**Backing our local businesses this Christmas**
===============================================


*Celebrating Christmas on the Bapchild Sleigh Ride*

*It was wonderful to see so many children thrilled to receive a visit from Santa..*

 

Every Christmas I tell myself I must be better organised next year and not leave everything to the last minute. And then when the next Christmas comes, I remember that resolution but inevitably too late. I know I’m not the only one.


Small Business Saturday this year was my chance to try and change things, and this year I spent it in Faversham. It’s usually held on the first Saturday in December, and the aim is to rally the community around the small businesses that help make our local economy tick.


In practice, the biggest difference we can all make for our local shops is to buy things in them. This year it is more important than ever because businesses are telling me they are struggling. 


Over the last 18 months many have seen their business rates double, have been hard hit by the rise in employer national insurance (the ‘jobs tax’) and seen huge increases in energy bills. Pubs are vital centres of our rural life, yet they are closing on an epic scale. 


Retail, hospitality and leisure employ nearly 6 million people nation-wide, yet since the Autumn budget over 1,000 pubs and restaurants have closed and nearly 90,000 hospitality workers have lost their jobs as a result.  


This has got to stop. That’s why I am fighting hard in Parliament to back our businesses and reverse these disastrous policies. The Conservative Party forced a vote in Parliament to cut public spending to abolish business rates for businesses on our high streets and are calling on the Government to drop the Employment Rights Bill.  


The Employment Rights Bill sounds good in theory, but in practice it will result in hiring freezes and job losses. We need to cut red tape and energy bills for businesses while tackling retail crime so we can protect our post offices, pubs, pharmacies, cafes and shops. 


Although we lost the vote, our campaigning on the bill did get a concession from the government - they were going to get rid of probation periods for new staff, but have now u-turned on that.  This is welcome as that came up many times in conversation with employers as a reason they would be less likely to employ young people. It’s a step in the right direction but the bill is still bad for business and our economy. 


We won’t stop backing local businesses and fighting for them in Parliament. If you, or someone you know runs a local business and need my help, please contact me. And, if you have any last minute shopping to do please remember our local businesses and try to support them if you can. 


I would like to end on a happy note and thank everyone who gives their time, energy and money to put up Christmas decorations in our towns and villages, and to decorate village halls and churches. I know this involves a lot of effort. For my part, it puts a smile on my face when I see the Christmas lights in Faversham or in villages around the area on a dark winter night.


**I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. **


*Surprise, surprise – Operation Brock is back on again from 15 December until the 22nd December. It’s beyond infuriating. *[*Please sign and share my petition*]([link removed])* to stop Brock**. **The more people who do, the louder our message will be.*


**Your views about safety on our country lanes**


In April I asked you to share your experiences while walking, cycling and horse riding on our country lanes. Nearly 500 of you took part in my survey and I am using your experiences to campaign for more careful driving in our countryside. Click [here]([link removed]) and [here]([link removed]) to find out more. 


**End 'Fleecehold' now**


We need an urgent change in the law to protect freeholders and leaseholders against these 'fleeceholder' fees.


Click [here]([link removed]) to read my latest letter to the Housing Minister and see the Shadow Housing Minister give the Conservative Party's full support to get on with this. 


**It's unfair to reduce London's housing targets whilst increasing Kent's**


[Watch me ]([link removed])argue on BBC Question Time that Labour’s housing approach is wrong. Building on our countryside is not the answer to the housing problem.


**Meeting people in Harrietsham, Hollingbourne & Bearsted**


My latest 'Meet your MP' gatherings were in Harrietsham, Hollingbourne and Bearsted. 


As usual it was a great opportunity to get members of the community together in one room. Find out more [here]([link removed]). 


**My letter to Sir Richard Branson welcoming the approval of Virgin Rail to operate cross-Channel services.**


Read my letter to Sir Richard Branson [here]([link removed]) making clear that any cross-Channel rail services must stop in Kent at Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations.


*Only Labour would deliver job-destroying budgets...and then spend taxpayers' money on government-created jobs.*

**

*Watch me explain how absurd this is [here]([link removed]).*


**Parliament Week - encouraging people to engage with democracy**


For Parliament last month I visited the Abbey School and Bysing Wood Primary School in Faversham to 

raise awareness of Parliament Week and the importance of Political engagement. Watch me explain more about Parliament Week [here]([link removed]).


**Dropping in to see Len Valley ** 


While I was in Lenham, I popped into the Len Valley Practice to see how their new appointment system is working out - there seems to be improvements which is good.


If you would like me to pass on any experiences you have with your Doctor to the ICB (local NHS) I will be happy to do so. See more [here]([link removed]).


**Thank you to the Faversham Foodbank**


I dropped by the great group of volunteers collecting donations for the Faversham Foodbank at Tesco. 

Find out how you can donate** **[here]([link removed]) and thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who donates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#### 


**Christmas would not be the same without our Posties!**


Christmas visits are fun and one of my favourites is visiting the Faversham Delivery Office. 


Read more [here]([link removed])** **about my recent visit.


[*Small Business Saturday*]([link removed])* is a great reminder to get out and shop in local shops to buy the things we need for Christmas - so if you have any last minute shopping to do try and shop locally if you can. Watch my video*[*here*]([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

This email was sent to [email protected]

You are receiving this email because you've subscribed to Helen Whately's newsletter

[View in browser]([link removed])| [Unsubscribe]([link removed])