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Lambing season is here for Cobtree Young Farmers in Maidstone!
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After a March that’s felt like forever, it looks like spring has finally sprung.
Looking back, it’s no wonder it felt so long. I actually can’t quite believe how much has been achieved in the four weeks since my last newsletter.
Back at the start of March we launched our plan to stop the boats, with new laws meaning that people who come here illegally won’t be able to stay. It’s absolutely right that we help people in need – but Britain should decide who meets the criteria, not people smugglers.
Then we had the Budget. After stabilising the economy in the Autumn, the Chancellor set out his plan for growth. He announced incentives for business investment, pension reforms to keep people in work for longer, and an expansion of free childcare to all children over 9 months old.
There was lots of good news for us locally too including tax cuts for pubs, £6 million for pothole repairs in Kent, and a fund for public swimming pools which I'm backing Faversham Pools' bid for!
He also extended the cap on people’s energy bills to carry on supporting families and help bring inflation down. In fact, we’ve paid roughly half of the average household's energy bills this winter.
Clearly that can’t go on forever, and that’s why last week the Energy Secretary launched Powering Up Britain – our plan to create cheap, clean and abundant energy here in the UK.
It’s not just here at home that we’ve been busy. During that time we’ve also struck a new deal with France, agreed a British submarine design for our defence partnership with Australia and the United States, and joined the CPTPP – our biggest trade deal since Brexit with 11 dynamic economies across the Indo-Pacific.
For my part, I’ve been working on historic reforms to the social care sector – giving care as a career the status is deserves and harnessing new tech to help people live independent lives for longer.
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I’ve also been really busy locally too.
Every March I host an apprenticeship fair in Maidstone with other Kent MPs, and this year we had over 1,500 students from across Kent come and meet businesses from Amazon to Shepherd Neame.
It’s always such a joy to see local students’ eyes being opened to some of the brilliant opportunities out there.
I’ve also been sticking up for St Mary’s Children’s Centre in Faversham, and working to get flood defences with residents and local councillors.
The local elections coming up at the start of next month are your chance to have a say on who should be running things in your local area. Don’t forget from this year you’ll need photo ID to vote in person – and if you don’t have one you can apply for one free here by the 25th April.
And finally, seeing litter lying around locally is one of my absolute bugbears.
I want our local area to be looking its best for the Coronation at the start of May, and so I’m organising a constituency wide clean up the weekend before.
I’m calling on litter picking groups from across the constituency to help out, and I want as many people as possible to join in. If you’d like to get involved in any way, please email me at [email protected]
Wishing you all a wonderful Easter weekend in the sunshine!
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Chancellor sets out plan for stability & growth
Last month's Budget will strengthen our economy - and had more money for potholes in Kent & a fund for public swimming pools.
Read more here
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Apprenticeship Fair bigger than ever
Hosted with 6 other Kent MPs - my Maidstone Fair saw over 1,500 students from 32 schools across Kent meet nearly 70 employers
Find out more here
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Sticking up for St Mary's Children's Centre
Families in Faversham are worried about losing this service and I've been trying to help find a solution.
Read my letter to the Council here
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Litter Angels posters take pride of place
Congratulations to Dylan Hills from Boughton-Under-Blean and Dunkirk Primary - his winning anti-littering posters from my competition are now up at Maidstone Services!
See his winning design here
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Plan to Power Up Britain has lift off
Our plan to create cheap, clean and abundant energy in the UK is go - with extra money for insulation too.
Find out more here
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Keeping us safe from flooding
I've been working with councillors and residents in Faversham, Doddington and Headcorn to get flood defence improvements.
Read about the various schemes
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Boost for buses and community transport
The Government has extended the £2 fare cap for another 3 months, and there's good news locally on community transport options.
Find out more here
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More support incoming with the cost of living
This year's cost of living support has started going live - with up to £1,350 for millions of families.
More info on the payments here
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Coronation Clean-Up!
I'm organising a weekend of litter picking across the constituency before the big day! Email me if you'd like to get involved in any way at [email protected]
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Please pass this email onto anyone you think might be interested and encourage them to sign up to these newsletters on my website, here.
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