On 22 November the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, delivered his autumn statement to the House of Commons and was able to report back on the marked improvement in the economic outlook for this country in the past year. Inflation has halved, meeting the target set by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is […]

Armistice Day on 11th November is our annual memorial for those members of our armed forces who gave their lives in the service of this country, in the two world wars and in all conflicts since 1945. For me this anniversary and Remembrance Sunday have a particular significance given the role played by the Folkestone […]

This week the government made further progress with its plans to improve the UK’s asylum system.  So far this year the number of small boat crossing in the Channel has fallen by more than a quarter compared with last year. This decline should also be seen in the context of the significant increases in illegal […]

We have all been shocked by the terrible news of the attack by Hamas on Israel. This is a brutal atrocity that has already claimed hundreds of lives. Civilians, including children and the elderly have been indiscriminately attacked, taken hostage and murdered. More than 250 people were killed attending a music festival in the desert […]

Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil, and using more energy efficient tools and devices will help us to save money and protect the environment. Lowering carbon emissions will also reduce the effects of climate change, and developing new sources of green energy, including from new nuclear stations, will help us […]

There has been considerable discussion over the summer about the final phase of the Folkestone seafront scheme, in particular the proposed developments on the land next to the Harbour Arm. The public consultations on this scheme began some years ago and the size of the buildings and the number of homes to be constructed was […]

This week the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan extends the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) across all London Boroughs. Whilst this is an issue that mostly affects people living in London, many local residents in Kent regularly drive into the outer London boroughs, like Bromley and Bexley, either for work or to visit family members. This […]

When I was first elected as your Member of Parliament in 2010, the question I was most often asked about the regeneration of Folkestone Harbour was, when would it start? It had been ten years since the ferry port had closed and six years since the derelict land had been bought by Roger De Haan’s […]

For many years I’ve campaigned to secure a long-term future for the nuclear industry in Romney Marsh. There are currently nearly one thousand jobs in the Folkestone and Hythe district which are directly linked to the nuclear industry. It is a major employer that has made a big contribution to our local economy, providing well […]

This month our NHS has marked seventy-five years since it was founded. As we mark the important anniversary of this much-loved national institution, it’s a good moment to reflect on what we are doing now, to ensure that it remains fit for the future. The NHS currently receives record levels of investment, with record numbers […]