With political editor PAUL FRANCIS

Given that Kent has more grammar schools than anywhere in the country, you might expect them to be among the favourites to secure a slice of a £50m expansion fund set up by the government.

Unfortunately, it seems size doesn’t count for much. Five schools applied for a share of the money - and five failed - including one being backed by the county council. Perhaps the Department for Education was underwhelmed by the bids, which were supposed to indicate how their plans would help bright children from poorer backgrounds.

Only one - Highworth Grammar in Ashford - set out explicitly how its proposals would enhance social mobility, a rather important prerequisite of applications.

Still, at least the government has signalled that this is the start rather than the end of its commitment to provide more money to create more selective schools.

n The decision by Conservative party chiefs to restore the whip to Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke just hours before Tory MPS were supposed to be voting on a motion of no confidence in Theresa May raised some eyebrows.

The MP has firmly denied any wrong-doing amid claims of inappropriate behaviour and says his name will be cleared. But the timing of the decision angered some female Labour MPS, who rounded on the leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, who looked rather discomfited by the verbal onslaught from fellow MPS but said the decision was a matter for the Whips.

n Councils looking to generate income in the face of dwindling government grants have increasingly looked to invest in property - particularly retail.

But the downturn in the retail sector - notably clothing - may be causing some to have jitters about the long-term fallout from the high street decline. One of the biggest acquisitions has been by Canterbury City Council which completed a buyout of the Whitefriars centre earlier this year. But council leader Simon Cook is bullish about the acquisition, describing it as a “oncein-a- lifetime opportunity”.

Follow Paul @Paulonpolitics.