A strong local economy

Helen at the opening of Foodie's Emporium in Headcorn

Businesses are the engine of the economy and we need successful local businesses to provide local jobs. There are clear signs that the economy is going in the right direction with more jobs in the UK than ever before. Locally, unemployment has halved since 2010 despite the squeeze on the public sector.

I want to help local businesses of all sizes succeed, through pro-business legislation and taxation, cutting unnecessary bureaucracy, reform of business rates and a Brexit deal that works fro everyone in Kent. 

We need investment in infrastructure so the local economy can grow, and excellent education so our children have the skills for the jobs of the future.

News

Getting creative in Faversham

I visited artists taking part in East Kent Artists’ Open Houses this year.

It was great to see 17 houses and studios in Faversham taking part in this year’s event, creating a separate ‘Faversham trail’ for people to explore.

Celebrating 25 years of the National Lottery

Since the first draw took place on 19 November 1994, the National Lottery has changed lives.

In the last 25 years the National Lottery has raised over £22 million for charities in Faversham and Mid Kent.

First official visit to Kent as Tourism Minister

I recently visited Simpsons Wine Estate in Barham in my new role as Minister for Tourism.

The visit was an opportunity to see how Kent’s booming food and drink sector can attract more visitors to the county and increase tourism revenue for local businesses.

New shop for food lovers opens in Headcorn

It was fantastic to attend the official opening of Foodie’s Emporium in Headcorn on 20 September.

I love buying local produce and Foodie’s is full of that – local cheeses, locally made bread, local wine – giving locals and visitors to Headcorn plenty of reasons to shop there.

MPs must come together so we can get on with Brexit

The constituency and the country voted to Leave and I have been supporting the Prime Minister to get on with the job of taking us out of the EU. The negotiations have been difficult – which we always knew they were going to be.

The budget: Building the foundations for the future

Recovering from the financial crash was never going to be easy, and the latest growth forecasts suggest there’s a way to go. But there was good news for the economy in last week’s budget. We have the lowest unemployment since the 1970s and rising wages for the lowest paid.

Here's to The Harrow!

 

I was delighted to attend the official re-opening of The Harrow pub in Stockbury village a few nights ago. It was a fantastic event to be part of as the pub's story is heart-warming for the local community.

Beer duty: Minister responds

With the Budget coming on Wednesday 8 March, a number of constituents wrote to me about beer duty and business rates for pubs.

Business bus motors into town

A 32 tonne, 40ft long lorry packed with business experts rolled into the carpark at Maidstone Studios on Tuesday.