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Catch up with all the latest news from across the county with Abby Hook.
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00:00Hello, good evening and welcome to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
00:28I'm Abbey Hook, here are your top stories on Thursday the 31st of July.
00:34Under threat, Shadow Chancellor exclusively speaks to KMTV about Kent's rural economy.
00:41So we need to look at a much lower tax situation, particularly for businesses because they are the engines.
00:48Chartered in Chatham, Spanish galleon replica docks at Chatham Marina as part of its world tour.
00:55It's surprising to find that even this replica has sailed around the world and the captain, brilliant, and his crew, most of whom young volunteers.
01:03And building his future. Maidstone's schoolboy hopes his passion for engineering will drive him into a full-time career.
01:12I like this one being two-seater, it's my first two-seater thing and it's also my first thing with suspension.
01:16Thank you very much, Jim.
01:46You couldn't imagine Kent without its sweeping fields and farms.
01:58It is, after all, the Garden of England.
02:02So protecting the rural economy matters to pubs like this one in Bethesden, where they serve Kentish wines and local beers.
02:10I think without the George, the economy would be really rather hollow.
02:15The George opened a little more than two years ago and it's owned by the local community.
02:21And for every transaction that happens behind the bar, that goes towards supporting the local economy.
02:27But many businesses say rising taxes are putting them under threat.
02:31The Shadow Chancellor visited the county to hear those concerns.
02:35So we need to look at a much lower tax situation, particularly for businesses, because they are the engines of growth.
02:43We've got to look at the kind of regulation that is tying our businesses up.
02:47We've got to be looking at easing that.
02:50Mel Stride met with businesses and says one message came through clearly.
02:54The rise in employer, national and insurance contributions.
02:58And it's something being felt behind this bar.
03:00In 2025, how hard is it to run a pub?
03:05It is very demanding.
03:09And the way that we address it is that the committee meets every fortnight to look at short-term plans and indeed longer-term plans.
03:19With the recent increases in costs imposed upon us, we really have had to search.
03:25Since April, businesses have had to pay 1.8% more.
03:29The government says it was a difficult but necessary decision.
03:33One that won't impact employees, but is crucial to funding public services.
03:38But for the local MP, it's not the only government policy causing concern.
03:42One of the things that worries me is we have, for better or for worse, a very urban government and a very urban cabinet.
03:49And they don't really understand the countryside.
03:51They don't really understand how the economy works in places like this, particularly things like flexible working, which they're making it much harder to do.
03:57So, I think it's really important, and I see it as a huge part of my job, to get out there and advocate for the rural economy and explain how it is we work around here.
04:06Of course, Labour aren't here today.
04:07But if they were here, I'm sure they would be arguing you had 14 years in charge in government.
04:12Many businesses then were saying they were struggling with energy bills.
04:16What would you say to the voters?
04:19How would you win them back in the future?
04:21Well, we had a lot of challenges at the end of our time in office, not least the Ukraine-Russia war and very high inflation that followed.
04:27But on the day of the general election, in fact, we had brought inflation down to bang on target at 2%.
04:32It's now double that and rising.
04:34We had near full level of, a very high record level of employment, very low level of unemployment.
04:42And we had seen the economy at that point growing at the fastest rate in the G7.
04:48The government recognises the impact of tax changes on businesses.
04:51But Conservatives today insisted their focus on protecting the rural economy, something they say it's vital to Kent's identity and future.
05:01Gabriel Morris for KNTV in Bethesden.
05:06In other news, a landlord in Ashford's been left with a £60,000 repair bill after three of his properties were turned into cannabis farms.
05:15Fergus Wilson found the illegal factories on routine inspections of three of his houses across the county.
05:23Kent Police says forensic examinations have been undertaken, but no arrests have yet been made.
05:28The 76-year-old landlord estimates the damage could cost up to £20,000 per property.
05:34Money, he says, cannot be claimed back on insurance.
05:37Now, outrage and surprise on the streets of Gravesend today as voters react to the news that Adam Holloway, former MP for the area, has defected from the Conservatives to reform UK.
05:53Some think he was a good MP, others less convinced.
05:56But Rebel says he doesn't believe his former party have the answers for the country anymore.
06:02Local democracy reporter Oli Leder headed into his former constituency to gauge public reaction.
06:08He's been an army officer, a broadcaster and an MP.
06:13Now Adam Holloway can add another title to his CV.
06:19Defector.
06:20This week, the former representative for Gravesham for nearly two decades jumped ship from the Conservatives to reform UK.
06:30But having been ousted by Labour last year, is his move sincere?
06:36I come with humility.
06:38When I saw Farage, I didn't ask him for anything.
06:40You know, please can I have my seat or nothing like that.
06:44You know, I'm just slowly, slowly going to see what I can do to help because there is a very big job, as you rightly identified, for reform over the next few years.
06:53Adam Holloway says his defection to reform UK isn't about winning his old seats back.
07:01But if there was to be an election here in Gravesend tomorrow, the party would likely come out on top.
07:08Which raises the question, do people know who Adam Holloway actually is?
07:13And would they support him if he were to run again?
07:17Do you know who this is right here?
07:19Unfortunately, yes.
07:20I recognise the face, but I don't know who he is.
07:23Adam Holloway.
07:24Adam, that's it. Adam Holloway, that's right, yes.
07:27Did you know that he's switched to reform UK?
07:30Has he really?
07:32Well done. He's done a good job.
07:34Well, that's a good move, but better late than never, I suppose.
07:36Oh, well. Good for him. Good for him.
07:38I mean, you know, you choose your own, what you ever want to do, don't you?
07:44It's probably doing the right thing.
07:46You switch into a team that are going to run this country a lot better than it's been running at the moment.
07:52Any person who's been here long enough who's from an immigrant background can see these people coming from a mile off.
07:58We know their type. We're very familiar with them from the days of Enoch Powell to now Nigel Farage.
08:03So you can be rest assured that they wouldn't be getting my vote.
08:06You wouldn't be voting for him again if he stood here again?
08:08Definitely not.
08:08It's well known around Gravesend area and he has helped and done a lot of things for a lot of people.
08:15So, yeah, possibly.
08:17Yes, I would, yes.
08:19Very conservative here with Graveship, so I don't know. I don't think. I don't think he'll get Graveship, no.
08:25Whether or not he will run again is up in the air.
08:29But with the election not expected until 2029, he has plenty of time to make up his mind.
08:37Olly Leda in Gravesend.
08:40Some mixed views there for sure now.
08:43The Now Victoria ship has stopped off at Chatham's marina on its world tour.
08:48It's a replica of the Spanish galleon which sailed the seas in the 16th century and now it's run by volunteers.
08:54Kristen Hawthorne hopped on board to speak to some of the sailors.
08:57I'm here on the Now Victoria docked at the Chatham marina. To give you a bit of an insight about what it's all about, I'm joined by Richard from the Chatham Maritime Trust.
09:06So, you told me that last year more than 3,000 people came here. How many are you expecting this year?
09:11Oh, I'm sure we'll have at least 3,000 and hopefully more, as well as probably twice that number that come and look at the boat from on the shore.
09:19The boat is here. We're very lucky that it's one of two places in the UK that it comes to visit every year.
09:25And it's wonderful for visitors, local residents and for the businesses on the estate.
09:30Fabulous, fabulous. And then this is Marta. Her grandfather actually built the ship.
09:35Can you tell me a bit about that and how long it took him and what the inspiration was?
09:38So, they started in 1991 and it took them about one year, one year and a half.
09:44Through that year, they did a lot of historical research because it's an exact replica of the one of the 16th century.
09:52And after that, in 2004, they followed the steps of their ancestors and they did a circumnavigation that took them about two years.
10:03And the ship goes all around the world, doesn't it?
10:05And now it's only Europe. In summer, we do a tour around Europe.
10:10So, now we're touring. We'll go to Rotterdam or another festivals around Europe, Amsterdam, Birmingham in Germany and then goes back home.
10:19Fabulous. And then to make things even more exciting, we also have Claire from Sheppie Pirates.
10:24He is planning a reenactment on Saturday. What sort of things do you wear and what's the reaction that you get from that?
10:29We reenact 16th and 17th century maritime history, especially the golden age of piracy.
10:34We're here to support the maritime trust as well as the Nail Victoria.
10:41We've worked with them before, the Nail Victoria and a sister ship, and Lucia.
10:46And we will be firing black powder weapons and bringing history to life on board ship to help these guys.
10:54Because it's really, really important to let the public know the history of this area and bring it to life and make it fun.
11:01And the more visitors here possible, brilliant, and brilliant for the Nail Victoria Trust as well.
11:07Earlier today, I also spoke to the mayor, who told me what this brings to the local community.
11:11It was surprising to find that even this replica has sailed around the world.
11:16And the captain, brilliant, and his crew, most of whom young volunteers.
11:20And it's very exciting. I do hope that many people in Medway will take the chance to come and see it, because it's quite an inspiring story.
11:27Now, this ship is certainly something that you don't get to see every day, usually only in films.
11:33But this week, from today until the 3rd of August, you don't have to go to the movies to feel like a pirate.
11:38And with the reenactment happening this Saturday, well, it's all hands on deck.
11:43Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV in Chatham.
11:45And no, she didn't walk the plank. See you after the break.
15:09Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
15:16Now, back in May, we met up with Bugs Matter
15:18to find out about the decline in insects across Kent and the UK
15:22since they've been collecting data to find out why.
15:26Well, you can find Daisy's report on our website, it's kmtv.co.uk,
15:30alongside all our latest stories.
15:32But let's take a look back at their campaign.
15:35Taking the time to look closer at nature,
15:37you may get the chance to see a pollinator feeding on flowers
15:40and even crane flies taking flight.
15:43Insects play an important part of our ecosystem,
15:47underpinning our food chain which supports birds, mammals and other wildlife.
15:51But research is showing that their population is declining.
15:54Bugs Matter is a national systems of science survey of flying insect abundance,
16:00led by the Kent Wildlife Trust in partnership with the invertebrate charity Bug Life.
16:04Volunteers take part by cleaning their number plate ahead of a drive.
16:08Then using the Bug Matter app, they monitor their journey.
16:11Recent data collected showed there were 30% more journeys recorded in 2024 than in 2023.
16:17So when you've finished your journey,
16:20you take a photo of a number plate
16:24using the virtual splatometer.
16:31You count the number of bug splats.
16:34One, two, three.
16:39Enter that in the app.
16:42Say whether it rained or not.
16:44And that's it.
16:46Submit.
16:47And that submits the post splat count along with the journey route.
16:51But the latest data has revealed that the number of insects sampled on a vehicle's number plate
16:56across the UK has fallen by 63% since 2021.
17:00Unfortunately, they are in decline due to all the usual factors
17:04that are affecting most biodiversity.
17:06So land cover change, loss of natural habitats, pollution, climate change,
17:15you know, all these big drivers of biodiversity loss.
17:17When you consider where, what the terrestrial surface of our planet looked like a few thousand
17:22years ago, we've transformed it from swathes of natural habitat to huge areas of agriculture.
17:29But these small creatures may have a bigger impact than we may think.
17:32Insects and other invertebrates provide a huge number of essential services, I guess you could
17:39call them, which support human life and the life of other animals.
17:44So they do things like they pollinate our crops.
17:46They help to break down waste and recycle nutrients.
17:52And insects are food for other animals.
17:55Lots of birds, lots of fish, lots of mammals feed on insects.
17:59So they provide these services, so these essential parts in the food chains and the functioning of
18:05ecosystems.
18:06But they're also important in their own right.
18:08It is hoped by tracking the bug splats on vehicle number plates,
18:11we will have a better understanding of how their abundance is changing over time.
18:15Daisy Page for KMTV.
18:18And since that campaign to track the amount of bugs on number plates, volunteers have
18:24discovered that the bug population has fallen by at least 60% over the last four years.
18:29It's being chalked up to both environmental factors and people killing flies in their homes,
18:35which charities say needs to stop.
18:38Well, Fimit Dermid spoke with Paul Hetherington from Bug Life about the issue earlier.
18:42Well, thank you for joining me, Paul.
18:45And first of all, talk to us a bit about why we're seeing lots of this advice about not killing bugs.
18:51So this year, people are saying there are more bugs about.
18:55And yes, there are probably more bugs about than there were last year and perhaps the year before last.
18:59But there are a lot fewer bugs about than there have been.
19:03We've seen a 63% fall in the abundance of bugs since 2021.
19:09So they are now getting almost to the point where they're going to become critically endangered.
19:14And that's why we must do everything we can to protect those that are around.
19:17This year has been quite good for bugs in terms of the weather conditions,
19:21which has enabled them to breed more and hopefully start to repopulate.
19:26But it's important that we protect those that have survived so that hopefully the population growth can continue,
19:33because without them, our planet's going to be in a terrible mess.
19:37I see. And when you say bugs, are there any specific species of insect or is that sort of just a blanket term for insects in general?
19:43I'm using bugs here as a blanket term for insects.
19:49And the data actually relates to flying insects, the data we've collected.
19:54I see. And you mentioned there that the nature and the environment and biodiversity might be in trouble.
20:00Could you expand on that?
20:02What exactly would the knock-on effects be if these bug populations decrease?
20:06So we are dependent upon insects for so many things.
20:10The one most people understand is pollinators, and they reckon one in three mouthfuls that we eat.
20:15And also eight out of every ten of the wildflowers we enjoy in our countryside are dependent upon pollinators,
20:21which are all insects in this country, in order to reproduce.
20:24So there'd be no pears, apples, raspberries, plums, tomatoes, but not even things like carrots,
20:34because you need pollinators to set the seed for next year's carrots.
20:37So we'd lose all that food, and we'd lose virtually all of our wildflowers.
20:41So that on its own would be terrible.
20:43But then they play such an important role.
20:46People hate going outside and seeing lots of poo around.
20:49Well, where does the poo go?
20:50Well, obviously, some of it gets put in poo bins, but most of it gets eaten up by things like fly larvae and dung beetles.
20:58So they're also crucially important.
21:00They also play big roles in controlling pests, in fertilising our soil, breaking down dead plant material,
21:07turning it back into fertiliser.
21:09And they even have roles to play in keeping our river systems clean and free of pollutants.
21:15I see.
21:16And with these decreases in the population, what do you think is causing that?
21:20Do you think it is people harming the bugs themselves, or is it environmental changes?
21:25It's a horrible combination.
21:28I mean, first and foremost, it is that loss of habitat.
21:31And with that loss of habitat, you've got loss of connectivity.
21:34And what that then means is the next time you lose a good piece of habitat,
21:38you probably lose everything living in it because it can't get anywhere else to live.
21:42So it's a horrible, vicious circle that gets worse and worse as time goes by.
21:47There is our overuse of chemicals.
21:49And by that, I'm talking about herbicides, as well as your more standard pesticides,
21:53because the herbicides are taking out the flowers that they need to live on.
21:58Climate change is also having an impact.
22:00It's allowing non-native species to move into their territory.
22:05And again, because of that lack of connectivity,
22:07our own bugs are not able to move to a more temperate climate, which is what they're used to.
22:12So it's a horrible, vicious circle of different things coming on top of one another that is fueling this decline.
22:19All right.
22:20Now it's time to take a look at the weather where you are for the coming days.
22:28Well, starting off tonight, there's a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms.
22:32It's been active throughout today, scheduled to finish at 9pm into tomorrow morning.
22:36Partly cloudy weather to be expected, with temperatures between 17 and 18 by the coast.
22:42Some of that wind and rain clearing in the afternoon.
22:45Temperatures reaching 21 degrees in some parts.
22:49Staying pretty cloudy into early next week.
22:52Some sunshine potentially on Saturday.
22:55Highs of 22 across the board.
23:06Now, for most 15-year-olds eager to start building projects,
23:10perhaps Lego or toy shop robotics would be the first step.
23:14But for one schoolboy in Borough Green near Maidstone,
23:17engineering his very own electric buggy, capable of reaching 50 miles per hour,
23:23marks the latest in a long line of inventions he hopes will lead him to a future in mechanical engineering.
23:30Our reporter Bartholomew Hall was taken for a spin.
23:33Meet the 15-year-old mechanical enthusiast building a future in engineering all from his front garden in Borough Green.
23:44Aaron Mitchell's latest project is this fully kitted out electric buggy,
23:49customised with lights, seating and, of course, a personalised plate,
23:53all converted from what was a petrol-driven stock.
23:57I mean, I've got most of it online and a lot of it is trial and error.
24:02So I'd build stuff if something didn't go as I wanted it to, I'd tweak it.
24:06And then until it worked, I could also look online to see ways so I can tweak it.
24:11It's certainly not Aaron's first build either.
24:14Ever since the age of four, Aaron tells me he's always been on the hunt for electronics he can pull apart and reconfigure.
24:21These are just a few of the hybrid petrol and electronic go-kart designs.
24:25His new one, though, is the first to be fully electric.
24:29I used it for a while while it was petrol, but I wasn't happy with the speed I was getting from it.
24:33And also the engine was quite a rough engine and I thought, oh, it's better off if I change it to electric drive
24:38because then it's actually something I built as well.
24:41I like this one being two-seater.
24:42It's my first two-seater thing and it's also my first thing with suspension.
24:49All supported, of course, by mum and dad, who tell me they've grown to overcome any initial fears.
24:55I think in the early days, as every parent would be a little bit worried, you know, that he's going to blow himself up.
25:03But I soon realised that he was quite capable and has proved himself to be that
25:08because he knows more than probably some adults.
25:14Can someone with no engineering qualifications and no experience of flying make something that actually leaves the ground?
25:21One of Aaron's biggest inspirations is Colin Furze, a YouTuber who's made a name for himself making wacky inventions.
25:29He was watching a lot of Colin Furze on YouTube.
25:33And he got a bit obsessed with that and that's great.
25:36And he started wanting to make things and I'm just, son, you want to do it, you do it.
25:40If he wanted me to help him, it was because he was stuck.
25:43But he very rarely says, dad, do this, dad, do that.
25:46He does it all himself.
25:49So here we are riding along in the electric buggy now, not making too much noise
25:53thanks to the seven and a half kilowatt motor behind us.
25:57I'm told this thing can get up to speeds of 50 miles an hour.
26:01Ah!
26:02Perhaps a thrill best left to the expert.
26:04So with a future in engineering pretty much assured, Aaron's electric dream is sure to become reality.
26:11Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Borough Green.
26:14And he did get back nice and safely as well.
26:19Looked like a lot of fun, that one.
26:21All right, time for us to take a very quick break now.
26:23But coming up, all our headlines today.
26:25We're going to hear from the Kent MP, former Kent MP, who defected from the Conservative Party
26:30to join Reform UK.
26:32The first one here in Kent.
26:34We'll hear why after the break.
26:35And if people in Gravesend actually know who he is, even when he was their MP.
26:41Also, we'll be hopping on board with Kristen to the name of Victoria.
26:45It's the Spanish galleon ship from the 16th century, a replica docked in Chatham.
26:51See you after the break.
30:12Hello and welcome back to Kent Tonight, live on KMTV.
30:15Here's a look at our headlines on Thursday 31st July.
30:19Under threat, Shadow Chancellor exclusively speaks to KMTV about Kent's rural economy.
30:28Chartered in Chatham, Spanish galleon replica docks at Medway Marina as part of its world tour.
30:35And building his future.
30:38Maidstone's schoolboy hopes his passion for engineering will drive him to a full-time career.
30:44To our main story this morning, the government is threatening the rural economy.
30:51That's the warning from the Shadow Chancellor during a visit to Kent.
30:55Speaking exclusively to KMTV, Mel Stride told us the Conservatives would cut taxes for businesses if they win the next general election.
31:03But Labour says it's investing millions into rural areas to boost productivity across the country.
31:10Gabriel Morris has more.
31:12You couldn't imagine Kent without its sweeping fields and farms.
31:17It is, after all, the Garden of England.
31:20So protecting the rural economy matters to pubs like this one in Bethesden, where they serve Kentish wines and local beers.
31:29I think without the George, the economy would be really rather hollow.
31:34The George opened a little more than two years ago and it's owned by the local community.
31:39And for every transaction that happens behind the bar, that goes towards supporting the local economy.
31:45But many businesses say rising taxes are putting them under threat.
31:50The Shadow Chancellor visited the county to hear those concerns.
31:54So we need to look at a much lower tax situation, particularly for businesses, because they are the engines of growth.
32:02We've got to look at the kind of regulation that is tying our businesses up.
32:06We've got to be looking at easing that.
32:09Mel Stride met with businesses and says one message came through clearly.
32:12The rise in employer, national and insurance contributions.
32:16And it's something being felt behind this bar.
32:19In 2025, how hard is it to run a pub?
32:23It is very demanding.
32:28And the way that we address it is that the committee meets every fortnight to look at short-term plans and indeed longer-term plans.
32:37With the recent increases in costs imposed upon us, we really have had to search.
32:44Since April, businesses have had to pay 1.8% more.
32:48The government says it was a difficult but necessary decision.
32:51One that won't impact employees, but is crucial to funding public services.
32:57But for the local MP, it's not the only government policy causing concern.
33:01One of the things that worries me is we have, for better or for worse, a very urban government and a very urban cabinet.
33:07And they don't really understand the countryside.
33:10They don't really understand how the economy works in places like this, particularly things like flexible working, which they're making it much harder to do.
33:16So I think it's really important, and I see it as a huge part of my job, to get out there and advocate for the rural economy and explain how it is we work around here.
33:25Of course, Labour aren't here today, but if they were here, I'm sure they would be arguing you had 14 years in charge in government.
33:31Many businesses then were saying they were struggling with energy bills.
33:35What would you say to the voters?
33:38How would you win them back in the future?
33:40Well, we had a lot of challenges at the end of our time in office, not least the Ukraine-Russia war and very high inflation that followed.
33:46But on the day of the general election, in fact, we had brought inflation down to bang on target at 2%.
33:50It's now double that and rising.
33:52We had near full level of, a very high record level of employment, very low level of unemployment.
34:01And we had seen the economy at that point growing at the fastest rate in the G7.
34:07The government recognises the impact of tax changes on businesses, but Conservatives today insisted their focus on protecting the rural economy,
34:15something they say is vital to Kent's identity and future.
34:19Gabriel Morris for KNTV in Bethesden.
34:22Gabriel joins me in the studio now.
34:27Gabriel, how likely actually is it that Mel Stride can implement what he wants to?
34:32Well, the Conservatives would have to win the next general election to be able to do that,
34:37or put a lot of pressure on from the sides in the opposition role.
34:42Now, polling for the Conservatives is looking bleak, not much better than it was last year,
34:46when Rishi Sunak lost the election to Labour.
34:50Of course, it's now Reform UK who are leading the polls, with Labour in second quite far below that.
34:56So there's still four years to the election.
34:58I was speaking to the Conservatives about the threat of Reform UK, and they do understand that.
35:03But they said, give us time, we will come up with some good measures that will win back those voters.
35:09And they say that reform wouldn't bring a good government.
35:13They say they wouldn't bring the promises in that they are promising.
35:16So it would be interesting to see what happens in four years.
35:20That's a very, very long time in politics.
35:22But from the sidelines, some pressure, talking, they might get their way that way.
35:27But Labour are adamant that these tax changes are the best to fund public services.
35:31All right, Gabriel, thank you very much.
35:33Now, outrage and surprise on the streets of Gravesend today as voters react to the news
35:39that the former MP for the area has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK.
35:44Some think that Adam Holloway was a good MP, others less convinced.
35:50But the rebel says he doesn't believe his former party have the answers for the country anymore.
35:56Local democracy reporter Olly Leder headed into his former constituency earlier today to gauge public reaction.
36:03He's been an army officer, a broadcaster and an MP.
36:07Now Adam Holloway can add another title to his CV, defector.
36:15This week, the former representative for Gravesham for nearly two decades jumped ship from the Conservatives to Reform UK.
36:25But having been ousted by Labour last year, is his move sincere?
36:31I come with humility.
36:33When I saw Farage, I didn't ask him for anything, you know, please can I have my seat or nothing like that.
36:38You know, I'm just slowly, slowly going to see what I can do to help because there is a very big job,
36:44as you rightly identified, for reform over the next few years.
36:48Adam Holloway says his defection to Reform UK isn't about winning his old seats back.
36:55But if there was to be an election here in Gravesend tomorrow, the party would likely come out on top.
37:03Which raises the question, do people know who Adam Holloway actually is?
37:09And would they support him if he were to run again?
37:12Do you know who this is right here?
37:14Unfortunately, yes.
37:15I recognise the face, but I don't know who he is.
37:18Adam Holloway.
37:19Adam, that's it. Adam Holloway, that's right, yes.
37:22Did you know that he switched to Reform UK?
37:25Has he really?
37:26Well done. He's done a good job.
37:29Well, that's a good move, but better late than ever, I suppose.
37:31Oh, well, good for him. Good for him.
37:34I mean, you know, you choose your own, what you ever want to do, don't you?
37:39Probably doing the right thing, you switch into some team that are going to run this country a lot better than it's been on at the moment.
37:46Any person who's been here long enough who's from an immigrant background can see these people coming from a mile off.
37:52We know their type, we're very familiar with them from the days of Enoch Powell to now Nigel Farage, so you can be rest assured that they wouldn't be getting my vote.
38:01You wouldn't be voting for him again if he stood here again?
38:03Definitely not.
38:03It's well known around Gravesend area, and he has helped and done a lot of things for a lot of people, so yeah, possibly.
38:12Yes, I would, yes.
38:14Very conservative here with Graveshield, so I don't know, I don't think, I don't think he'll get Graveshield, no.
38:20Whether or not he will run again is up in the air, but with the election not expected until 2029, he has plenty of time to make up his mind.
38:32Olly Lieder in Gravesend.
38:37Now, the Now Victoria ship has stopped off at Chatham's Marina on its European tour.
38:42This is the second time it's sailed to Medway, bringing in more than 3,000 visitors, but this week they're hoping for even more.
38:49It's a replica of the Spanish galleon which sailed the seas between the 16th and 18th centuries and is now run by volunteers.
38:57Well, Kristen Hawthorne hopped on board to speak to some of the sailors.
39:00I'm here on the Now Victoria docked at the Chatham Marina.
39:04To give you a bit of an insight about what it's all about, I'm joined by Richard from the Chatham Maritime Trust.
39:09So, you told me that last year more than 3,000 people came here.
39:13How many are you expecting this year?
39:14Oh, I'm sure we'll have at least 3,000 and hopefully more, as well as probably twice that number that come and look at the boat from on the shore.
39:21The boat is here. We're very lucky that it's one of two places in the UK that it comes to visit every year.
39:28And it's wonderful for visitors, local residents and for the businesses on the estate.
39:33Fabulous, fabulous.
39:35And then this is Marta. Her grandfather actually built the ship.
39:38Can you tell me a bit about that and how long it took them and what the inspiration was?
39:41So, they started in 1991 and it took them about one year, one year and a half.
39:47Through that year, they did a lot of historical research because it's an exact replica of the one of the 16th century.
39:55And after that, in 2004, they followed the steps of their ancestors and they did a circumnavigation that took them about two years.
40:06And the ship goes all around the world, doesn't it?
40:08And now it's only Europe. In summer, we do a tour around Europe.
40:13So, now we're touring. We'll go to Rotterdam or another festivals around Europe, Amsterdam, Birmingham in Germany, and then goes back home.
40:22Fabulous. And then to make things even more exciting, we also have Claire from Sheppie Pirates who is planning a reenactment on Saturday.
40:29What sort of things do you wear and what's the reaction that you get from that?
40:32We reenact 16th and 17th century maritime history, especially the golden age of piracy.
40:37We're here to support the Trust, the Maritime Trust, as well as the Now Victoria.
40:44We've worked with them before, the Now Victoria and a sister ship, Andalusia.
40:48And we will be firing black powder weapons and bringing history to life on board ship to help these guys, because it's really, really important to let the public know the history of this area and bring it to life and make it fun.
41:05And the more visitors here possible, brilliant, and brilliant for the Now Victoria Trust as well.
41:09Earlier today, I also spoke to the mayor, who told me what this brings to the local community.
41:14It was surprising to find that even this replica has sailed around the world, and the captain, brilliant, and his crew, most of whom young volunteers.
41:23And it's very exciting. I do hope that many people in Medway will take the chance to come and see it, because it's quite an inspiring story.
41:30Now, this ship is certainly something that you don't get to see every day, usually only in films.
41:36But this week, from today until the 3rd of August, you don't have to go to the movies to feel like a pirate.
41:41And with the reenactment happening this Saturday, well, it's all hands on deck.
41:46Kristen Hawthorne for KMTV in Chatham.
41:48Right, we're sailing into a break now. See you in a few minutes.
47:03When James Cameron's former wife
47:03when James Cameron's former wife was up and won the Oscar that once he was up for Avatar
47:08and it did feel that at the time it were two very different styles of film making komb comics
47:13Avatar is an ambitious film, from the director of Terminator and Titanic I think this takes
47:19us into really good postmodern territory but in a way it felt like it was going somewhere
47:27the journey is still continuing as we see with the third film that's due out in December.
47:31If it hasn't quite had the impact, the films after that first one, because I remember when
47:37it came out, it was a huge film. Everybody liked it or loathed it, but it was a huge
47:43film on the big screen and everybody was talking about it. Do you think now it's lost perhaps
47:48that magic that it did have for some people?
47:49Well, in a way, it's back to what I said about I Know What You Did Last Summer. It's what
47:53happens with sequels or what happens when you try to bring something back. Do you just
47:56replicate the original formula on the grounds that it's worked before? But as you rightly
48:01say, 15 or so years ago, in a way, there are new generations who need to be given something
48:07a bit more exciting, while also ensuring that the original audience are kept on board.
48:12Well, speaking of Avatar, we've put together an elements-based quiz. You obviously know
48:19the four elements. We don't need to go through that, but I won't quiz you on those. But the
48:23first topic is wind-based films. So they either have a strong theme in there or wind in the
48:30name. All right, we'll start with the first one. I'm going to give you some details and
48:34you'll tell me the film. Directed by Victor Fleming, this film was the first film to receive
48:39more than 10 Academy Award nominations. Wizard of Oz. No, this one's another guess. Oh,
48:47but Victor Fleming did that in 1939. Although he wasn't the only director. Yeah, go on.
48:51Gone with the Wind. Oh, okay. So from the same year. Okay. Gone with the Wind. Okay. Remember
48:56what you just said, though. That might be coming up. Directed by Heio Miyazaki, he wrote the manga,
49:03which was then adapted into this film with the word wind in it. Oh, not the wind that shakes the
49:09barley. No. No? Another try? Oh, it sounds... Yeah, go on. The Wind Rises. Oh, okay. Right. Have
49:15you seen that? No, I haven't. No, no. Okay. Yeah. Okay. We found a film that Chris hasn't seen.
49:19Amazing. Okay. Next one. Directed by M. Nye Shalaman, this movie adapted from the animated series was
49:28very poorly received, actually. It got 5% on Rotten Tomatoes, 3.9 out of 10 on IMDb.
49:35Oh, I know what you mean. And I know the film's set in water. Yes. Yeah. The last...
49:45Silence. Oh, the last... See, I didn't see it because it got the most terrible reviews. Yeah.
49:50See, I saw the... It's the diminishing returns because his second film, Unbreakable, and then the
49:54one after that signs, they all sort of well-received in the village, and then it got to the point
49:58when it was just a parody of itself. Well, the last airbender. Oh, okay. As you can see,
50:03I... I... Yeah, well... Okay. Last one. Directed by Victor Fleming, a classic fantasy film, 1939.
50:11Yeah. Well, that was the same year as Gone with the Wind, so, yeah, Wizard of Oz. Wizard of Oz
50:15is correct. Okay. Water-based films now. Strong water theme. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this film
50:21was nominated for four Oscars, won three of them, with the iconic score... score carrying
50:27its success. What film is that? Well, that... Jaws. Jaws, it is. It is Jaws. 1975. There
50:33we go. Directed by James Cameron, the film won 11 Academy Awards. It's based on a true story
50:39that took part out at sea. Titanic. Titanic. That's what we should start with. Water is clearly
50:44the right element for me, isn't it? Yeah, what does this say? I don't know where this is
50:47the line you. Directed by Robert Zemeckis. I do apologise for all my pronounces. It features
50:53a very famous volleyballer named Wilson. Oh, so Robert Zemeckis, who... Oh, Castaway. Castaway.
51:01It is Castaway. All right, finally, as we are running out of time very quickly, fire-based
51:07films. Directed by Francis Lawrence, it's part of a five-part film series and features a flaming
51:14dress and a chariot in a dystopian world. Oh, has it got fire in the title? Er, yes, yes.
51:22The fire... Er, oh. It's not this. Ignore. No, OK. It's going behind you. You may have to
51:28give this to me. Catching fire. What's the first part? Oh. That's the... That's the...
51:34Catching fire. Katniss. No. Everdeen. No. You see, I thought I knew every film. The Hunger
51:41Games. Oh, the... Right. Oh, I'm totally on the... OK, I was on the wrong track. Got you. Got
51:45you. Yeah. OK. All right. We'll finish with Chris. Tell me, in a few words, one of your favourite
51:53Kemp Film Club memories. Well, I have to say the one with you, obviously. And what I remember
51:59was you were picking films of a sort of, like, good psychological nature. Yeah. And I always
52:05find it really exciting. You know, the journalists who pick films that, you know, belong in a
52:09different sort of category altogether. I love that sort of interplay. Like, where's this
52:13going to go? I did feel quite the pressure when I was picking my films as a journalist,
52:17as you say, that I feel like I have to have something really intellectual. But... No.
52:21Chris, thank you very, very much. Amazing. And thank you, Abby. It's been absolutely a pleasure
52:24to speak with you every Thursday. Thank you. Pleasure. All right. Now, let's take a very quick
52:28look at the weather.
52:34All right. Tonight, of course, there's a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms. It's been
52:39up throughout the day today. It will finish about 9pm this evening. Tomorrow morning,
52:44though, it seems to clear some sunshine and clouds across most parts of the county. Highs
52:48of 18 degrees, warming up slightly in some parts to highs of 21, 20 elsewhere in Kent, and
52:54that wind dropping down a touch too. Here's the picture for the weekend and into next
52:58week. Much of the same. Cloudy weather, but staying dry. Perhaps some sunshine on Saturday
53:03between the clouds. Highs of 22 across the board.
53:12And finally this evening, for most 15-year-olds eager to start building projects, perhaps Lego
53:17or a toy shop robotics would be the ideal first step. But for one schoolboy in Borough Green
53:23near Maidstone, engineering his very own electric buggy capable of reaching 50 miles per hour
53:29was his latest invention with the hopes of moving into mechanical engineering one day. Well, our
53:34reporter Bartholomew Hall was taken for a spin. Meet the 15-year-old mechanical enthusiast building
53:42a future in engineering, all from his front garden in Borough Green. Aaron Mitchell's latest
53:48project is this fully kitted out electric buggy, customised with lights, seating and, of course,
53:54a personalised plate, all converted from what was a petrol-driven stock. I mean, I've got most of it online,
54:02and a lot of it is trial and error. So I'd build stuff. If something didn't go as I wanted it to,
54:08I'd tweak it. And then until it worked, I could also look online to see ways so I can tweak it.
54:14It's certainly not Aaron's first build either. Ever since the age of four, Aaron tells me he's always
54:20been on the hunt for electronics he can pull apart and reconfigure. These are just a few of the hybrid
54:25petrol and electronic go-kart designs. His new one, though, is the first to be fully electric.
54:31I used it for a while, while it was petrol, but I wasn't happy with the speed I was getting from it,
54:36and also the engine was quite a rough engine. And I thought, oh, it's better off if I change it to
54:41electric drive, because then it's actually something I built as well. I like this one
54:45being two-seater. It's my first two-seater thing, and it's also my first thing with suspension.
54:52All supported, of course, by mum and dad, who tell me they've grown to overcome any initial fears.
54:58I think in the early days, as every parent would be, a little bit worried, you know,
55:04that he's going to blow himself up. But I soon realised that he was quite capable,
55:08and has proved himself to be that, because he knows more than probably some adults.
55:16Can someone with no engineering qualifications and no experience of flying make something that
55:22actually leaves the ground? One of Aaron's biggest inspirations is Colin Furze,
55:28a YouTuber who's made a name for himself making wacky inventions. He was watching a lot of Colin
55:34Furze on YouTube, and he got a bit obsessed with that, and that's great. And he started wanting to make
55:40things, and I'm just, son, you want to do it, you do it. If he wanted me to help him, it was because
55:45he was stuck, but he very rarely says, Dad, do this, Dad, do that. He does it all himself.
55:52So here we are riding along in the electric buggy now, not making too much noise thanks to the
55:57seven and a half kilowatt motor behind us. I'm told this thing can get up to speeds of 50 miles an hour.
56:03Perhaps a thrill best left to the expert. So with a future in engineering pretty much assured,
56:11Aaron's electric dream is sure to become reality.
56:15Bartholomew Hall for KMTV in Borough Green.
56:20Well, that's it from the Kent Tonight team this evening, and a goodbye from me. This is my very
56:25last show. Thank you for watching every evening as we keep you up to date with breaking news,
56:30stories and features from across the county. It's been a pleasure. We'll have your evening
56:34news at 8pm as always. And don't forget, in the meantime, you can keep up to date on our social media.
56:40But that's all from me. Goodbye.
57:10Bye.
57:12Bye.
57:14Bye.
57:16Bye.
57:18Bye.
57:20Bye.
57:22Bye.
57:24Bye.
57:26Bye.
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