Easter 2024

Signs of new life are starting to emerge in Faversham and Mid Kent.

The last few weeks might have been a bit of a washout, but the clocks are going forward this weekend and some green shoots are beginning to appear.

It’s certainly been a successful few weeks for my local campaigns, with several coming to fruition at once since my February newsletter.

Faversham underpass has long been in need of some love and attention, and I’ve led a local team in winning thousands of pounds to restore it. Local artist Graham Upton will be installing a mural celebrating the town’s history, and we’re hosting a public meeting in the Guildhall on 11^th April at 7pm for local residents to have their say on the design.

Last week we also got confirmation that Project Gigabit will now be coming to Wichling and Throwley after a local campaign which lasted several years. There’s now 92% superfast broadband availability in the constituency, but the areas it hasn’t reached yet deserve a connection and I’m working hard to get them one.

I’ve also been backing our local pools in Faversham and at Maidstone Leisure Centre which do so much for people’s physical and mental health. This week we got the brilliant news that together they’ll be getting nearly £750,000 from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

There’s good news for our local schools too, with Sheldwich Primary School and the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School both successful in the most recent round of the Condition Improvement Fund.

And earlier this month we had one of the highlights of my year – the annual Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair which brings 1,800 local students together with local and national businesses to talk about their futures.

Up in Westminster we’ve had some really encouraging news on the economy recently too, with inflation falling faster than expected and economic growth beating forecasts.

April will bring a big boost for many people locally – with Universal Credit rising by nearly 7%, the State Pension by 8.5%, and the National Living Wage by nearly 10% - up to £11.44 an hour.

That means those on the lowest incomes will be better off by over a third in real terms than they were in 2010 – part of our long-term mission to reward hard work.

This was one of the key themes in the Chancellor’s Budget this month, which saw him cut National Insurance for the second time in six months - putting £900 back in the pocket of the average worker this year.

There was also good news for families with the extension of child benefit, and businesses too with the VAT threshold raised, alcohol duty frozen to support pubs, and a tax cut for the self-employed.

As the Care Minister I am constantly thinking about the need for a strong economy to fund the care that people need in later life.

Nothing makes me feel more optimistic than seeing some of the amazing progress being made in healthcare – including recent breakthroughs in treating dementia – but to pay for it we have to keep up this economic progress.

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter weekend.

Thousands won to restore Faversham's underpass

I've led a local team in arranging for a deep clean and a mural to be installed celebrating the town.

Get involved in the design

Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair bigger than ever

1,800 students came along to meet 70 employers at this year's Fair - hosted by me and 6 other Kent MPs.

Find out more

Graveney residents say no to batteries at Cleve Hill

I hosted a public meeting in Graveney to gather local concerns about battery safety at the solar park.

Sign my petition here

It's time for a long-term Op Brock solution

Having Op Brock on over the school holidays isn't fair on residents and I've written to the Transport Secretary.

Read my letter here

Fill in my Faversham and Mid Kent business survey

I've made it one of my five priorities to help local businesses grow - and I want to hear what would help.

Fill in my survey here

Helping to unpick the lock for Faversham swing bridge

After meeting the Maritime Minister, I'm trying to get local parties to agree on a way forward for the bridge.

Find out more

Backing local residents over Cranborne Avenue

As part of my work to tackle traffic in Maidstone, I joined Helen Grant MP for a roundtable about this junction.

Find out more

England's schools fly up international league tables

Our record on education is the thing I'm most proud of as an MP - with kids now the best readers in Europe.