Kent Morning Briefing
Friday, 16 October 2026
11 stories · 4-minute read
1834: Much of the ancient Palace of Westminster in London burned to the ground, destroying centuries of parliamentary history.
On this day in history
The day in Kent · A 13-year-old boy, Tommy Skelton, has been reported missing in Maidstone, with Kent Police appealing for public help after he was last seen near Hermitage Lane on Tuesday evening. Separately, a man has been charged following an alleged knife-point robbery attempt on an 86-year-old at a Swanley Asda car park. These two cases dominate Kent’s local news agenda today.
The day ahead in Kent
Weather
Today: Cloudy morning, becoming mostly clear in the afternoon, clearing in the evening, high 17°C, low 10°C.
Tomorrow: Clear morning, becoming mostly clear in the afternoon, clearing in the evening, high 14°C, low 7°C.
Travel
Roads: All major Kent routes clear.
Rail: All Kent services running to schedule.
As of 10:30 from National Highways + National Rail.
Coastal tides
Dover: High 02:44 (6.15m) · Low 09:41 (1.67m) · High 14:55 (5.96m) · Low 21:56 (1.82m)
Margate: High 03:35 (4.39m) · Low 09:54 (1.06m) · High 16:04 (4.33m) · Low 22:00 (1.25m)
Tides via tidetimes.co.uk.
5 things to know
- Man charged over alleged knife threat against 86-year-old at Swanley Asda
- Folkestone & Hythe residents can shape district planning policy until 2045
- Met Police seek missing William ‘Billy’ Dow, 48, last seen in Erith
- UK economy grew 0.7% over three months to August, eighth consecutive quarter
- UK trade deficit widened to £8bn in three months to August 2026
2045
The year Folkestone & Hythe’s new Local Plan will govern planning decisions until
Kent number of the day
Top Kent Stories
- Kent Police appeal for information after boy, 13, reported missing in Maidstone
Published 16:50 BST
Why it matters · A missing 13-year-old in Maidstone is an urgent public safety concern for Kent. - Man charged after alleged knife threat at Swanley Asda car park
Published 12:52 BST
Why it matters · Knife charge at Swanley Asda highlights violent crime risk in Kent communities. - Folkestone & Hythe residents asked to help shape district’s planning rules until 2045
Published 12:51 BST
Why it matters · Folkestone & Hythe residents have a rare chance to shape local planning to 2045. - UK economy grows 0.7% in three months to August 2026
Published 09:19 BST
Why it matters · UK growth figures affect Kent businesses, jobs and household finances directly. - Police appeal to find William “Billy” Dow, 48, missing from Erith
Published 09:23 BST
Why it matters · Missing person appeal in Erith asks Kent-area residents for help locating him.
Crime & Justice
- Kent Police appeal for information after boy, 13, reported missing in Maidstone
Published 16:50 BST
Kent Police appeal for information after boy, 13, reported missing in Maidstone Tommy Skelton was last seen near Hermitage Lane at around 9.45pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026, according to a Kent Police… - Man charged after alleged knife threat at Swanley Asda car park
Published 12:52 BST
Man charged after alleged knife threat at Swanley Asda car park A 46-year-old man has been charged following a Kent Police investigation into an alleged attempted robbery at an Asda car park in… - Police appeal to find William “Billy” Dow, 48, missing from Erith
Published 09:23 BST
The Metropolitan Police is asking for help to find William Dow, 48, who was last seen in Erith on Friday 9 October.
Business & Economy
- UK economy grew 0.1 per cent in August, but sectors tell very different stories
Published 18:50 BST
Production output rose sharply while services flatlined and construction shrank, with the CBI warning that demand strength varies markedly across the economy. The UK economy grew by just 0.1 per cent… - UK economic growth driven by services as construction and production fall
Published 16:50 BST
Services output rose 0.9 per cent in the three months to August 2026, but production and construction both contracted over the same period, Office for National Statistics figures show. Services… - ONS updates weekly dashboard tracking UK economic and social change
Published 14:50 BST
The Office for National Statistics has refreshed its real-time indicators dashboard, giving policymakers, businesses and researchers a weekly snapshot of UK economic activity and social change before…
Kent Sport
- Preview: Stockport County vs Bromley — League One, Regular Season – 11
Published 09:20 BST
Bromley travel to Stockport County on Saturday 17 October. Form, H2H, prediction. - Preview: Ebbsfleet United vs Weston-super-Mare — National League – South, National League South – 12
Published 08:02 BST
Ebbsfleet United host Weston-super-Mare on Saturday 17 October. Form, H2H, prediction. - Preview: Accrington ST vs Gillingham — League Two, Regular Season – 11
Published 08:02 BST
Gillingham travel to Accrington ST on Saturday 17 October. Form, H2H, prediction.
Financial markets
Bank of England (last 7 days):
- David Roberts CV and questionnaire for the Treasury Select Committee
- Minutes of the SONIA Stakeholder Advisory Group – 25 September 2026
- Minutes of the Money Market Committee meeting – September 2026
Markets via Yahoo Finance; ONS + BoE via official feeds.
What’s on today
- 19:30 · Michael Spicer – Hope All’s Well — Ashford
Coming up tomorrow
- 18:00 · The Smyths — Cliftonville Margate
- 19:00 · The Smyths, Drill Shed, Margate, Saturday 17th October 2026 — Cliftonville Margate
- 19:30 · The Comedy Store – Margate — Margate
- 19:30 · Electric Jalaba — Ashford
“Folkestone was the departure point for millions of British troops crossing to France during the First World War, earning it the nickname ‘the Gateway to the Front’.”
Kent fact of the day