Reform UK leader Nigel Farage swept into Kent today ( March 31) pledging to put people in with “business brains” at the upcoming Kent County Council elections.
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00:00Many say he's one of the most controversial figures in British politics.
00:05Others say he says what he thinks.
00:09Regardless, Nigel Farage in Hythe launching Reform UK's Kent County Council election campaign.
00:16His morning starting by greeting different business owners on the high street.
00:21Hello. We're here Bob handed.
00:23Hello, how are you?
00:24Very well indeed, thank you.
00:26His supporters dominating the town.
00:29I'm not manhandling you mate.
00:30You are manhandling me.
00:31I just wanted to say hello to our lovely politician.
00:33But his critics weren't far either.
00:36Kent County Council has almost always been conservative.
00:40But come the 1st of May, polling suggests that Nigel Farage's Reform Party could take control.
00:46Speaking to voters here in the high street, they're seeming very optimistic.
00:51He's a well spoken man isn't he?
00:54I think he'd do well.
00:56We just think that what we've got is rubbish at this moment in time.
01:00We think we've been, you know as old people, we've been taken for a ride.
01:05I think he does care about giving the people here their local autonomy and hopefully that will be for the best.
01:12But not everyone was blown away.
01:15Not him though.
01:16Why not him?
01:17Nah, I don't like him.
01:19I don't think it's a real benefit for Kent.
01:25It's difficult to tell. You hear a story and then there's nothing.
01:30And then there's a big story and then nothing.
01:33Reform UK's policies have traditionally been extremely national.
01:37If they were to take control of KCC, they'd have very little to do with these campaign slogans.
01:44But rather Mr Farage's party would be facing spiralling adult social care bills
01:50and increasing numbers of parents trying to get high needs funding for their children with special educational needs.
01:56We've stood in front of your battle bus, three slogans there.
02:00None of those really link to local councils.
02:03So what are you standing for on a local council level?
02:05There are two things here.
02:06Never forget with even a county election, the national issues still count.
02:12Here we are, 2,000 young men arrived through Dover in eight days just recently.
02:18So OK, not directly a Kent County Council issue, although of course the knock-on for child services etc. is very real.
02:25So don't forget national issues, they are relevant.
02:28I just think when one party is in power for too long, it needs a shake-up, it needs a change.
02:34What are you going to do then?
02:35We're going to come in and fix it.
02:36We're going to come in with a fresh mindset.
02:38We're going to bring our own form of doge, which you've seen in America, to Kent.
02:42Get rid of excess, stop wasting money.
02:45Tonight the party will be holding a rally in Maidstone.
02:48Details on their local issues still slim, but perhaps more will be heard this evening.
02:55Gabriel Morris in Hive.