Antony Hook
@antonyhook.bsky.social
Leader of the Official Opposition at Kent County Council. Liberal Democrat. Ex-MEP.
Reposted by Antony Hook
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
The analysis in this article is pretty correct. Reform are a financial mess and right now people are suffering as a result.
🔴Reform UK’s ‘Cost Cutting’ Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Reform UK's 'Cost Cutting' Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage's flagship Kent County Council, which promised to "reduce waste and cut your taxes" is set to raise bills on local taxpayers, after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
The analysis in this article is pretty correct. Reform are a financial mess and right now people are suffering as a result.
Reposted by Antony Hook
🔴Reform UK’s ‘Cost Cutting’ Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Reform UK's 'Cost Cutting' Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage's flagship Kent County Council, which promised to "reduce waste and cut your taxes" is set to raise bills on local taxpayers, after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:02 PM
🔴Reform UK’s ‘Cost Cutting’ Council Prepares to Raise Taxes After Presiding Over £46 Million Overspend
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
Nigel Farage’s flagship council, which promised to “reduce waste and cut your taxes” is set to raise bills after spending tens of millions of pounds over its budget
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/24/r...
When we eventually rejoin the EU, we'll probably qualify for greater structural funds than we did before we left.
Over at the Daily Telegraph, they're scratching their heads as to why the former mining and steel producinv city of Gliwice in Poland is now 45% more prosperous than Darlington... and why it has new shiny infrastructure... without mentioning EU funds for urban and regional development...
November 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM
When we eventually rejoin the EU, we'll probably qualify for greater structural funds than we did before we left.
Reposted by Antony Hook
So the line is that he wasn't getting paid for any of this
November 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
So the line is that he wasn't getting paid for any of this
Where I live, in Faversham, the people putting flags halfway up lamp posts are explicit that their agenda is anti-refugee. They could not be clearer about this.
Why do people think England flags have been raised on lampposts?
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
White adults
National pride: 26%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 49%
Both: 19%
Ethnic minority adults
National pride: 15%
Anti-migrant/minority sentiment: 55%
Both: 20%
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...
November 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Where I live, in Faversham, the people putting flags halfway up lamp posts are explicit that their agenda is anti-refugee. They could not be clearer about this.
The near monopoly ownership of the UK press is already a problem. Allowing another newspaper to bec swallowed into another, only makes that worse.
Birds of a feather ...
The decline of the Telegraph is complete.
The decline of the Telegraph is complete.
November 23, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The near monopoly ownership of the UK press is already a problem. Allowing another newspaper to bec swallowed into another, only makes that worse.
Dear Russian Bots hitting up my inbox,
As the great Cher Horowitz would say, "as if".
As the great Cher Horowitz would say, "as if".
November 23, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Dear Russian Bots hitting up my inbox,
As the great Cher Horowitz would say, "as if".
As the great Cher Horowitz would say, "as if".
Reposted by Antony Hook
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
This is not what the people of Kent expect from elected representatives
www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/n...
www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/n...
Leaked WhatsApp message sparks calls for Reform cabinet member to resign
A county councillor is being urged to stand down over a message he shared saying he’d like to punch a colleague in the jaw.
www.kentonline.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:30 AM
This is not what the people of Kent expect from elected representatives
www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/n...
www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/n...
My view as a former MEP is that the UK needs a independent public inquiry into the issues this case raises.
Russian diplomats were always around certain places in Brus and Stras. I don't believe Gill was the only person they targeted.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Russian diplomats were always around certain places in Brus and Stras. I don't believe Gill was the only person they targeted.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £40,000 while he was an MEP from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
My view as a former MEP is that the UK needs a independent public inquiry into the issues this case raises.
Russian diplomats were always around certain places in Brus and Stras. I don't believe Gill was the only person they targeted.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Russian diplomats were always around certain places in Brus and Stras. I don't believe Gill was the only person they targeted.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
I have a strong personal angle on Labour’s proposal of potentially returning refugees to their country of origin up to 20 years after they are granted asylum, which is appalling. It treats human lives as administrative errors to be corrected decades later.
November 19, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I have a strong personal angle on Labour’s proposal of potentially returning refugees to their country of origin up to 20 years after they are granted asylum, which is appalling. It treats human lives as administrative errors to be corrected decades later.
🚨 BREAKING: Kent County Council is hurtling towards financial oblivion under Reform.
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
November 19, 2025 at 11:46 AM
🚨 BREAKING: Kent County Council is hurtling towards financial oblivion under Reform.
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
A shocking new council report reveals a projected budget black hole of £46.5 million for this year. The Reform Administration has completely lost control of our finances. 🔶
Labour's idea of returning refugees up to 20 years after they arrive, and begin rebuilding their lives, is appalling. Paddington puts it well here and there are many, many real people who this could affect.
November 18, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Labour's idea of returning refugees up to 20 years after they arrive, and begin rebuilding their lives, is appalling. Paddington puts it well here and there are many, many real people who this could affect.
My office whiteboard... Bon Jovi edition for edition for the weekend.
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
My office whiteboard... Bon Jovi edition for edition for the weekend.
Latest from fighting Reform in Kent: libraries and tips in danger as they plan at least £42m in cuts.
These guys are worse than the Conservatives.
These guys are worse than the Conservatives.
‘We’re looking at everything’: Tip and library closures could be back on the table
The closure of the county’s tips and libraries has become a real possibility once more, it emerged this morning.
www.kentonline.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Latest from fighting Reform in Kent: libraries and tips in danger as they plan at least £42m in cuts.
These guys are worse than the Conservatives.
These guys are worse than the Conservatives.
Reposted by Antony Hook
I’ve watched yesterday’s Kent CC meeting. (Link below) My thoughts about Reform and its leader probably best kept off here….but my goodness. 😬 As a Kent resident, thank you for your professional contributions Antony. But I come away even more concerned than before.
kent.public-i.tv/core/portal/...
kent.public-i.tv/core/portal/...
County Council - Thursday 6 November 2025, 10:00am - Kent County Council Webcasting
County Council - Thursday 6 November 2025, 10:00am - Kent County Council Webcasting
kent.public-i.tv
November 7, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I’ve watched yesterday’s Kent CC meeting. (Link below) My thoughts about Reform and its leader probably best kept off here….but my goodness. 😬 As a Kent resident, thank you for your professional contributions Antony. But I come away even more concerned than before.
kent.public-i.tv/core/portal/...
kent.public-i.tv/core/portal/...
Asked for a few comments by @michaelkeohan.bsky.social as I arrived at County Hall this morning.
I said Kent faces a budget crisis, a care crisis and now a political instability crisis under Reform.
I said Kent faces a budget crisis, a care crisis and now a political instability crisis under Reform.
November 6, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Asked for a few comments by @michaelkeohan.bsky.social as I arrived at County Hall this morning.
I said Kent faces a budget crisis, a care crisis and now a political instability crisis under Reform.
I said Kent faces a budget crisis, a care crisis and now a political instability crisis under Reform.
Those who follow my office whiteboard... stand by for an update tomorrow. The pens are ready.
November 5, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Those who follow my office whiteboard... stand by for an update tomorrow. The pens are ready.
Reposted by Antony Hook
Reform in Kent have split into two political groups.
November 4, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Reform in Kent have split into two political groups.
You kept saying "you're going to need a bigger whiteboard".
We heard you. We're ready.
We heard you. We're ready.
October 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
You kept saying "you're going to need a bigger whiteboard".
We heard you. We're ready.
We heard you. We're ready.
I'm at home right now so can't update my office whiteboard but here's my artist's impression following the latest news in Kent.
October 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I'm at home right now so can't update my office whiteboard but here's my artist's impression following the latest news in Kent.
Half term was good. Back to work now.
October 27, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Half term was good. Back to work now.