Friday 25 February 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an unprovoked assault on a peaceful and sovereign nation. There can be no justification for the action that President Putin has taken. He has lied repeatedly to the Russian people and to the world about the situation in Ukraine. Mr Putin has falsely asserted time and […]
Standing under the Step Short, First World War memorial arch on The Leas in Folkestone, the decision we have to make as a country on 23rd June seems small. During the First World War there were ten million movements of soldiers through the town, to France and the trenches of the Western Front. For many, marching […]
I recently visited NIC Instruments Limited, in Gladstone Road, Folkestone, and met with the Managing Director, Steve Wisbey and members of his team. NIC is a family run business that has been based in the town for over forty years. The firm originally specialised in medical equipment, but is now a world leader in the […]
Last Friday I joined Jacques Gounon, the Chairman of Eurotunnel, to officially open the new access area for road freight joining the tunnel’s services at Folkestone. This completes a major investment from Eurotunnel in improving the speed and efficiency of its operations in Kent, that will help both freight, and passengers travelling in private cars […]
This week the former Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency, Rob Whiteman, warned that Kent could receive an additional 50,000 asylum seekers a year if Britain were to leave the European Union. His comments came after the Prime Minister stated that outside of the EU, there was a real risk that France would cancel […]
The large numbers of migrants in the Calais ‘jungle’ camp have been causing major disturbances to services through the Channel Tunnel in recent days. This has involved hundreds of migrants charging the perimeter fencing and gaining access to the tracks; actions that not only endanger their lives, but those of other people as well. This […]
This summer we have seen just how connected everyday life in Folkestone and Hythe is to the conflicts that are ripping apart countries like Syria, Iraq and Libya. It might be tempting for some people to believe that no matter how tragic, these are troubles in far away countries that have little to do with […]
The Prime Minister has this morning met with the Home Secretary and the Transport Secretary to discuss the situation in Calais to ensure that everything possible is being done to address the problems caused. Yesterday has to be one of the worst days we have seen in terms of disruption at the Channel Tunnel, caused […]
A few weeks ago I opened the new outdoor play area for the Punch and Judy nursery, which meets at Lympne village hall. This is a busy and popular nursery, and it was great to meet the team who run it, as well as some of the children. As a working parent with a young […]
On Wednesday evening this week, following on from the Chancellor’s statement and debate on the Budget, I will be leading a separate debate in the House of Commons focused on our local fishing industry. In the Budget we will be able to see how businesses are expanding, creating new jobs and investing in our economy. […]