Summer 2025
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*Sticking up for our local schools*

 

As children break up for the school holidays, I will be pressing Ministers for a fairer deal for schools. 

 

Our schools are under siege. Head teachers have told me that rising costs are forcing them to increase class sizes, cut  A-level courses and make staff redundant. One head teacher in the constituency told me:

 

“*I have chosen to take retirement next year just to balance the budget*.”

 

The recent increase in Employer National Insurance - the Jobs Tax - is resulting in nearly half of all head teachers cutting teaching jobs. The National Head Teachers’ Survey found that 46 per cent of head teachers will have to reduce the number of teachers or teaching hours over the next year – while 80 per cent said they would cut teaching assistants or their hours.

 

And, it is not just state schools feeling the heat. The Jobs Tax and VAT on Independent Schools coupled with mandatory business rates are adding pressure on private schools as well. This is resulting in parents who are working 2 to 3 jobs with grandparents helping to pay the fees reaching breaking point. 

 

According to the Government's own impact assessment 37,000 private school pupils will be forced into the already stretched state system as a result – and any money raised from this tax will no longer be ring-fenced to help fund state schools. 

 

This means that on top of the jobs tax there will also be an additional shortfall in funding for teacher pay leading to yet more uncertainty on pay.

 

One head teacher told me before the schools broke up for the summer that: 

 

*“We are not able to recruit people. This is a real crisis.”*

 

And yet another explained:

 

*“All we want is the best for the children, but I spend my entire time worrying about finances and not about the children.”*

 

Let’s make no mistake these policies are damaging our children’s futures and will undermine all the achievements of the last Government which saw children in England ranked the ‘Best in the West’ for reading and maths. 

 

Given the size of the Government’s majority my opportunity as your MP to influence them is limited. That said, together with my colleagues we forced them into a U-turn on the winter fuel allowance and we will continue to push them for a fairer deal for schools


[*Sign my petition*]([link removed])*to Save Faversham Cottage Hospital after the shocking news*that it was closing on Friday 4 July*. Although I’ve been told it’s a temporary closure for four weeks I am deeply concerned that the future of the Hospital is now hanging in the balance without community consultation.*


**Pushing for solutions for Operation Brock**


I am pressing National Highways to look at better solutions for the hugely disruptive Operation Brock including 'mini Brock' and deploying removing it with 48 hours’ notice instead of 7 days.

 

Read more [here]([link removed]).


**Continuing the fight to crack-down on ‘fleecehold’ estate management companies**


I know how urgent it is to crack down on egregious estate management fees charged to both freeholders and leaseholders. That's why, I’ve written, asked questions, and even met the Housing Minister – but I’m still getting excuses instead of action.   

 

Read about my fight with Ministers [here]([link removed]).


**Holding the Housing Minister to account on Heathlands**


If the Lenham Heath garden village of 5,000 new homes goes ahead it is vital that local views are heard. I will continue to walk with you every step of the way writing to Ministers and asking questions in Parliament to ensure your concerns are addressed.

 

There is more information [here]([link removed]-).


**Do you support an upgrade to Blue Bell Hill?**


Please tell me if you still want to see Blue Bell Hill improved by completing my survey [here]([link removed]).


**Blue Badge Battle**
=====================


Denying patients with serious illnesses temporary Blue Badges is as undignified as it is unfair.

 

That’s why I’m supporting the *Kent Messenger's* ‘Blue Badge Battle’ campaign. You can read more [here]([link removed])


*Parliament voted on a Welfare Bill that started out as a savings plan… and ended up as a spending commitment. The Government promised savings. What they've delivered is the biggest rise in out-of-work benefits since the 1970s*

*Watch me explain this*[*here*]([link removed])

 


**Who's responsible for battery safety at Cleve Hill?**


With local residents understandably concerned about battery safety, I recently met with the Minister for Energy to find out who is responsible for battery safety at installations like Cleve Hill.

Find out more [here]([link removed]).


**Backing farmers and producers at the Kent County Show **


After a tough year under Labour, rural life needs our support now more than ever - so I was delighted to back Kent farmers and producers at the County Show.

 

Watch more [here]([link removed])


####Policy Renewal Programme on our welfare system


As Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary my team and I will be digging deep into the challenges we face to work out ways to fix them.

 

If you've got ideas or you’d like to help, we'd love to hear them so please click [here]([link removed])

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#### 

**One year of a Labour Government**
===================================


It's clear that many people – whether they voted Labour or not – are feeling let down by the Government. Their failures are something I take no pleasure in because all of us are paying the price. Read more [here]([link removed]).


This is a crisis. We are becoming a welfare state with an economy attached. 28 million people working to support 28 million others. If we don’t fix this, our economy could collapse. [Read this thread to find out more.]([link removed])


If there's anything else I can help you with please email me at [email protected]

Please pass this email onto anyone you think might be interested and encourage them to sign up to these newsletters on my website, [here]([link removed]).


*Copyright © 2025 Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid-Kent, All rights reserved.*
 

House of Commons, SW1A 0AA, London

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