Below I outline how the budget will help young people by tackling youth unemployment through the apprenticeships scheme. You could say that the whole of the Budget is about young people because the Budget is about the future of the country. And the big message from the Government is that we don’t want the next […]
Below I outline the ways I believe this budget will help our families with childcare, housing and taxes. The Budget helps families by reducing their childcare costs, and giving extra help to people looking to buy a house or move house through the extension of the help to buy scheme. It also makes the married couples […]
Construction is now well underway for the Folkestone Memorial Arch to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Last Friday I visited the construction site at the eastern end of the Leas, close to the top of the Road of Remembrance, along with fellow directors of the ‘Step Short’ project, Cllr […]
George Osborne recently announced the positive news of improved economic growth and employment. Our long term economic plan is helping to restore growth and stability, but there is more we need to do to secure the recovery. In his budget there were a variety of proposals which affect all us of differently, so below I […]
The Budget presented to the House of Commons last week by George Osborne, contained much to interest savers, pensioners and local businesses in particular. I know from speaking to a large number of retired residents over the last few months, that there has been considerable concern about the low levels of return they have been getting […]
The future of further education in Folkestone was safeguarded last week as East Kent College took over K College in the town. The new principal Graham Razey, has positive plans to reinvigorate the college and to deliver even higher levels of education and training for its students. Ever since K College went into financial difficulties, I have […]
The Army Reserve, the new name for the Territorial Army, will play an increasingly important role in supporting our armed forces in the years ahead. There is currently a recruitment drive that will see the Army Reserve double in size from 15,000 to 30,000. For many soldiers leaving the army, including former Gurkhas, joining the […]
I recently spoke at a special event in London to promote the creative and technology economy in East Kent, which was organised by the ‘Grow for it ‘campaign. This day brought together investors and business leaders from Tech City in London, with local firms like Sleeping Giant Media which specialises in helping businesses promote themselves […]
The future of nuclear energy at Dungeness received a boost last week, as EDF made a firm commitment to support the ten year life extension of the power station to 2028. This would safeguard for another decade the hundreds of jobs at Dungeness B power station, and the many others that are linked to it. […]
We have endured the largest amount of rainfall in living memory, and the pressure that this places on our flood defences has continued. Last Friday I organised a meeting with the Environment Agency and the Romney Marsh Area Internal Drainage Board to discuss the local response to the floods and to see what else could […]