Introducing Craig Mackinlay

I wanted to introduce you to Craig Mackinlay who is the excellent new candidate for South Thanet for the Conservatives but I thought that it would be best for me to pass you his own introduction which outlines his experience and qualifications to become our local MP next year.

You can also be in touch with him via his email or subscribe to his newsletter so you can find out more about his views and ambitions for South Thanet

campaign@craigmackinlay.com
http://www.craigmackinlay.com/contact

From Craig Mackinlay

Dear Supporter

To have been selected to stand in one’s own county for a seat that I have long considered a second home is a particular privilege.

Nationally, we face a tough challenge to form a majority government, but we will do it. South Thanet is a key seat if we are to amass sufficient building blocks to form that Conservative government. The alternative, a Labour government under Ed Milliband is a truly terrifying prospect. We need a further term to finish the job of restoring the nation’s finances and further improve the economy bringing opportunity to all, deliver further changes to the benefits system transforming it into one that works, and an education system that can compete globally.

Also, only we, in government, can deliver the in/out EU referendum that is long overdue. It is clear on all counts that the (then) EEC we assented to in 1975, based on free trade and friendship is a far cry from the EU that we have today, with the Prime Minister rightly describing it as “too big, too bossy, too interfering”. I have campaigned since 1991 against this increasingly remote, undemocratic and centralised EU, firstly as a founder member of UKIP, then as leader and deputy leader of it, and now within the Conservative Party. Many natural Conservatives here in South Thanet voted UKIP in the European Elections in May; it was an obvious opportunity to voice deep seated unease. It is my job to convince those voters that in me they have a true champion to address those concerns, within a government that will deliver. The simple political truth is, however well UKIP have raised the tempo of the national debate, that they cannot deliver a referendum.

About me

I am 47, married to Kati who works across Kent as a community pharmacist.

In politics, too often we find candidates that have never experienced the real world. I have been in practice as a Chartered Accountant in Kent for 25 years, and am also a tax specialist and was involved in my family’s food wholesale company. I know what it is to run a business and employ staff, and how those in business are affected by bureaucratic interference and an increasingly overbearing taxation system. I have served as a Councillor in Kent for over 7 years, in an area similar in its challenges, with mixed communities, as we have here in South Thanet. I have also been a Magistrate for 8 years. My experiences in being the Conservative candidate for the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Kent gives me a unique insight into crime, law and policing issues. I bring a broad spectrum of varied experiences.

I am a traditional Conservative. I believe in small government, personal freedoms and that people who do the right thing and play by the rules should be thanked - and rewarded. It is our party that offers aspiration and opportunities. I believe in top class education based around the grammar school system. Furthermore, all levels of government, be it national, county or local, should provide value for money and be rooted in common sense.

High ideals perhaps, but it is why I want to be your MP for South Thanet.

Joint Statement by Sir Roger Gale MP and Laura Sandys MP on Manston

“In response to many rumours surrounding the proposed closure of Manston we wish to make it plain that our efforts to secure a buyer prepared to operate the airport continue.

We have been studiously careful not to seek to raise false hopes and we cannot guarantee that we shall be successful.   Neither can we maintain a running commentary throughout what will clearly be sensitive commercial negotiations. We will, however, make a further statement as soon as, for good or ill, there is a definitive position.

Sir Roger will be meeting personally with Ms.Ann Gloag, the owner of Manston, in London next week and the Manston Working Group will be convening shortly thereafter.”

Sandys Calls on Prime Minister to Support Minimum Wage Increase

Send to Friends	Sandys Calls on Prime Minister to Support Minimum Wage Increase   South Thanet MP Laura Sandys today called for the Government to increase the minimum wage following a tranche of positive data on the British economy. Figures from the ONS yesterday showed the economy grew by 1.9% in 2013, following the IMF’s upgrade of the 2014 UK growth forecast to 2.4%. Last week also saw the announcement of the biggest quarterly fall in unemployment since 1997, meaning that there are now more people in work in the UK than ever before. Responding to Laura’s question, the Prime Minister said: “I hope it will be possible to see the real value of the minimum wage restored. I think we should listen and allow the Low Pay Commission to do their work – I don’t want to see this issue become something of a political football – but I think everybody agrees, as an economy recovers, it should be possible to restore that value” Speaking afterwards, Laura said: “It is important to make sure that everyone feels the benefits of this economic recovery, and I am very pleased that the Government has already frozen rail fare rises, cut fuel duty and taken many of the lowest earners out of tax altogether. “I hope that the Low Pay Commission will now take a lead from the Prime Minister and increase the minimum wage, so ordinary working people who have battled through the downturn really feel the impact of the recovery in their wallet. “I think this will have a huge impact on Thanet and East Kent workers, reinforcing the message that it really does pay to be in work, and I am so glad that the Prime Minister is as keen as I am see an increase in the minimum wage. Laura will be host the third annual Thanet Jobs Fair this summer to help local people into work. Please emaillaura.sandys.mp@parliament.uk for more information.
Laura Sandys | T: 01843 589434 | E: laura@sandys.org.uk Promoted by James Barrow on behalf of Laura Sandys | House of Commons • London • SW1A 0AA

FIRST VOTE ON THE EU IN 40 YEARS

Send to Friends

Almost 40 years has come and gone since we last had the chance to have our say on the European Union. A large proportion of the population has never had the opportunity to vote on membership. It is such an important issue that for years has continued to divide opinion, and I believe that it's about time the Great British public were given their say again.   The Conservative EU Referendum Bill which guarantees an In/Out referendum in 2017 continued its passage through Parliament this week, and I am very proud to be both voting for it and co-sponsoring it. I began campaigning for a referendum long before I was elected because I firmly believe that it is right thing to do. We must let people have a say.   Unfortunately some people don't agree. The Labour Party continues to oppose the Bill and in doing so, is refusing to entrust the British public with this decision. With such an important piece of legislation  on the table, I just can't understand Labour's unwillingness to give people a voice. I would very much like the Labour candidate for the area to justify his Party's ongoing reluctance and to clarify his own position.   To be clear, if this Bill passes, we will get a referendum in 2017. This issue is about far more than Party politics; it's about doing what is right and giving people a voice. Isn't that the very basis of the democracy of which we are so rightly proud? I very much hope that this Bill passes through Parliament and I'll be backing it all the way over the coming weeks and months. It will however need lots of support and you can voice yours by e-mailing:letsouththanetdecide@gmail.com

Putting Children First

This week the Prime Minister announced some major changes that will put children first and help ensure that they are not growing up too quickly. The Government has just obtained agreements from all the internet providers committing to install family friendly filters automatically, unless you don’t want them.

 

The internet has transformed our lives, making the world a smaller and much faster place to work and play. In a second we can now communicate and trade with the other side of the world from our phone, tablet or PC. But this revolution has brought with it a darker side that we all know exists but rarely discuss.

 

Naked pictures have been around since time immemorial and adult material has long been available for those who seek it, but the advent of the internet has brought pornography into all of our homes. Even the most innocent search can bring up some of the most extreme explicit images and whilst the majority of us just disregard these, is it right that anyone should have to sift through them? Moreover is it fair that our children are exposed to these most graphic scenes from a very young age?

 

I am far from an advocate of censorship, having previously been Chair of Open Democracy, a forum which pretty much does what it says on the tin. However children should be protected; that is our duty. Safeguarding issues are a top priority for parents but it is also a key responsibility of the government to help and support our families.

 

At present parents have to opt in to set up online filters and the media regulator Ofcom reports that only 46% of parents do have these filters in place on their home internet. We need to make life easier for mums and dads across the country.

 

The PM additionally promised to crack down on the most extreme forms of pornography including those depicting simulated rape. He told search engines like Google and Yahoo that they should clean up their acts and take the campaign against child pornography much further. With internet now available almost whenever and wherever, I for one am pleased that action is being taken to tackle the proliferation of these most abhorrent of images.

The PM launching an East Kent Success Story

I was very pleased that the Prime Minister came to open London Array. The largest wind farm in the world has been a great opportunity for local jobs and growth, and into the future the world’s largest wind farm will prove an even greater employment asset to Ramsgate and Thanet. During its construction, over 1,000 people worked on the site, which equates to an average of 300,000 man hours. Today there are over 90 local people directly employed with small businesses in the area greatly benefiting from the engineering renaissance of Ramsgate Port. Companies as well known as Siemens are now located in the port and jobs and apprenticeships are benefiting young people across East Kent. We are thrilled that Ramsgate is now the port of choice for the Operations and Maintenance for London Array, we are looking to establish Ramsgate as the ‘Aberdeen of Wind.’ This is a real opportunity for regeneration. And Ramsgate has greatly benefited from the investment already, with direct work for fisherman, construction workers, engineers and75 local companies. In addition hotels, restaurants and bars have all done well. The partnership between world leading renewable energy companies such as Dong, E.ON and Masdar puts Ramsgate and Thanet on the map for energy generation and cutting edge offshore technologies. London Array has the opportunity to lead the way in helping to reduce the cost of building future offshore wind farms, and inspiring further development across the country.  In addition we are also now attracting other related renewable businesses to the area from coppice harvesters through to renewable heat operators. It is an exciting time to be at the forefront of this sector.  There are those who are concerned about the cost of off short wind. Today we are paying £9 per household for offshore wind out of a bill of £1300. This is a very negligible amount in comparison to having to “hedge” our energy consumption from international geo-politics. London Array will open up a new sector to so many people, including schools who will now be inspired to consider jobs in the industry and learn more about renewables, energy and engineering. More apprenticeships will be created, as well as jobs in transport, engineering and logistics. This is an extremely exciting time for East Kent and I am very proud of what we have achieved for the local area through London Array.

The Conservative European Referendum Bill - show support!

	I, along with my Conservative colleagues, are very pleased to be co-sponsoring and fully supporting the Conservative European Referendum Bill, which will allow the British people to decide whether they believe the UK should be a member of the EU or not.   The vast majority of the British people have never had a say on EU membership. For such a significant matter, this cannot be right so I am extremely proud to be a member of a Party that is giving you a say on Europe.    As a former Chairman of openDemocracy I have been very involved with advocating referenda. I have always sought to ensure that the people have a voice and that their views are respected; a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU would allow the public’s views to be heard and acted upon.   The Conservatives also plan to significantly change our current arrangements with Europe. Quite frankly, the status quo could not continue. The Labour Party was too quick to surrender parts of our rebate and always too slow to stand up for British interests in Brussels.    We are already reversing this legacy. The Prime Minister has already ·         been the first Prime Minister to veto an EU resolution ·         secured the first ever reduction in the EU budget ·         achieved fundamental reforms to the fishing policy, ensuring an end to discards for Thanet’s fisherman. We are going further and opening negotiations in order to roll back areas of European influence that have been left unchecked for too long. David Cameron will create a new European settlement that will be less focused on red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, and more on trade, investment and jobs for Britain. It is this new relationship with the EU that the Conservatives will ask the country to accept or reject in a popular vote. I hope that this assures you that this Government and I are committed to giving the public the opportunity to voice their opinion on our membership of the EU. If you have any questions about this very important matter, please do not hesitate to be in touch. Do Pass this onto friends and see if they support the referendum bill!
Laura Sandys | T: 01843 589434 | E: laura@sandys.org.uk Promoted by James Barrow on behalf of Laura Sandys | House of Commons • London • SW1A 0AA

Sandys Welcomes Strong New Immigration Measures

Sandys Welcomes Strong New Immigration Measures
Speaking after the Queen’s Speech, Laura Sandys said, “Under Labour immigration spiralled out of control, but this Government has already reduced net immigration by a third. The further measures announced today will go a long way to ensure that our public services are for those that have paid for them all their lives – not for new arrivals”.
“Many Thanet residents have also expressed their frustration at Labour’s Human Rights Act. For too long criminals that we should have deported have been able to stay here because of this law – this will now be reformed.”
The new reforms will be introduced to ensure that new immigrants do not abuse British institutions:
• Immigrants accessing the NHS will now need to contribute to the system.
• Landlords of private housing will be required to check the immigration status of their tenants to stop illegal immigrants residing in the UK.

• We will legislate to stop Article 8 of the Human Rights Act (right to family life) from being abused.

This Government is already:

• Cutting access to benefits for non-UK nationals after six months. From January 2014 European nationals will no longer be able to keep their status as a job seeker and continue to claim benefits, unless they can demonstrate they have a genuine chance of finding work.

• Stopping those who have no right to work in the UK from claiming contributory benefits. Closing this loophole will prevent the payment of contributory benefits to those with no right to work in the UK.

• Stopping ‘Something for Nothing’ in social housing. Local councils will be expected to introduce a local residency test when deciding who should qualify for social housing.

• Stopping health tourism. The Government will stop the expectation that our health service is free to the entire world and will take new steps to ensure the NHS can claim back money that is owed for NHS treatment provided to those not entitled to it.

The Queen’s Speech can be read in full here: www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2013/05/Her_Majesty_the_Queens_Speech_at_the_State_Opening_of_Parliament.aspx

County Council Elections

Congratulations to all those candidates who have been elected to represent Thanet and Sandwich residents at the County Council.  While it is very disappointing that more of our excellent Conservative candidates were not elected, we fully recognise that the people of Thanet have spoken - and we have heard.

I will continue to fight hard for Thanet and Sandwich by securing investment to deliver local jobs, campaigning to tackle the rising cost of living, cut immigration and reform the welfare system.

We are all extremely grateful to all those local people that came out to support the Conservatives by posting leaflets, making telephone calls, and, of course, voting.  We very much appreciate your support.

In the coming four years I look forward to working with all the County Councillors for the betterment of Thanet and Sandwich.

Thursday is an IMPORTANT day - Council Elections

I am sure that you are going to be voting tomorrow in our county council elections. It is a really important set of elections and the results will have a direct impact on how much tax you pay, how many jobs will be generated and how well our children do at school.

If you want lower taxes, more jobs and better achievement at schools then VOTE CONSERVATIVE tomorrow.

KENT CONSERVATIVES

Frozen Council Tax

Best ever GCSE results

Secured £40 million for Thanet and Sandwich

Given young people apprenticeships

Record investment in roads and highways

 KENT LABOUR

Would they charge you more Council Tax?

Would they support Kent's excellent grammar schools?

Would they secure the new jobs supported by Central Government?

 

Any vote other than Conservatives will let Labour win in many of our local seats. 

BROADSTAIRS – VOTE Bob BAYFORD & Bill HAYTON

MARGATE / CLIFTONVILLE – VOTE Ian GREGORY & Chris WELLS

RAMSGATE – VOTE Jo GIDEON & John KIRBY

SANDWICH – VOTE Leyland RIDINGS

VOTE CONSERVATIVE

3 Things to Help Working Families - 9 out of 10 families better off

This month, we're doing three big things to back working families: we’re making welfare fairer, helping to create jobs, and making sure you can keep more of what you earn.

Our reforms have one simple principle at their heart – making sure people are better off in work than on benefits.

Nine out of ten working households will be better off as a result of the changes we are making. The average working household will be better off by over £300 a year – that’s the equivalent of a typical monthly shop.

Fixing the welfare system

	Introducing the Benefit Cap. This will mean no family that’s out of work should receive more in total benefits than the average family gets in work. It starts this April.
	Uprating benefits by 1% Its not fair that out-of-work benefits should rise faster than the incomes of those in work. So we’re increasing discretionary working-age benefits by 1%. This will save more than £2 billion pounds a year. And to ensure that we use our social housing more fairly and effectively, we are ending the spare-room subsidy from this week.
	Making work pay. Universal Credit will replace the current complex myriad of means-tested benefits. No longer will it be possible to be better off on benefits than in work. The first pathfinder starts this month.

 

Helping to create jobs

	Cutting corporation tax. When we entered office corporation tax was 28%. On Monday corporation tax was cut to 23%, on the way to 20% - which will make our system the most competitive in the G20. It's a tax cut for growth and jobs.
	We’re introducing new research and development tax breaks so companies can invest in the high technology that is the future of the British economy.
	We’ll be abolishing the jobs tax altogether for many hundreds of thousands of our small businesses in the coming year.
	The 50p rate of tax is going, because it wasn’t working. Revenues fell, as the wealthy paid less. So we got the worst of both worlds: a tax rate that discouraged enterprise and didn't raise more money from the rich.
	We're introducing Help to Buy, a dramatic intervention to get our housing market moving. It will help people who can afford to buy but who cannot begin to afford the kind of deposits being demanded today.
	We’re delivering results. Over one million private sector jobs have been created in our economy over the last three years. The rate of employment has risen faster here than in the US and three times as fast as in Germany. And last year, more businesses started in this country than in any other year before.

 

Helping you keep more of what you earn

The biggest tax cut in a generation. From this Saturday, the personal allowance will rise from £8,105 to £9,440. And next year we're going to increase it to £10,000. 24 million people will pay over £700 less in income tax than when this government came to office.

Predictably, Labour oppose everything we’re doing to clear up their mess - but they offer no constructive alternative.

Bringing Labour’s soaring benefits bill under control means we have been able to protect spending on the NHS and pensioners, cut the deficit by a third and help working families.

That's the way to protect our future, and make the country fairer too.

Best Energy Tarrif For All

Rising energy bills are a real problem for families across Thanet. For far too long the 'Big 6' energy companies have dictated the odds and people are often placed on a tariff which is completely unsuitable- and more expensive for them. The good news is that the Government is making some major changes that will directly help struggling families with their energy bills.

From this summer, energy companies will HAVE to make your energy bill clear and offer you the cheapest available tariff. Additionally, rather than having a huge range of different contracts for you to sift through, energy companies will not be allowed to offer more than 4 tariffs for each fuel. They will need to be completely straight with you and if they don't comply with regulations, they'll face a heavy fine.

We're not stopping there however. People lead busy lives and don't always have time to ring up their energ! y company to change to the better tariff offered. Lots of people may not even have time to read their bill properly. That's why the Government has put forward a new law that will require energy companies to put us all on the cheapest tariff automatically, unless we choose otherwise. This will mean that you will always be on the best tariff that your energy company offers.

Like any business, energy companies should be grateful for our custom and do everything to keep us. At long last, the balance of power is switching in our favour.

There were a few other top tips in the press this week that you can do now to help reduce your energy bills: 1) Shop around- check that you are getting the best available deal using an energy comparison website. Do consider switching supplier if there are better deals out there; you could save well over one hundred pounds. 2) Check that you are paying the best way- direct debit is often cheaper tha! n paying quarterly. 3) Use less unnecessary energy by switchin! g TVs an d chargers off at the mains rather than leaving them on standby. This saving can really add up over the year.

Finally, you may have heard about the Green Deal- a new Government scheme to help make your home warmer and  reduce your energy bills. It's definitely worth looking into and you can find out much more by visiting:www.gov.uk/greendeal or by calling 0300 123 1234.

A new Mental Health Era for Thanet

Mental health is one of the most important aspect of wellbeing but is one that carries with it a wide range of stigma and prejudice. I know this because as an epileptic I have experienced some of this lack of understanding first hand. But ensuring that we get the support right for those with mental health conditions is crucial both for the individuals themselves and their families and society as a whole. 

 

That was why I was so privileged to be chairing the first meeting in Thanet of all the agencies and charities involved with mental health for youngsters transitioning between child support and care into Adult services. It is a really difficult time for any young people moving from being teenager to becoming a young adult - never mind if you have mental health conditions. So it is crucial that we get it right. 

 

Rethink, the leading charity on mental health issues suggests that there is a lot more that needs to be done to help these young people. Their research shows that young people find that support during this transition period is lacking and can result in some dramatic consequences from greatly exacerbating their condition to ending up in the criminal justice system. This then not only leads to problems at home and at school or work but also puts additional strain on our emergency services who are left to pick up the pieces when things go very wrong.

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We need to avoid turning a mental health difficulty into a mental health crisis and provide the support that is more comprehensive. Our meeting also resolved that everyone in the public sector needs to understand the early warning signs of a mental health condition so that can use preventative approaches to manage the earliest signs of young people struggling with what can be dramatic and life changing problems.

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The Government is absolutely committed to improving mental health and reducing the stigma surrounding it. There is no magic wand but we do now have a group of people responsible for mental health support here in Thanet who have made commitments to closing the gap in provision between being classified as a child to being treated as an adult. This week was the first step in closer working together. There have been transformational service provision for those with mental health conditions in other areas of the country; let's make Thanet next.

 

Immigration Down By Almost a Third

OUR REFORMS TO ENSURE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM WORKS IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST ARE TAKING EFFECT

Since May 2010 Conservatives have been working hard to bring immigration under control. We are reforming all the different routes of entry into the UK and the numbers are coming down as a result.

That's why I wanted to let you know about the latest encouraging figures just published by the Office for National Statistics:

Net immigration is down by almost a third since the general election - net immigration into the UK in the year ending June 2012 was 163,000, compared to 235,000 in June 2010 (the figures released just after the general election)

Visa numbers show that this trend is set to continue - the number of visas issued last year also went down, indicating that the downward trend of net immigration is set to continue

Sponsored student visas for UK universities have increased by 3% - showing that whilst we are ending the widespread abuse of student visas, we are still ensuring that our world-class universities can compete for overseas students

Today's figures show that we're cutting out abuse and making our immigration system much more robust.

We are putting a stop to the uncontrolled immigration we saw under the last Labour government and creating an immigration system which truly works in our national interest.

Theresa May
Home Secretary

My Article in The Times this week on Food

My Article in The Times this week on Food – or click to BBC Newsnight interview -http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01qqsc3/Newsnight_13_02_2013/

 

When Sir Terry Leahy appeared on Desert Island Discs he rightly trumpeted the decline in food bills from 50 per cent to 10 per cent of family income. His remarks were broadcast just days before the horsemeat scandal revealed fraud in the food supply chain. That was not a coincidence.

 

However, in the past five years we have seen food prices increase by a third. This problem will only get worse as we feel the effects of the American drought, Russia’s recent grain export ban and ever greater Chinese demand. The era of cheap food is, sadly, over.

 

But in a highly competitive market our food industry has not changed its business model. Instead it has tried to adapt to food inflation by fitting a more expensive product into a cheap price structure. The result is that serious corners have been cut.

 

Retailers blithely claim that they are absorbing the costs of rises in prices of meat and grain. But the truth is that the consumer is unwittingly “absorbing” them through reductions in the quality of ingredients and smaller quantities.

 

So the £1 cottage pie in your local freezer shop will be the same price that it has been for years, but today will contain less meat and more artificial fillers such as high fructose corn syrup. This will not be accompanied by an ad campaign saying “30 per cent less meat”. Packaging too is “absorbing” food price rises, so there is an increase in the fresh air you are now buying when you reach for your cereal packets.

 

It is the poorest people who are most vulnerable to both the price rises and the decline in food quality. The horsemeat scandal has focused on the role of supermarkets and their supply chains, but there is a whole sector of the population who can’t afford to shop in supermarkets.

 

Some of my constituents in Kent buy their food from pound shops, cornershops or takeaways, where the quality can be lower. In some neighbourhoods, a proportion of families in privately rented homes do not even have a cooker: they have to rely on a microwave and fast food.

 

Britain will have to change its approach to food. We cannot contract out our food policy to an industry whose gospel is “cheap as chips”. The Government must take back its role as consumer protector from the supermarkets and the food industry — and ensure that the real interests of ordinary shoppers are upheld.

 

We must also put a lot more effort into helping the most vulnerable to feed themselves in an era of ever-rising prices. We can do little to stop global food inflation. But we can stop British consumers from being misled and begin to value food properly.

Heritage Lottery across Thanet and Big Lottery in Newington

The National Lottery's good works and money have been popping up all over Thanet. And there's more for us to get our hands on! From the opening of another delightfully restored promenade shelter in Ramsgate a fortnight ago to the announcement just last week that both Margate and Cliftonville Bowls Clubs were to receive almost 50 thousand pounds each to upgrade their sports facilities, Lottery funding is literally all around us. Hot on the news that Newington has just been allocated one million pounds from Big Local to transform their local area, I asked to catch up with some of the residents and the rep supporting them in achieving their goals. It's a particularly exciting scheme as it is firmly resident-led so anything is possible and I'd urge everyone in Newington to get involved at this early stage to have their say. There's a substantial amount of money that has the potential to transform th! e lives of those in the community already in a bank account. Residents just have to decide how to best spend it! An impressive 30 million pounds is generated for good causes every single week of the year and whilst yes, we are seeing some of the benefits in Thanet, I say let us reap more! To help local charities, organisations and enterprises through the application process and inspire them to give it a go, I organised for the Head of the South East Heritage Lottery Fund to come to Thanet. The meeting was really engaging with over 80 people coming along to find out more. The event followed on from another I held last year when in a drive to boost applications for funding across a wide spectrum, I invited the Head of Big Lottery Funding in the South East to the constituency to share her tips on making successful applications. The feedback I've had is that these events are very helpful in making the funding more accessible and inspiring groups to give i! t a go. Both Funds have quite clearly said that they want to s! ee more applications from Thanet and I think we are all keen to see more money coming our way, so let's make it happen! For more information including the presentations made by the Big Lottery Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund, contact: laura.sandys.mp@parliament.uk

Sandys Welcomes Significant Fall In Immigration

The Home Office has announced that net migration to the UK has fallen by a massive 59,000.  Described by the Office of Nation Statistics as “statistically significant”, the figures also show that total immigration fell by 42,000 over the same period to its lowest level since 2004.

Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet, said, “These figures show just how effective the Coalition Government is being in curbing immigration.  After 13 years of a Labour government that mismanaged immigration policy, we have taken robust measures to tackle this growing problem.”

“By ensuring that our borders are not open doors to those who want to come here but contribute nothing to our society, we have managed to reduce the bloated immigration figures.  There is still a long way to go to get net migration into the tens of thousands, but this is certainly a strong step in the right direction”.

Laura Sandys MP Takes Part in Newington Primary’s Democracy Week Children draw a picture of Laura kissing the Prime Minister!

Laura Sandys MP was on hand on Friday to announce the result of Newington Community Primary School’s Head Boy and Head Girl election.  The election was a great success with 11 boys and girls standing for election, and pupils of all ages taking part in the voting.

 

She said: “This is great example of teaching children about the importance of democracy and how to vote from a young age, as well as further improving their already excellent school spirit by letting them vote on such an important decision. I always love visiting Newington Primary; it’s a great school and an excellent example of how pupils, teachers, parents and governors can really work together. I was particularly touched by the wonderful handmade ‘Little Miss MP’ book with which I was presented based on the well-known Mr Men series. The story and illustrations were fantastic. In one drawing I’m even shown kissing David Cameron and had to tell the pupils that I was not sure that my husband would be too happy!!”

 

Laura congratulated the winning candidates on their achievement and presented certificates to all the candidates for taking part in the election campaign.

Things Starting to Turn Around

No one would underestimate how difficult a time the country has faced over the last years reducing the largest deficit faced by this country for since the war and working towards growth when Europe is also facing great economic difficulties too.

 

But last week David Cameron gave a speech that really framed the next stages of this governments agenda for the UK. Due to the action this Government has taken the economy has begun to stabilise and the deficit has already been reduced by a quarter.  Although there will be tough times ahead, and we are certainly not out of the woods yet, David Cameron argued that there are reasons to be cheerful, not least because over one million new private sector jobs have been created since we came to power.

 

We are very much focused in Thanet on what can be delivered to build great opportunities for all our residents. This week I was at Newington primary school and there the government’s policy of the pupil premium - giving schools with the poorest children additional funds - is really delivering results.  Today we have a large delegation from London in Thanet to support our small business with exports ensuring that we are making the most of the growing export opportunities.  Our own Chamber of Commerce is also hosting an event with some French businesses in the green sector to increase trade and even possibly invest here.

So in the words of David Cameron, lets "get Britain on the rise!". With the deficit paid down, tough decisions taken and growth fired up, I am hopeful that the next few years will be a lot brighter than the last few.

Rejecting Racist Organisations

I was horrified to see that the English Defence League has decided to establish a presence in Thanet, not least with an intention to disrupt Friday prayers at the Mosque.

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> Let's be very frank and clear with the EDL - You are not welcome in Thanet and Thanet wants nothing to do with your organisation.   I am sure that this sentiment is shared by all political parties and community organisations across the Isle.

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> While I am not someone who wants to curb freedom of speech and am very reluctant to ban organisations or stifle debate that does not mean that one should not confront prejudice and racism head on when one sees it.

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> The pathetic approach of the ring leader of the organisation calling himself Pat Riot - as if they represent any patriotic movement - is a desperate attempt to associated themselves with what being proud in this country represents.

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> Being patriotic is about celebrating what is special about Britain - and Britain's successes. Britain is a country of many races and origins - blending tolerance and opportunity to bring the best out of each other. If there was any place that better represented the value of incomers it would be Thanet. It was here on our little Isle of Thanet that England was born - not emerging from an indigenous group of people already residing in this country - but by a band of foreigners called the Engels who came from abroad and set up their base in Thanet. Ironic that the EDL should think that Thanet would show them any welcome!