Last year I took a group of young people on a tour of the House of Commons; one of the pleasures of being an MP, but nothing out of the ordinary. The difference on this occasion was that I was with a group of young ex-offenders being supported by Key 4 Life, an organisation that […]
The recent decision by the government to press ahead with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset is good news for the future of the whole of the industry in the UK. The construction is an £18billion investment in the Britain’s energy market, creating 25,000 jobs. The completed station […]
England football manager Sam Allardyce has quit over a newspaper investigation apparently showing him explain how to get around FA rules. Earlier today the acting chair of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee and Kent MP, Damian Collins, said Allardyce should resign if the accusations were true. Mr Collins spoke out as Mr Allardyce […]
Once again, it is a private investigation that has exposed how easy it is for people interested in enriching themselves through sport to try to flout the rules. It is incredible that an England football manager would enter into negotiations with people he didn’t know, to provide insights and guidance over how they could get […]
Last Friday I attended a breakfast for local businesses, organised by Barclays Bank at the Three Hills Sports Centre in Folkestone. We had an excellent cross section of local firms present, involved in diverse sectors including insurance and financial services, the creative industries, hotels and catering, and providers of adult social care. One of […]
I welcome the Secretary of State’s decision to accept the Select Committee’s recommendation that there should be an open and fair process for the appointment of the chairman of the new BBC unitary board. When does she expect or hope that that appointment will be made and the new unitary board will assume its responsibilities? […]
The government has launched a new consultation on the future provision of grammar schools in this country. The purpose is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential through education, regardless of their wealth or personal circumstances. We already benefit from grammar schools in Kent, and we can see that […]
Will the Secretary of State give the House an update on the progress that has been made on raising funds to support humanitarian aid in Syria since the London Syria conference earlier this year? https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-09-14/debates/16091428000011/SyriaAid#contribution-16091428000035
As has been acknowledged by Members on both sides of the House, the creative economy in the UK is fast-paced, dynamic and world-leading; it is growing faster than other sectors of the economy. Britain leads the world in many areas of online retail. Tech businesses and tech hubs have been a part of the regeneration […]
This week has seen the re-opening of the Dover to Folkestone railway line, after its closure following storm damage at the end of last year. The closure of the line has been a major inconvenience for all rail passengers in East Kent over the last nine months, and I would like thank them for their […]