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Joining in with the apple harvest at AR Neaves near Newnham
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Often when I sit down to write these newsletters I look back on the previous six or eight weeks and am amazed just how much has happened – and very often how much has changed.
But in all the time I’ve been doing them it’s safe to say there has never been a period like the one since my last update.
Last month we mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. A day we all knew would eventually come, but hoped in our hearts might not.
She was a constant in so many of our lives. A symbol of national pride, who brought people together because of the remarkable person she was – a lifetime of service carried out with unwavering kindness, grace and good humour.
While national mourning has come to an end, there is still a great sense of loss at The Queen’s passing. There are little reminders – especially in Parliament where it is now His Majesty’s Government – that catch us out and bring home the reality of this new era.
It was a privilege to take part in the tributes in Parliament the day after we heard the sad news. I have never known an atmosphere like it in the House of Commons – sombre, but with smiles and laughter piercing the silence as MPs reflected on their memories of The Queen.
I know just how much The Queen meant to people in Faversham and Mid Kent. On almost every school visit, I would get asked if I had met The Queen, and in so many places and buildings there were signs of cherished visits and occasions.
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Clearly there has been a lot of change in Westminster during the last few weeks too, and I want to say sorry for the uncertainty this has caused.
Liz Truss is right about the magical qualities of economic growth. Quite simply it makes people’s lives better, and we should want more of it. But as she acknowledged, her plan went too far and too fast – especially while we’re spending tens of billions of pounds to support people with the cost of energy.
I know Rishi Sunak will be an outstanding Prime Minister. I worked with him in the Treasury and saw his grip of the economic challenges we face first hand. There is no one better to steer our economy through these difficult times.
He showed during his time as Chancellor that he will always support the most vulnerable when times are tough, both with the furlough scheme and with the energy support package.
We now need to get on with the job. We must steady our economy and bring inflation under control. We need to transform our domestic energy network while standing with Ukraine against Putin. And we need to unblock our NHS as we go into winter.
Throughout this period, I’ve been working to make our lives better locally: bringing people together to support with the cost of living, fighting for a solution to Operation Brock, and making the case for improvements to local infrastructure. You can find out more about this and much more below.
These are difficult times, but we will get through them. And as The Queen reminded us on so many occasions, storms are best weathered together.
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Paying tribute to Her Majesty our late Queen
I paid tribute to the Queen in Parliament on behalf of all of us in Faversham and Mid Kent.
Read my full tribute here
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Hosting my local cost of living roundtables
I'm bringing people together in Faversham and Maidstone to create local support networks.
Find out more
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Making the case for an Op. Brock Taskforce
I'm leading Kent MPs in pushing for a new taskforce to tackle Operation Brock once and for all.
Read about our plan here
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An update on Maidstone's local plan
I've written to the Planning Inspectorate to make sure the views of local residents are heard.
Read my letter here
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Putting residents' concerns to town police
I've been working with local councillors in Faversham to make sure residents' concerns are heard by the town's police.
Find out what they said
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Jobcentre events in Faversham take off
New events to help get town residents into work have finally arrived after years of campaigning.
Find out more here
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Big boost for community transport funding
It's great to see a 450% boost for community transport options in Kent after I raised concerns about the reduction in local bus services.
Find out more here
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Keeping up the fight for fast rural broadband
I'm continuing to press Ministers to connect our local villages - including Throwley and Wichling
Listen to my speech in Parliament
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Standing up for local commuters
I've called a meeting with Southeastern on 14th November to raise local passengers' concerns about their new timetable.
Let me know how you're affected
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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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