The future of K College is important not just for Folkestone, but for the many students from across our district who benefit from the higher and further education courses they run. Colleges like these offer choice to students and often the chance to specialise in a subject area which is not otherwise provided by a […]
I believe that foreign owned heavy goods vehicles, which often pay no tax in our country, should be required to make a contribution towards the upkeep of our roads network. British haulage firms will be paying road tax, fuel duty and business taxes, whereas many foreign owned and registered lorries will not even pay fuel […]
It was reported this week that I had claimed that young people looking for work should busk to pay for the transport costs to get them to interviews, and that they should also leave school at 16 and work below the minimum wage. This is completely untrue and I have set this out in the […]
I have invited a team from facebook to come to Folkestone to give a presentation on how local businesses and organisations can use this social media tool to reach their customers and supporters. This event is being hosted by the Folkestone Creative Foundation at the former Triennial visitors centre on the corner of the Old […]
Following the Government reshuffle I have been appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers. I was delighted to accept this position and hope that I can assist the Secretary of State in her work at this important time for Northern Ireland and the peace process. Being […]
On Monday next week M&C Saatchi, one of the world’s leading communications companies will start their two week work training programme in Folkestone. Twelve young people, aged between 18 and 24, including residents from Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and the North Downs, will be able to participate in the kind of experience that people have […]
The excellent progress that is being made with the decommissioning of the old Dungeness A power station, could be about to offer a new hope for our campaign to secure a new C station at that site. Last Friday I attended a breakfast briefing given by Magnox and the Dungeness A station director Ray Jepps, […]
I have once again been involved in organising a start-up business competition to be held at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. The Conservative Party has agreed to give space for 12 new start-up businesses from across the UK to present themselves at its annual conference in Birmingham this October, as part of a special […]
This week we have had some good news for Dungeness and the future of the nuclear power on Romney Marsh. EDF energy, the company that owns and operates Dungeness B has confirmed that it is in talks with National Grid and the Government about extending the life of the station. This means, from where we […]
Today I have a launched 'The Growth Factory' report which can be found online at www.thegrowthfactory.co.uk The Growth Factory brings together new thinking on how we can rebalance the economy to provide the growth the UK needs in the 21st century. At the heart of this is a modern industrial strategy which defines the relationship […]