On Friday morning last week, I visited St Eanswythe’s primary school in Folkestone, where I was given an excellent tour by the headteacher Jane Garrett, and heard about the pupils recent sporting successes. I then met with the headteacher of the Mundella primary school in Blackbull Road, Nigel Pantling, where I was shown some of […]
Last week I met with David Statham the Managing Director of Southeastern trains to discuss the disruption to services caused by the closure of the Folkestone to Dover line. This line will be out of action for many months until work is completed to rebuild the seawall and viaduct carrying the railway. The consequences of […]
The damage done to the Folkestone to Dover railway line, caused by the erosion of the sea wall along the coastal stretch of the track, would appear to be far worse than was originally thought. It is important that the maintenance is carried out as swiftly as possible, working as they have to within the […]
George Osborne used his statement in the House of Commons last week, setting out the government’s spending review, to announce that he had allocated £250million towards preventing the chaos caused by Operation Stack. This is great news for Kent, and I am pleased that the Chancellor listened to our campaign for government funding to build […]
In two weeks time the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne will present his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons. This speech will set out the government’s spending commitments and the budgets for the different departments. Last week I led a delegation of 12 MPs from Kent to see the Chancellor to urge him […]
On Thursday 1st October at the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone I will be holding my third annual jobs fair, and this year there will be a particular focus on apprenticeships. Whilst as usual, there will be advice and opportunities available for all job seekers, the early autumn is an excellent time of the year for […]
On Friday evening this week I have been invited by the Sandgate Society to deliver the Greenwall lecture, at 7.30pm in the Chichester Hall. The Society has been working at the heart of life in Sandgate Village for over fifty years to preserve its character, conserve its fine historic buildings and to organise events to […]
It was a great honour to be re-elected as your Member of Parliament last week, and I would like to thank everyone in the Folkestone and Hythe constituency who voted for me, for their support. As always though I will work to represent everyone in our area, regardless of their political beliefs. My first surgeries […]
Last week was English Tourism Week, and with Visit Kent, I joined Danny Martin and his team at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway. These wonderful steam trains have been a popular attraction for people of all ages for nearly ninety years, and the railway continues to go from strength to strength. Tourism is one […]
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. […]