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00:00Well Kent County Council elections happen on May the 1st and Reform UK is
00:04widely tipped to do well. They may not actually win the seats but they'll
00:09certainly influence the results of them. What strategy have you got to counter
00:12them in Kent particularly? Well we need to look at the record of the local
00:17council. These are County Council elections. Conservative councils deliver
00:21the very best value for money. They are the best at delivery. We need to remember
00:25that this is not a TV show where you vote and the winner gets a prize and
00:29it's all over. People have to live with what they vote for and so what we're
00:33reminding people is how well we do at local government. We're still the best
00:36party there and to remember that we are asking the question who do you want
00:41running your local services. If people want to send a message to the Labour
00:45government then the best option is to vote Conservative. Kent failed to make
00:50the first round of the government's devolution and local government reform
00:54when every other council in the south east seemed to be accepted. Have you any
00:58thoughts on this? I think that it's really important that devolution is
01:02bottom-up not top-down. It's not clear that Labour's plan on devolution is one
01:07that is more than a process. We need to start looking at outcomes. I know that
01:11there are other places that are getting their devolution deals so let's wait and
01:15see. Devolution in and of itself is not a
01:17solution. It is a process. It's what people do with it afterwards that makes
01:21the difference. Do you think the local government in Kent needs reforms? I don't
01:25know enough about Kent. You can ask me about Essex. I'm an Essex MP but you
01:28wouldn't have to ask a local Kent MP about the details of what local
01:32government reforms would be required there.