Kent Morning Briefing
Monday, 20 July 2026
The day in Kent · The Financial Conduct Authority flagged 23 unauthorised or clone firms in a single week, a sharp reminder that financial scammers are actively targeting UK consumers including those in Kent. Residents are urged to check any financial firm’s credentials before transferring money or sharing personal details.
The day ahead in Kent
Weather
Today: Mostly clear morning, becoming clear in the afternoon, clearing in the evening, high 23°C, low 11°C.
Tomorrow: Mostly clear morning, clearing in the evening, high 24°C, low 16°C.
Travel
Roads: All major Kent routes clear.
Rail: All Kent services running to schedule.
As of 20:00 from National Highways + National Rail.
Coastal tides
Dover: High 04:01 (6.15m) · Low 11:20 (1.28m) · High 16:16 (6.41m) · Low 23:44 (1.18m)
Margate: High 05:10 (4.44m) · Low 10:56 (1.11m) · High 17:13 (4.60m) · Low 23:43 (0.68m)
Tides via tidetimes.co.uk.
5 things to know
- UK GDP rose in March 2026, driven by services, construction, and production sectors
- FCA warns consumers: verify firms before handing over money to avoid scams
Top Kent Stories
- FCA Issues 23 Warnings in One Week as Scam Firms Continue to Target UK Consumers
Published 23:50 BST
The Financial Conduct Authority has flagged 23 unauthorised or clone firms in a single seven-day period, urging consumers to verify any financial firm before handing over money. The Weekly Warning… - UK GDP Growth in March 2026 Led by Services, with Construction and Production Also Rising
Published 19:50 BST
Office for National Statistics figures show services output grew 0.8 per cent over the three months to March 2026, making it the largest single driver of UK economic growth. Services output was the…
Crime & Justice
No additional crime stories in the last 12 hours.
Business & Economy
No additional B&E stories in the last 12 hours.
Kent Sport
No additional sport updates in the last 12 hours.
Financial markets
Bank of England (last 7 days):
- PRA and FCA propose new captive insurance regime to drive UK growth and competitiveness
- Minutes of the Money Market Committee meeting – June 2026
Markets via Yahoo Finance; ONS + BoE via official feeds.
What’s on today
No public events scheduled today.
Coming up tomorrow
- 09:15 · Regulation Committee Appeal Panel (Transport) — Maidstone
- 10:00 · Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel — Maidstone
“Kent’s Faversham is one of England’s oldest market towns, granted its charter in 1086 — predating the Magna Carta by over a century.”
Kent fact of the day