As it stands, the default legal position is that the UK will leave the EU without a deal on 12th April. So far, all attempts to find a consensus for a deal in the House of Commons have failed. At the time of writing this article the Prime Minister’s withdrawal agreement has been defeated three […]
We’ve got to get on with Brexit. We cannot continue going round and round in circles discussing and debating the Prime Minister’s deal when it is clear there is not enough support in the House of Commons for it to pass. The consequence of this political fact, which has been clear since before Christmas, is […]
Operation Stack returned to Kent’s roads last week in response to delays in freight crossing the Channel, caused by Storm Gareth. It was a reminder both of the need for a permanent solution to the problems created when lorries are unable to leave the country, and also that this can occur by natural events, not […]
On Friday last week I chaired the first meeting of the Folkestone and Hythe District Council's ‘accelerated delivery board’, which was held at the Civic Centre in Folkestone. The board brings together representatives from the District and Count Councils, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, Network Rail, and some of the major development projects in […]
I will not be supporting the agreement proposed last week by the Prime Minister, for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. My concerns are that it does not deliver the Brexit that people voted for, and that it could leave the UK locked into a relationship with the EU that would […]
On Monday the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond delivered his budget for the year ahead, and was able to confirm that the national debt is now falling as a proportion to the size of the economy. In fact, in the last year, debt has fallen faster than was predicted, which has given the Chancellor […]
It was reported in the media last week that the millionaire businessman Arron Banks intends to write to every voter in the Folkestone and Hythe constituency criticising me over my position on Brexit. Mr Banks has no connection to this area, he lives on his country estate near Bristol, spends part of his time tending […]
Last Wednesday I attended the special exhibition at the Customs House in Folkestone, for the detailed plans for the first phase of the Seafront development. It has been proposed that the first buildings will be constructed at the eastern end of the site, close to the coastal park and the Leas Lift. It is excellent […]
Following the meeting of European leaders in Salzburg last week, there has been a renewed focus on the Brexit negotiations, with people understandably wanting to know where we stand now. Firstly, let’s be clear that these talks are not about whether or not we leave the European Union, but what our future relationships will be […]
Last Saturday I was invited to speak about heritage and the arts at the Big Tent Ideas Festival in Cambridge, and was asked in particular about their role in the regeneration of Folkestone. The Festival, which was organised by my parliamentary colleague George Freeman, was a cross party event to bring people together to discuss […]