Most of us, I am sure, had heard of the Battle of Jutland, which ran its bloody course over a matter of hours commencing 31st May 2016. It was the greatest naval action ever seen with 250 ships and 100,000 men involved. We lost 14 ships and 6,000 men, with the Germans losing 11 ships and 2,500 men. Despite our losses, it was a victory in that it kept the German fleet within port for the remainder of the war, implementing a blockade of supplies and confirming British naval dominance. I was pleased to represent our towns at Chatham Naval memorial at the time and the hour a hundred years on, a moving service of remembrance conducted with appropriate naval presence.
Work on bids for the Coastal Communities fund has continued with numerous meetings including Kent County Council, the Ramsgate Coastal Communities team and Ramsgate Town Council. Another ongoing theme is the BHS failure investigation, with Sir Philip Green coming before the committee this week. I am also publishing my full report into Westgate College and the Road Project (The John Townsend Trust) with a wider appraisal of lessons to be learnt and calling upon the government to undertake a comprehensive review of the care sector. Find it at my website at www.craigmackinlay.com.
Visits to important local businesses have continued, with a visit to a local Asparagus farm, a key Thanet crop, and to MiddletonMurray, an apprenticeship, jobs and skills provider in Discovery Park. It is pleasing to note their success in getting youngsters into training and work, and for the first time for a while, Thanet is off of the bottom rung of youth unemployment figures, so steps very much in the right direction. To continue the good news on jobs, I will be hosting, with Sir Roger Gale MP, the Thanet Jobs, skills and Apprenticeships Fair, to be held at the Winter Gardens on Friday 8th July. See www.thanetjobsfair.com.
Many in Ramsgate will know of La Magnolia Italian restaurant. I was pleased to be at opening celebrations with siblings Leo and Allesandro joining the current owner in a new bar, gelateria and coffee shop next to the restaurant on West Cliff Arcade. I wish them and all other new businesses springing up locally all the best for a successful future.
By the time I write once more in two weeks time, the EU referendum will be over, and we will know whether we, as a nation, have decided to join the rest of the world with a normal, independent and democratic future, releasing us from job-destroying bureaucracy, high membership fees and failure which typifies the EU. It can be a great future with the opportunity to re-connect with the growing parts of the world. Or we will wake up on Friday 24th to a very uncertain future of more rule from Brussels, more costs and a permanent attachment to a political union which has failed in virtually everything it touches, whether it is fishing, farming, economic management and border controls. Polls are currently with Vote Leave, I’ll be campaigning locally to the end, hope to see you.