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Welcome to my October newsletter, with updates of what I have been up to as your MP to support the residents of East Thanet. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by clicking here – please do share the link with your friends and family. If there is anything you think I should know, or anything you think I could help you with, please get in touch by clicking here. |
Update on the £20 million funding to regenerate Ramsgate |
I’m delighted that Ramsgate is receiving £20 million from the government over the next decade to tackle local challenges and drive regeneration. Even better, Labour’s Plan for Neighbourhoods puts residents in charge of how the money is spent, ensuring our community shapes the town’s future.
I sit on the board of the Ramsgate Plan for Neighbourhoods, and this month the board met to discuss feedback from residents and businesses. Ramsgate has huge potential, and local passion for the town is clear. Community engagement is central to this project, with over 25 sessions already underway – including with young people, disabled residents, and local groups – so residents can shape Ramsgate’s regeneration together. |
Passing the Renters Rights Act |
Labour’s Renters Rights Act has now become law, delivering fairness for renters across Thanet. This important new law ends “no-fault” evictions, so landlords can no longer remove tenants without good reason, and allows tenants to challenge unfair rent increases. It also bans discrimination against families and people on benefits, makes sure all rented homes meet decent standards, bans rental bidding wars, caps the amount of money landlords can demand upfront, and allows renters to keep pets. A new independent ombudsman will help renters resolve problems quickly and hold bad landlords to account. Overall, this law means renters will have more protection, safer homes, and a stronger voice. |
Chaos on Kent County Council under Reform UK |
Since being elected in May, Reform UK in Kent have been in turmoil – losing over one councillor a month through defections, sackings, and even criminal allegations. Now, a leaked video of council leader Linden Kemkaran swearing at colleagues in a chaotic meeting has led to five councillors being purged before they can vote her out. This chaos has real consequences: key meetings have been cancelled, vital decisions have been stalled, and organisations in Thanet facing cuts have been left in limbo. I’ll keep holding this shambolic administration to account for its broken promises and mismanagement.
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With other MPs learning about how to tackle high bills and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels in Denmark. |
My action tackling climate change and bringing down energy bills |
This month, I was also pleased to lead a delegation of MPs to Copenhagen with the all-party group for renewable and sustainable energy, to learn how Denmark has transitioned to cleaner, cheaper energy while keeping bills low. Over the past 49 years, Denmark has built an amazing heating network for citizens that reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels and are now increasingly powered by clean sources such as biogas, solar, and waste heat from industry and data centres – an approach I’d like to see more of in the UK. |
Campaigning against Reform’s cuts to Age UK Thanet |
As I’ve highlighted before, Reform promised to make cost savings in Kent through mysterious ‘efficiencies’, but are now threatening cuts to vital services in Thanet like the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs, the Pie Factory Music youth club in Ramsgate, and the Millmead Children’s Centre in Margate. This month, along with the leader of Thanet District Council, I wrote to the Reform Council Leader in Kent calling for her to rethink ill-judged cuts to Age UK Thanet, which could see vulnerable elderly residents losing access to vital services. |
With fantastic fundraisers at Asda in Broadstairs, raising awareness and much-needed funds to tackle breast cancer. |
I have visited some fantastic local organisations and initiatives this month, including: I met the team at the Ramsgate Job Centre to find out how they are supporting local jobseekers back into work and what help is available locally, including their successful jobs fair at Dreamland. I visited Newlands Primary School in Ramsgate, where I met the school council and heard about their priorities for the year and how they look out for each other. I was even given a badge to become an honorary member! I met the student eco group at Palm Bay Primary School and heard about the extraordinary work they do prioritising the environment, looking after nature in the school grounds, and championing recycling. I hosted a coffee morning in Eastcliff Ward with local councillors, to discuss issues that matter to local residents. I met the team at Broadstairs Asda and heard about their amazing fundraising for Tickled Pink, where they have raised more than £2,500 for breast cancer charities. I was given a tour of Ramsgate Football Club, hearing about their exciting plans to improve the stadium and how they bring the community together around the beautiful game.
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Visiting the eco group at Palm Bay School. |
This month me and my team have been able to assist many residents to resolve issues that they’ve been experiencing. I successfully challenged parking charges on behalf of an elderly resident. I helped a resident who had been living abroad to claim for his pension by raising enquiries with both the Home Office and HMRC. I supported several residents to make claims so that they could claim the correct amount of Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments. I worked with Thanet District Council to ensure a notable area for fly tipping was identified and cleared. I reported and pushed for Southern Water’s immediate action on road flooding and water quality issues for constituents. I made enquiries with Kent County Council regarding several EHCPs and whether they needed review or were being adhered to by educational institutions.
I’m always happy to support residents. If you think I could be of assistance, please get in touch by clicking here and I will see what I can do to help. |
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