Today marks 100 days since Reform UK took charge of Kent County Council with a massive, unassailable majority.

Local democracy reporter Simon Finlay looks back on the timeline of a colourful, controversial and eventful opening chapter in the authority’s new administration…

When the polling stations opened on May 1, most observers of local politics were predicting that no party would gain overall control at Kent County Council (KCC).

They thought that Reform UK, riding high in the national polls, would easily be the biggest party but a long, long way from the 41 seats needed to win outright.

Even party insiders did not think Nigel Farage’s fledgling outfit could do it.

A poll carried out by Electoral Calculus, in partnership with the Daily Telegraph, forecast that Reform would, indeed,

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