Kent voters will be heading to the polls on May 1 as every seat on Kent County Council is up for grabs in the 2025 Local Elections.

Across the county, 425 candidates are standing for your votes in 72 wards across the 12 boroughs and districts that make up the Kent County Council region. Medway Council does not have elections scheduled in 2025.

Elections in Kent are going ahead this year despite the ongoing devolution process that is set to see the county’s current councils abolished to be replaced with a smaller number of unitary authorities.

This process has seen nine areas, including East and West Sussex, Surrey, Essex and Hampshire, cancel polls, however, Kent’s have been unaffected.

The authority currently has a Conservative majority. The party holds 55 of the 81 seats, with the Lib Dems as the next largest party on six. Labour and the Green Party hold five seats each, there are five independent councillors, three members for Reform and one each for the Heritage Party and the Swale Independents.

For a full list of candidates standing in Kent, separated by borough, see below.

Ashford

Ashford Central - Currently held by: Paul Bartlett (Con)

  • Paul Bartlett (Con)

  • Valerie Mbali (Lib Dem)

  • Steve Sitton (Green)

  • Diccon Spain (Lab)

  • Pamela Williams (Reform)

Ashford East - Currently held by: Steve Campkin (Green)

  • Matthew Bridger (Con)

  • Dean Burns (Reform)

  • Steve Campkin (Green)

  • Reena Mathew (Lab)

  • Jacquie Stamp (Lib Dem)

Ashford Rural East - Currently held by: Clair Bell (Con)

  • Brian Collins (Reform)

  • Jo Gideon (Con)

  • Caroline Knight (Lib Dem)

  • Pat Marsh (Green)

  • Xanthe Roe (Lab)

Ashford Rural South - Currently held by: David Robey (Con)

  • Bill Barrett (Reform)

  • Chris Grayling (Lib Dem)

  • Heather Hayward (Ashford Ind)

  • David Robey (Con)

  • Simon Turp (Lab)

Ashford Rural West - Currently held by: Charlie Simkins (Con)

  • Clair Bell (Con)

  • Jeremy Eustace (Reform)

  • Tania Gauder (Lab)

  • Adrian Gee-Turner (Lib Dem)

  • Vanessa Hutchinson (Green)

  • Matt Peach (Ashford Ind)

Ashford South - Currently held by: Dirk Ross (Reform)

  • Brendan Chilton (Lab)

  • Garry Harrison (Lib Dem)

  • Gwen Protheroe (Green)

  • Nick Wibberley (Reform)

  • Jac Wood (Con)

Tenterden - Currently held by: Mike Hill (Con)

  • Neil Bell (Con)

  • Martin Chambers (Heritage)

  • Wayne Chapman (Reform)

  • Alexander Coxall (Lib Dem)

  • Guy Pullen (Green)

  • David Ward (Lab)

For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here

Canterbury

Canterbury City North - Currently held by: Alister Brady (Lab)

  • Alister Brady (Lab)

  • Peter Campbell (Green)

  • Maggs Mackechnie (Lib Dem)

  • George Spence (Reform)

  • Arjan Taylor (Con)

Canterbury City South - Currently held by: Mel Dawkins (Lab)

  • Eleo Berceanu (Lib Dem)

  • Kieran Mishchuk (Reform)

  • Connie Nolan (Lab)

  • Stephen Peckham (Green)

  • Daniel Smythe (Con)

Canterbury North - Currently held by: Robert Thomas (Con)

  • Michael Bax (Green)

  • Alex Ricketts (Lib Dem)

  • Dirk Ross (Reform)

  • Hilary Scott (Con)

  • Owen Vanstone-Hallam (Lab)

Canterbury South - Currently held by: Mike Sole (Lib Dem)

  • Yasmin Dallos-Foreman (Lab)

  • John Hippisley (Con)

  • Mike Sole (Lib Dem)

  • Colin Spooner (Reform)

  • Henry Stanton (Green)

Herne Bay East - Currently held by: Dan Watkins (Con)

  • Paul Chamberlin (Reform)

  • Lawrence Coomber (Lab)

  • Nicole David (Green)

  • Yvonne Hawkins (Lib Dem)

  • Dan Watkins (Con)

Herne Village and Sturry - Currently held by: Alan Marsh (Con)

  • Louise Harvey-Quirke (Con)

  • Derek Maslin (Lib Dem)

  • Jessie Millner (Green)

  • Mark Mulvihill (Reform)

  • Dave Wilson (Lab)

Whitstable East and Herne Bay West - Currently held by: Neil Baker (Con)

  • Neil Baker (Con)

  • Andy Davidson (Lab)

  • Joshua Dawson-O'Donnell (Ind)

  • Andrew Harvey (Green)

  • Adrian Kibble (Reform)

  • Nick Parry (Lib Dem)

Whitstable West - Currently held by: Mark Dance (Con)

  • Gary Blanford (Heritage)

  • Chris Cornell (Lab)

  • Stuart Heaver (Green)

  • Grace Paget (Con)

  • Christopher Palmer (Lib Dem)

  • Thomas Babychan (Reform)

For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here

Dartford

Dartford East - Currently held by: Penny Cole (Con)

  • Julian Hood (Con)

  • Danny Nicklen (Con)

  • Darren Povey (Lab)

  • Ryan Waters (Reform)

Dartford North East - Currently held by: Kelly Grehan (Lab)

  • Laura Edie (Green)

  • Ben Fryer (Reform)

  • Kelly Grehan (Lab)

  • Clement Quaqumey (Con)

Dartford Rural - Currently held by: Jeremy Kite (Con)

  • Michael Brown (Reform)

  • Alastair Humphreys (Green)

  • Russell Joyce (Heritage)

  • Jeremy Kite (Con)

  • Catherine Stafford (Lab)

Dartford West - Currently held by: Jan Ozog (Con)

  • Beverley Fordham (Reform)

  • Lewis Glynn (Green)

  • Bachchu Kaini (Lab)

  • Richard Wells (Con)

Swanscombe and Greenhithe - Currently held by: Thomas Mallon (Reform)

  • Dawn Johnston (Residents Association)

  • Karen Lynch (Green)

  • Thomas Mallon (Reform)

  • Claire Pearce (Lab)

  • Tan Talukder (Con)

Wilmington - Currently held by: Avtar Sandhu (Con)

  • Alan Cecil (Reform)

  • Diane Gough (Lib Dem)

  • Avtar Sandhu (Con)

  • Garry Turner (Green)

  • Alina Vaduva (Lab)

For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here

Dover

Deal and Walmer - Currently held by: Trevor Bond (Con) and Derek Murphy (Con)

  • Trevor Bond (Con)

  • Chris Burwash (Reform)

  • Howard Evans (Lib Dem)

  • Dan Friend (Con)

  • John Gosling (Lib Dem)

  • Clair Hawkins (Lab)

  • Michael Nee (Lab)

  • Christine Oliver (Green)

  • Martin Paul (Reform)

Dover North - Currently held by: Steve Manion (Con)

  • Jan Gray (Lab)

  • Bob Hope (Lib Dem)

  • Sylvia Laidlow-Peterson (Heritage)

  • Steve Manion (Con)

  • Bridget Porter (Reform)

  • Sarah Waite-Gleave (Green)

Dover Town - Currently held by: Nigel Collor (Ind) and Oliver Richardson (Con)

  • Nigel Collor (Ind)

  • Gordon Cowan (Lab)

  • Bekah Dawes (Lab)

  • James Defriend (Reform)

  • Ryan Grimes (Lib Dem)

  • Liz Hayes (Green)

  • Peter Jull (Con)

  • Oliver Richardson (Con)

  • Albert Thorp (Reform)

  • Adrian Walker-Smith (Lib Dem)

Dover West - Currently held by: David Beaney (Con)

  • David Beaney (Con)

  • Penelope James (Lib Dem)

  • Janet Kember (Lab)

  • Paul King (Reform)

  • Nick Shread (Green)

Sandwich - Currently held by: Sue Chandler (Con)

  • Sue Chandler (Con)

  • Peter Evans (Reform)

  • Pete Findley (Green)

  • Martyn Pennington (Lib Dem)

  • Amy Price (Lab)

For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here

Folkestone and Hythe

Cheriton, Sandgate and Hythe East - Currently held by: Rory Love (Con)

  • Gary Burton (Reform)

  • Alex Davies (Lab)

  • Momtaz Khanom (Green)

  • Rory Love (Con)

  • Tim Prater (Lib Dem)

Elham Valley - Currently held by: Susan Carey (Con)

  • Mason Collen (Lab)

  • Christopher Hespe (Reform)

  • Jim Martin (Green)

  • Emily Newing (Lib Dem)

  • Sarah Richardson (Con)

Folkestone East - Currently held by: Jackie Meade (Lab)

  • Marianne Brett (Green)

  • Max Hess (Socialist)

  • Mary Lawes (Reform)

  • Steve Laws (Homeland)

  • Kieran Leigh (Con)

  • Tom McNeice (Lib Dem)

  • Jackie Meade (Lab)

Folkestone West - Currently held by: Dylan Jeffrey (Con)

  • John Baker (Reform)

  • Matthew Horrox (Lib Dem)

  • Dylan Jeffrey (Con)

  • Adrian Lockwood (Lab)

  • Rebecca Shoob (Green)

  • Andy Thomas (Socialist)

Hythe West - Currently held by: Jenni Hawkins (Green)

  • Sean McKirdy (Con)

  • Peter Osborne (Reform)

  • Christian Perry (Lab)

  • Roy Smith (Green)

  • John Stokes (Lib Dem)

  • Andy Weatherhead (Ind)

Romney Marsh - Currently held by: Tony Hills (Con)

  • Tony Cooper (Lab)

  • Gary Fuller (Lib Dem)

  • Tony Hills (Con)

  • Malcolm Watkinson (Green)

  • David Wimble (Reform)

For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here

Gravesham

Gravesend East - Currently held by: Jordan Meade (Con) and Alan Ridgers (Con)

  • John Burden (Lab)

  • Deborah Croxton (Lab)

  • Georgia Foster (Reform)

  • Rebecca Hopkins (Green)

  • Deepak Panda (Con)

  • Stephen Porter (Green)

  • Iris Smith (Con)

  • Garry Sturley (Reform)

Gravesham Rural - Currently held by: Bryan Sweetland (Con)

  • John Death (Lib Dem)

  • Harriet Howes (Lab)

  • Jordan Meade (Con)

  • Diane Morton (Reform)

  • Diana Scott (Green)

Northfleet and Gravesend West - Currently held by: Conrad Broadley (Con) and Dr Lauren Sulivan (Lab)

  • James Eagle (Green)

  • Matthew Fraser Moat (Reform)

  • Gary Harding (Con)

  • Ukonu Obasi (Lib Dem)

  • Karina O'Malley (Lab)

  • Sharon Roots (Reform)

  • Narinderjit Thandi (Lab)

  • Frank Wardle (Con)

  • Martin Wilson (Green)

For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here

Maidstone

Maidstone Central - Currently held by: Tom Cannon (Con) and Chris Passmore (Lib Dem)

  • Oliver Bradshaw (Reform)

  • Tom Cannon (Con)

  • Stan Forecast (Con)

  • Tony Harwood (Lib Dem)

  • Peter Jarvis (Reform)

  • Stuart Jeffery (Green)

  • Chris Passmore (Lib Dem)

  • Rachel Rodwell (Green)

  • Derek Swan (Lab)

  • Joanna Wilkinson (Lab)

Maidstone North East - Currently held by: Ian Chittenden (Lib Dem)

  • Michelle Hastie (Con)

  • Mark Johnson (Reform)

  • Geoffrey Samme (Lib Dem)

  • Alison Sweetman (Green)

  • Dan Wilkinson (Lab)

Maidstone Rural East - Currently held by: Shellina Prendergast (Con)

  • Simon Bennett (Homeland)

  • Sam Burrows (Lib Dem)

  • Sarah Emberson (Reform)

  • Carter Powell (Lab)

  • Shellina Prendergast (Con)

  • Callum Sweetman (Green)

Maidstone Rural North - Currently held by: Sir Paul Carter (Con)

  • Paul Carter (Con)

  • Spencer Dixon (Reform)

  • Clive English (Lib Dem)

  • Ryan Slaughter (Lab)

  • Stephen Thompson (Green)

  • Sean Turner (Heritage)

Maidstone Rural South - Currently held by: Lottie Parfitt (Con)

  • Brian Black (Reform)

  • Derek Eagle (Green)

  • Dinesh Khadka (Lib Dem)

  • Lottie Parfitt (Con)

  • Rory Silkin (Lab)

Maidstone Rural West - Currently held by: Simon Webb (Con)

  • Robert Ford (Reform)

  • Julie Read (Green)

  • Simon Wales (Lib Dem)

  • Simon Webb (Con)

  • Oliver Worsfold (Lab)

Maidstone South East - Currently held by: Gary Cooke (Con)

  • Richard Chesson (Con)

  • Linden Kemkaran (Reform)

  • David Naghi (Lib Dem)

  • Tim Oladimeji (Lab)

  • Caroline Richer (Green)

  • Lawrence Rustem (British Democrat)

Maidstone South - Currently held by: Paul Cooper (Con)

  • Gary Butler (Ind)

  • Brian Clark (Lib Dem)

  • Maureen Cleator (Lab)

  • Benjamin Potts (Green)

  • Darcy Rotherham (Con)

  • Paul Thomas (Reform)

For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here

Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley - Currently held by: Roger Gough (Con)

  • Michael Barker (Green)

  • Ben Davies (Lab)

  • Adam Durbaba (Lib Dem)

  • Roger Gough (Con)

  • Marc Logen (Reform)

Sevenoaks Rural North East - Currently held by: David Brazier (Con)

  • Penny Cole (Con)

  • Maxine Fothergill (Reform)

  • Claire Fox (Lab)

  • Laura Manston (Green)

  • Lise Michaelides (Lib Dem)

Sevenoaks Rural South - Currently held by: Margot McArthur (Con)

  • Ian Butcher (Con)

  • Helen Hobhouse (Lib Dem)

  • Robert Mayall (Reform)

  • Matt Oliver (Lab)

  • Juliet Townsend (Green)

Sevenoaks Town - Currently held by: Richard Streatfeild (Lib Dem)

  • Luke Knott (Reform)

  • James London (Con)

  • Theo Michael (Lab)

  • Richard Streatfeild (Lib Dem)

  • Paul Wharton (Green)

Sevenoaks West - Currently held by: Nick Chard (Con)

  • Steve Bassi (Reform)

  • Neil Proudfoot (Lab)

  • Sandra Robinson (Lib Dem)

  • Robert Royston (Green)

  • Nigel Williams (Con)

Swanley - Currently held by: Perry Cole (Con)

  • Perry Cole (Con)

  • Jackie Griffiths (Lab)

  • Dean Truder (Reform)

  • Tristan Ward (Lib Dem)

  • Mike Young (Green)

For a detailed list of Sevenoaks candidates click here

Swale

Faversham - Currently held by: Antony Hook (Lib Dem)

  • Rob Crayford (Lab)

  • Ben Fisher (Con)

  • Carol Goatham (Green)

  • Antony Hook (Lib Dem)

  • Jess Valentine (Reform)

Sheppey - Currently held by: Andy Booth (Con) and Mike Whiting (Ind)

  • Sam Banks (Green)

  • Andy Booth (Con)

  • Hayden Brawn (Lab)

  • Linda Brinklow (Lib Dem)

  • Maxwell Harrison (Reform)

  • Elliot Jayes (Swale Ind)

  • Isabella Kemp (Reform)

  • Frances Stennings (Lib Dem)

  • Mark Tucker (Con)

  • Mike Whiting (Ind)

  • Dolley Wooster (Lab)

Sittingbourne North - Currently held by: Mike Dendor (Con)

  • Dererk Carnell (Swale Ind)

  • Stephen Davey (Green)

  • Michael Dendor (Con)

  • Chris Palmer (Reform)

  • Ashley Wise (Lab)

  • Mary Zeng (Lib Dem)

Sittingbourne South - Currently held by: John Wright (Con)

  • Lisa Eades (Green)

  • Tom Lee (Swale Ind)

  • Thomas Leeming (Con)

  • Alexander Steenings (Lib Dem)

  • Karen Watson (Lab)

  • Paul Webb (Reform)

Swale East - Currently held by: Rich Lehmann (Green)

  • Charles Gibson (Lib Dem)

  • Ryan Kidby (Reform)

  • Rich Lehmann (Green)

  • Frances Rehal (Lab)

  • Julien Speed (Con)

Swale West - Currently held by: Mike Baldock (Swale Ind)

  • Chrystabel Appiah (Lab)

  • Mike Baldock (Swale Ind)

  • James Hognen (Con)

  • Richard Palmer (Reform)

  • Marc Wilson (Lib Dem)

For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here

Thanet

Birchington Rural - Currently held by: Derek Crow-Brown (Con) and Linda Wright (Con)

  • Derek Crow-Brown (Con)

  • Luke Evans (Reform)

  • Phil Fellows (Con)

  • Bryan Harrod (Lab)

  • Deborah Holmes (Lib Dem)

  • Laurie Hudson (Lab)

  • Will Jarman (Green)

  • Rachel Mummery (Lib Dem)

  • Fi O'Connor (Green)

  • Amelia Randall (Reform)

Broadstairs - Currently held by: Rosalind Binks (Con)

  • Joanne Bright (Lab)

  • John Finch (Reform)

  • Mike Garner (Green)

  • Claire Goldfinch (Lib Dem)

  • Charlie Leys (Con)

Cliftonville - Currently held by: Lesley Game (Con)

  • Ian Driver (Ind)

  • Lesley Game (Con)

  • Peter Mousley (Lab)

  • Steve Roberts (Green)

  • Mo Shafaei (Lib Dem)

  • Daniel Taylor (Reform)

Margate - Currently held by: Barry Lewis (Ind)

  • Matthew Brown (Lib Dem)

  • Jamie Henderson (Reform)

  • Barry Lewis (Ind)

  • Jack Packman (Lab)

  • Marc Rattigan (Con)

Ramsgate - Currently held by: Karen Constantine (Ind) and Trevor Shonk (Ind)

  • Thea Barrett (Green)

  • John Davis (Con)

  • Jeremy De Rose (Lib Dem)

  • Harry Goldfinch (Lib Dem)

  • Claire Hedderman (Lab)

  • Barry Manners (Con)

  • Terry Mole (Reform)

  • Trevor Shonk (Reform)

  • Helen Whitehead (Lab)

  • Becky Wing (Green)

For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here

Tonbridge and Malling

Malling Central - Currently held by: Trudy Dean (Lib Dem)

  • Afua Akoto (Ind)

  • Isla Arnold (Green)

  • Kevin Brady (Reform)

  • Luke Chapman (Con)

  • Trudy Dean (Lib Dem)

  • Sarah Palmer (Lab)

Malling North - Currently held by: Sarah Hohler (Con)

  • Robin Betts (Con)

  • Matt Broadley (Green)

  • Paul Hickmott (Lab)

  • Kate O'Shea (Lib Dem)

  • Dodger Sian (Reform)

Malling North East - Currently held by: Andrew Kennedy (Con)

  • Angus Bennison (Lab)

  • James Cox (Lib Dem)

  • Stephen Dean (Reform)

  • Andrew Kennedy (Con)

  • Thomas Shelley (Green)

Malling Rural East - Currently held by: Sarah Hudson (Con)

  • Timothy Bishop (Lib Dem)

  • Helen Brown (Reform)

  • Sarah Hudson (Con)

  • David Nicholls (Green)

  • Jack Tyrrell (Lab)

Malling West - Currently held by: Harry Rayner (Con)

  • Sam Gallon (Green)

  • Kathleen Garlick (Lab)

  • Harry Rayner (Con)

  • Christopher Scott (Lib Dem)

  • Callum Wrighton (Reform)

Tonbridge - Currently held by: Mark Hood (Green) and Paul Stepto (Green)

  • Matt Botten (Reform)

  • Garry Bridge (Lib Dem)

  • Mark Hood (Green)

  • Frances Hoskins (Lib Dem)

  • Callum Lake (Lab)

  • Jennifer Lewis (Con)

  • Gary Longley (Reform)

  • Paul Stepto (Green)

  • Frixos Tombolis (Con)

  • Catherine Tuke (Lab)

For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here

Tunbridge Wells

Cranbrook - Currently held by: Sean Holden (Con)

  • Lucie Gavrilova (Reform)

  • Gregory Holder (Lab)

  • Dan Littlechild (TW Ind)

  • Ellen Neville (TW Alliance)

  • Claudine Russell (Con)

  • Vivian Widgery (Lib Dem)

  • Helen Yeo (Green)

Tunbridge Wells East - Currently held by: Paul Barrington-King (Con)

  • Alan Bullion (Lab)

  • Andrew Hobart (Con)

  • Paul Johnson (TW Alliance)

  • Kris Niewolski (Reform)

  • Colin Sefton (Lib Dem)

  • Kate Sergeant (Green)

  • Suzie Wakeman (TW Ind)

Tunbridge Wells North - Currently held by: Peter Oakford (Con)

  • Tom Connolly (Lab)

  • Joe Dore (TW Ind)

  • Mark Ellis (Lib Dem)

  • Vivek Gautam (Con)

  • Maria Gavin (Green)

  • Kit Hawes-Webb (TW Alliance)

  • Christopher Hoare (Reform)

Tunbridge Wells Rural - Currently held by: Sarah Hamilton (Con)

  • Alasdair Fraser (Green)

  • Sarah Hamilton (Con)

  • Oliver Kinkade (Reform)

  • Mark Munday (Lib Dem)

  • Anne Musker (Lab)

  • Libby Richardson (TW Ind)

  • Alison Webster (TW Alliance)

Tunbridge Wells South - Currently held by:

  • Martin Brice (Lib Dem)

  • Jeremy Clapham (Green)

  • Kate McAlpine (Lab)

  • Nick Pope (TW Alliance)

  • John Spence (Reform)

  • Sedat Zorba (Con)

Tunbridge Wells West - Currently held by: Becki Bruneau (Heritage)

  • Clare Escombe (TW Alliance)

  • Stephanie Gandon (Green)

  • Rob Grindley (Reform)

  • David Kain (TW Ind)

  • Richard Long (Con)

  • John Moreland (Lib Dem)

  • Jayne Sharratt (Lab)

For a detailed list of Tunbridge Wells candidates click here