Matthew J. Bridger

25 | Mayor | Entrepreneur | Chairman of @AshfordTories | Town Councillor for Kennington Ward | Charity Trustee | 🇬🇧

[The White House @WhiteHouse]

Land of the free. Home of the brave. 🇺🇸

@UFC Freedom 250 has KICKED OFF!

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Great to spend today supporting the Kennington Summer Fayre team, helping put up signs across Ashford to advertise this fantastic community event.

The Kennington Summer Fayre takes place on:
📅 Saturday 27th June 2026
📍 Ulley Road, Kennington
⏰ 12pm – 4pm

Expect a great afternoon packed with:
✨ A variety of stalls
🍔 Delicious food and sweet treats
🎯 Games and activities for all ages
🎪 Exciting arena events
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fun for the whole family

Be sure to pop along and support this wonderful community event!

#Kennington #Ashford #Kent #KenningtonSummerFayre @followers

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Had a fantastic visit this afternoon to the Ashford Freeshop which is a brilliant initiative.

It's simple: everything in the shop is completely free. Items are donated by local people and businesses and made available to anyone who needs them, no registration, no questions asked. Just community looking after community.

Met the founder Carolina today and got a tour. The passion and dedication behind this place is clear to see.

They are actively looking for volunteers and donations right now - clothes, food, books, toys, or simply your time. If you can help, please get in touch or pop in.

📍 South Stour Avenue, Ashford TN23 7RS

#Ashford #AshfordFreeshop #Community #Kent #Volunteering

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

It was a pleasure to officially open the new Brook Court Co-op this morning on the Crown Hill View estate.

Thank you to everyone who came along to support the opening and to the Co-op team for the warm welcome. It was great to see members of the local community coming together to mark the occasion.

The store is now open daily from 7am to 10pm, providing a convenient new service for residents on the estate and in the surrounding area.

I wish the team every success and look forward to seeing the store become an important part of the community.

#CoOp #Ashford #Kennington #Opening #Kent #Mayor #Business #NewBusiness #CrownHillView #CrownHill

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

🎙️ "Stoke-on-Trent is going to be the next Beirut unless you help me sort this out."

That's what Jo told the Prime Minister.

In this clip from Pints with Bridger, Former Member of Parliament for Stoke-on-Trent Central Jo Gideon tells the full story of Twyford House and how she fought to get it sorted, all the way to the top.

Watch the full episode 👇
https://t.co/kqLYXSLy6U

#PintsWithBridger #StokeonTrent #TwyfordHouse #LocalLeadership #Podcast

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

What really happens behind the scenes of political life?

In the latest episode of Pints with Bridger, I sit down with former Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Jo Gideon for one of her most open and honest conversations yet.

We discuss her life before politics, what inspired her to stand for Parliament, the highs and challenges of representing Stoke-on-Trent, and some of the major campaigns she championed during her time in office.

Most importantly, Jo speaks candidly about her decision not to stand at the 2024 General Election and the personal and political factors behind that choice.

This is a fascinating conversation that goes beyond the headlines and offers a rare insight into the person behind the politician.

🎙️ Watch now and hear Jo's story in her own words: https://t.co/qFWo9XuDzQ

Also avaliable on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.

#PintsWithBridger #JoGideon #Podcast #StokeOnTrent #Westminster #Politics #Leadership #Community

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Today marks the end of the Kennington Council Community Action Week. I'm proud of what we achieved together and grateful to everyone who made a difference. 💙

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

💚 Great to be out in Conningbrook today supporting the final day of Kennington Council’s Community Action Week, following a successful week of activity across Conningbrook, Little Burton Farm, Bybrook & Bockhanger and Kennington.

Throughout the week, we have worked together to help improve local neighbourhoods through litter picking, cleaning signs and reporting issues including fly-tipping, blocked drains, potholes and damaged street furniture.

The week was a great example of what can be achieved when the community comes together to take pride in the local area and support one another.

Whilst Community Action Week has now concluded, the work to keep our communities clean, safe and welcoming continues all year round, and residents are always encouraged to report local issues and get involved in future community initiatives.

#CommunityActionWeek #Kennington #CommunitySpirit #NeighbourhoodPride #WorkingTogether

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Great day in Bockhanger for day 2 of our Community Action Week. 💚

Today we’ve been out painting the balls outside Bockhanger Parade Shops, litter picking, and reporting broken street signs and fly-tipping to help improve the area for everyone.

It was also fantastic to see Uprising bring their Panna Football setup to Bockhanger, funded by our council, and wonderful to see local children enjoying a kick about together ⚽

A huge thank you to Peter New, our local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, who joined us alongside the police, speaking with residents and supporting the community throughout the morning. We were joined by our Ashford Borough Councillor for Bockhanger Cllr Diccon Spain in the morning.

Community Action Week continues across Kennington this week and everyone is welcome to get involved! Whether it’s litter picking, reporting potholes, graffiti, fly-tipping, damaged signs or lighting issues, every small action makes a real difference.

⏰ You do not need to stay all day, even 20 minutes helps.

#CommunityActionWeek #Kennington #CommunitySpirit #MakingADifference #NeighbourhoodPride

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

🚶‍♂️💚 Today marked the launch of our Community Action Week and what a positive start it was!

This morning we were out litter picking, cleaning signs, reporting blocked drains and helping make the area cleaner, safer and more welcoming for everyone.

A huge thank you to Peter New, our local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, who joined us alongside the police, speaking with local residents and supporting the community throughout the morning.

This week, we’ll be continuing across Kennington and everyone is welcome to get involved! Whether it’s litter picking, reporting potholes, graffiti, fly-tipping, damaged signs or lighting issues, every small action makes a real difference.

⏰ You do not need to stay all day, even 20 minutes helps.

📍 Meeting locations are listed on the poster in the comments, so just turn up and join us 💚

Let’s work together and show what community spirit can achieve. Please share this post and encourage friends, neighbours and family to get involved.

#CommunityActionWeek #Kennington #CommunitySpirit #MakingADifference #NeighbourhoodPride #WorkingTogether #Ashford #Kent #NeighbourhoodWatch #Kennington #LittleBurtonFarm #Conningbrook #Bybrook #Bockhanger

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

🚨 Authentic voices matter in policing 💬

“People like Peter are what make neighbourhood watch work.” 🙌

👉 Watch the full episode of Pints with Bridger now 🔥
https://t.co/b1rfD7aGxa

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

“You’ve really done some research here, haven’t you…” 👀

A heartfelt moment talking about Luke’s Legacy 💙

👉 Watch the full episode of Pints with Bridger 🎙️🔥
https://t.co/x4FAOZ2K12

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

🚨 “What keeps you grounded?” 👀

A real look at the pressures of running a business and how important the right people around you are 💬

👉 Watch the full episode of Pints with Bridger 🎙️🔥
https://t.co/TYXFqTOQCA

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Do you believe backing our farmers is really important? 🇬🇧

#BritishFarming #BuyBritish #SupportLocalFarmers #UKAgriculture #BritishFarmers #EatLocal #FarmToTable #BritishProduce #SustainableFarming #Farm365 #Homegrown #FreshFromTheFarm #UKFarmLife #ShopLocalUK #SupportBritish #KentFarming #Aldington #Ashford #KentFarmers #NFU #LoveBritishFood #KentAgriculture #PlurendenManorFarm #PlurendenManor #Plurenden #PlurendenManorFarmMilk #HighHalden #Woodchurch #Milk #Farmers

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Had an inspiring 2 days in Taunton on the NALC study tour, exploring how local councils can build vibrant, inclusive communities through strong partnerships, strategic thinking, and civic pride.

The tour, themed “Building a Council in 1,000 Days: The Milestones that Matter,” showcased the impressive work of Taunton Town Council and the practical steps being taken to create resilient services and thriving public spaces.

Highlights included presentations on community engagement, youth services, climate action, arts and culture, investment in public infrastructure, parks and open spaces and lots more.

Our walking tour around Taunton brought these strategies to life where we visited the Taunton Farmers Market, the Museum of Somerset, the Transport Hub and Building Land projects, Goodlands Gardens, French Weir Park, The Brewhouse, the Visitor Centre, and the high street packed with independent businesses.

It was inspiring to see how collaboration, place-shaping, and investment in people and spaces can transform a town and strengthen community identity.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in hosting such a thoughtful and informative visit. Plenty of ideas and inspiration to take away from Somerset!

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Honoured to have been unanimously re-elected this evening by my fellow councillors to serve as Mayor of Kennington for the 2026–2027 term.

I’m incredibly grateful to my fellow councillors for their continued trust and support. It remains a privilege to serve our community.

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

This weekend, I was out supporting my friend Cllr Dean Burns as we worked together, #PuttingPeopleBeforePolitics in Hinxhill Park to tackle a growing concern from local residents.

We installed new speeding signs to remind drivers to slow down and take care.

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

🍽️ What a lovely evening with friends at Cinnamon Spice!

The food was absolutely delicious and the service was warm and welcoming from start to finish. A huge thank you to Ash and his brilliant team for their wonderful hospitality!

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

Great to be filming with local entrepreneurs Matt and David, along with the actor Tom Burke. 🎬

Stay tuned 🤫👀

[Matthew J. Bridger @MatthewJBridger]

😎 A brilliant day spent shooting with great company.