I can honestly say that the past two weeks have been my busiest since becoming your MP. I was elected chairman of the All Party Parliamentary group for Civic Societies which promotes a greater input of community groups in town planning and the planning process and with it volunteer engagement in making our towns and villages better places to live. Our very own John Walker, the new chairman of the Ramsgate Society is the national vice chairman.
Other work in the constituency has included a visit to Cliftonville Primary School to present year 6 pupil Keiron Shilling his well-deserved Christmas card winning certificate, a visit to Kent and Canterbury Hospital to “test drive” their new surgical robot, the only one in Kent and one of only 50 in the country, meetings with Kent Police to highlight crime concerns in Thanet, notably the dreadful incident in Broadstairs some weeks ago. A meeting with the Lloyds Bank Foundation to find out how local charities here in Thanet can make charitable grant applications, usual surgery sessions and the turn on of Ramsgate’s Christmas lights, and as ever regular radio interviews on BBC Radio Kent and LBC.
In Parliament, the European Scrutiny Committee held five meetings, including an interview of the Foreign Secretary relating to progress on EU renegotiation, whilst the Work and Pensions Select Committee undertook frenetic work in obtaining evidence and publishing a report into Tax Credits. The Chancellor’s Spending Review removed the sharp cut in Tax Credits, not least I hope due to the severe note of caution raised by the Select Committee and from pressure by concerned MPs who noted worries raised by their constituents.
I had the opportunity to visit Rosyth, near Edinburgh, where the UK’s two new super carriers are being built, the Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales. Awe-inspiring equipment which confirms our commitment to keep the UK at the forefront of military technology and ability to project power anywhere on the globe to keep us safe. At £3bn each, vast sums of money, but put into context of the welfare (non-pension) annual budget of £120bn per year, they represent a small fraction of government expenditure. It was pleasing to see the commitment in the Spending Review to defence, police and an increase in the security services budget at this time of global uncertainty.
I made a keynote speech in Parliament in support of Manston’s ability to be a relief valve for overcrowded Gatwick and Heathrow whilst indecision remains as to which will be the preferred choice for sorely needed South East airport expansion, and a ten year lead time before either alternative is completed.
As I write the Labour Party are tearing themselves apart over whether our military action should be extended into Syria. The vote is expected this week; I have no such concerns and support the Prime Minister’s clear analysis for action which must additionally include a diplomatic solution to remove the ISIL threat and create a stable Syria into the future.