Our next prime minister must be someone with the drive, personality and intelligence to solve the greatest political crisis Britain has faced in decades, one that has seen the Brexit deadlock shake our public institutions to their foundations. However, it must also be someone who can deliver more than Brexit — someone who can bring […]
The era of self-regulation of digital platforms needs to come to an end in the interest of both business and society, Conservative MP Damian Collins told Campaign’s Media360 conference in Brighton today. The House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which Collins chairs, published its report into disinformation and "fake news" in February. It […]
Like every previous major European negotiation, our discussions with the EU over our future relationship for after we leave, are running right down to the final few weeks before the deadline. However, we must remember that we do not need their permission to leave. That decision was taken by the British people in the referendum, […]
The government’s contingency planning in case of a no deal Brexit will start to take physical form this week, as roadworks begin between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20 to install a steel barrier that will divide the London bound carriageway. This barrier will allow the deployment of a contraflow system with two lanes […]
This week the House of Commons will once again debate and vote on the European Union Withdrawal Agreement. For reasons that I have previously set out in this column, if the Prime Minister presents the same deal to parliament again, I will vote against it, as I did before. I don’t believe that it is […]
Today the House of Commons will finally have the chance to express its view on the government’s proposed European Union withdrawal agreement. My own opinion remains unchanged since the proposals were first published, and I will be voting against it. The withdrawal agreement commits us to enter into a transition period when we leave the […]
This week the government started testing its plans for managing road freight in Kent in case there are delays in goods leaving the Port of Dover or Channel Tunnel after Brexit. Before Christmas, with other Kent MPs I attended a briefing with the Roads Minister, Jesse Norman, along with Highways England and the Police to […]
I was shocked to see the images of the terrible fire that engulfed Morrison’s in Cheriton Road, Folkestone last week. Like everyone else I am grateful for the brave work of the fire service in tackling the blaze, and for all the staff at the store, who made sure that everyone was safely evacuated. Looking […]
Last Sunday I attended a special service at the Hythe war memorial to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lord De L’Isle, along with the Town Mayor of Hythe, Cllr Paul Peacock, and Major Dennis Bradley DL, led the unveiling of a new largescale poppy […]
Last week I organised a meeting at the House of Commons with Cllr Patricia Rolfe, the Deputy Mayor of New Romney, and the Health and Social Care Minister Steve Barclay. We discussed a number of issues relating to funding and delivering front line care in the Folkestone and Hythe District, with a particular reference to […]