Like most parents with young children, our bank holiday weekend was full of some good quality family time. It’s been good as well over the summer to see local attractions from the amusements and beach at Dymchurch to the Coastal Park in Folkestone full of people enjoying themselves. We all know that young children can […]
This year we have seen a record A level results for schools in Kent, and my congratulations go to everyone involved; teachers, students and of course those supporting friends and family members who often find the whole process more nerve-wracking than the people actually taking the exams. Today it will be the turn of GCSE […]
The next time you stand on the Leas looking across at France, here is a disturbing fact you can keep in mind. In the French economy it takes about three working hours to generate £100 of income whereas here at home it takes us about three and a half hours. So across a typical working […]
I believe that Remembrance Day, 11th November should become a public holiday, as a living memorial to the sacrifice through death of millions of service men and women, from the trenches of the First World War, to our troops currently fighting in Helmand province in Afghanistan. This would be a particularly significant time to […]
One of the biggest issues we face is this recession is the pressure on local businesses which are the backbone of our economy. They provide jobs, training and skills for people of all ages, and businesses on the high street, village centre and local parade help bring the community together. Yet from the closure of […]
Last month I invited Shadow Tourism Minister Tobias Ellwood to come to Folkestone to meet with leading figures in the local tourism industry. Tourism is the fourth largest industry in the UK and is particuarly important to the eocnomy in Folkestone and across Shepway. We are both an area that attracts tourists and vistors, as […]
"I believe everyone should have the chance to achieve what they want in life - to buy their first home, start a business, enjoy retirement, get the best qualifications for work, good quality healthcare when they need it, the right school for their children and to live in a safe community. When times are tough, it is even more important that we work for this change, which I […]