2012, the long awaited year of the London Olympics and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is here. It is also going to be an important year for the international economy, future of the euro zone, peace in the Middle East and the development of the emerging powers in the Far East. 2012 is not going to […]
I hope you all enjoyed an excellent Christmas Day and had the chance to get out and about on Boxing Day between the various attractions of local dips, runs, hunts and football derbies. I joined the crowds in The Square in Elham to see off the members of the East Kent Hunt for their annual […]
One of my favourite carols is ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and in particular the line ‘the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight’. As we gather for Christmas, we will have fond memories of the year past, moments of reflection and reasons to look forward to 2012. Looking back […]
My work as your Member of Parliament this year has given me the chance to see the constituency from many different angles, including going underground and on the water; so I was delighted last Friday to have the chance to land an airplane at Lydd, alongside the airport’s managing director Hani Mutlaq. Thankfully for all […]
Christmas is a time for good cheer but for some it also the busiest period of the working year. Last week I visited the Royal Mail sorting offices in Folkestone, Hythe and New Romney, to meet the postal workers who make sure that all of our cards and presents get through in time. This time […]
We know that sport can change lives, and particularly by inspiring young people. Whilst sporting activity is good for all who enjoy it there is growing evidence that it can make a big difference in the lives of vulnerable young people, and those who might have had problems at school or with the law. On […]
On Tuesday George Osborne announced that there would be a review of the way in which the European habitats regulations are interpreted and implemented in the UK. It was the over zealous interpretation of these regulations that led to Dungeness missing out on being included on the Government's list of sites preferred for new nuclear […]
My daughter Claudia opened the first window of her advent calendar this morning and was disappointed to find that behind it was just a picture, and not a chocolate. Some of you may have felt as she did, when listening to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s ‘Autumn Statement’ to the House of Commons on Tuesday. […]
Last Friday evening I joined a packed Quarterhouse in Folkestone for the tenth anniversary meeting of Go Folkestone. Led by its President Philip Carter and Chairman Cllr Ann Berry this organisation has successfully campaigned for the town and investment in its future. Whilst we remain focused now on creating jobs and supporting businesses in our […]
Delivering a long term solution to the problems created by Operation Stack remains one of the big infrastructure challenges facing our area. Improved co-ordination between the Kent police, Highways Agency, Channel Tunnel and Dover port, has meant we have avoided over the last couple of years some of the chronic delays of the recent past. […]