00:02Cuxton, Hauling and Riverside certainly have a different pace of life from other parts
00:10of the five towns, but don't be fooled, a political upset could be coming downstream.
00:18This Thursday voters here will head to the polls to have their say in a by-election
00:24sparked by the death of long-standing and respected councillor Phil Filmer.
00:31Cuxton has always been a conservative ward at Medway Council.
00:36We are living in the age where two-party politics is essentially a thing of the past.
00:42Could the other parties swing it this time around?
00:45I think it could be a close call.
00:49There's quite a lot of, I mean I've been seeing placards outside people's houses for
00:55Green and I haven't really been seeing anything, you know, for reform or conservatives.
01:01The Greens did come close to electing a councillor here back in 2023, missing out by less than 50 votes.
01:11But they're not the only populists in town.
01:14Reform placards are dotted about if you're looking for them.
01:18And they have won two by-elections in Medway already.
01:22But for many, local issues matter more than party colours.
01:28Well, you know, we used to have a village policeman, but we haven't got one of those anymore.
01:32Just things have disappeared.
01:34And is any party in particular that you're feeling is going to deliver that?
01:39Or are you still undecided a few days before?
01:42Well, I really don't know. I'm a bit swinging two ways really.
01:46There's also the small matter of a new Prime Minister.
01:50The burn and bounce has already shifted the national pulse.
01:55Could it energise Labour voters here?
01:57Generally, we used to vote Labour.
02:12Turnout was more than 30% at the last local elections in the ward.
02:17But less people do tend to vote in by-elections.
02:21Dozens of ballots here could make all the difference in the end.
02:26Or a leader in Calxton.
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