Bosses have called for an urgent meeting amid claims the town is becoming more dangerous - find out what officers are planning to do.
A leading pub boss in Kent has admitted he's concerned about how the cost of living crisis will affect hospitality.
The industry is only just getting back on its feet after being closed for longer than most other sectors during the pandemic. Hear from Phil Thorley from Thorley Taverns in Thanet.
A Kent mum has spoken candidly to the KentOnline Podcast about the maternity treatment she received - and she fears it was so bad, because of the colour of her skin.
Tinu Alikor is from Tunbridge Wells and her story is nothing short of shocking.
It comes after a damning report by charity Birthrights found 'systemic racism' in UK maternity care.
We've been along to the opening of the Gaia exhibition at Rochester Cathedral.
A giant sculpture of the earth will be on display there until next month.
And, we've been catching up with sprinter Adam Gemili who's been back to his former school in Dartford.
He's hoping to inspire children to get more active after missing out on PE during the pandemic.

Podcast: Man stabbed in children’s play park in Park Wood area of Maidstone

A man has been arrested following a stabbing in a children's play area in Maidstone.
The victim - who's in his 20s - was flown to hospital after it happened in the Park Wood area of the town late last night. Hear from our reporter who's been to the scene.
A mum, who's been described as a hero, has spoken about the moment her young son fell into a manhole.
18-month-old Theo disappeared down the hole when the cover gave-way as they walked in Ashford.
A new domestic abuse hub has been set up by Kent Police, which includes a video chat service for victims.
It's the first of it's kind by a police force in the country and evidence recorded in the videos could be used in any future prosecution.
Lucy Hickmott has been speaking to Deborah Cartwright from the Oasis charity and Detective Chief Superintendent Samantha Price.
The owner of an eco business in Dartford fears rising prices in shops will force people to be less environmentally friendly.
Last week we told you how inflation had reached a 40 year high of 9% - hear from Louise Potter on how it could affect her company.
And, the work of teachers and support staff in the county has been recognised.
The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards were held in Ashford on Friday night marking the contributions that staff make to our children's education.