The well-known phrase, ‘a week in Westminster is a long time’, has never been so apt. The Chronicle covered extensively last week my resignation from Government, and while it was not a decision I took lightly, I do believe the Prime Minister’s resignation which followed was for the good of the country. This government has achieved a huge amount on the vaccine task force and Ukraine, but there are standards in public life which must be maintained.
The next Conservative Prime Minister, as well as all of us in the Conservative party, must now work every day to regain the public’s trust which has been lost. I am incredibly proud and honoured to represent Sevenoaks and I will continue to serve you all with the determination, energy, and commitment you deserve. Since my election, my priority has been to focus on the issues that matter most to residents including protecting the Green Belt, improving local transport infrastructure, delivering more school choice for all pupils, and addressing the cost-of-living pressures that many families are under. I remain focused on these, and I continue to listen intently to your views.
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Sevenoaks town centre, which is preparing for its bid to be awarded Gold by Britain in Bloom national competition. This is the first time we have made the national finals and it has been great to see volunteers out in force cleaning, planting, and tidying – ahead of judging later this month. The town is looking fantastic, and I have my fingers crossed, but thank you in advance to all of you who have been involved.
Last week I also had the pleasure of visiting the exhibition currently on display in the Kaleidoscope gallery at Sevenoaks Library, which recounts the 900-year history of Sevenoaks. It has been put on by Sevenoaks Society, and really is a fascinating display – where there is something for everyone to learn. The display closes Saturday 16 July, but if you are nearby do pop in. It really is worth a visit.
Finally, I could not let my column pass this week without commenting on local bus services. It is hugely disappointing that our local bus companies have announced cuts to local commercial bus routes – including many that serve secondary schools in Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. I have this week written to each relevant bus company to seek a full explanation for their actions and to understand what would be needed to ensure the continuation of as many of the routes as possible. I have also been in touch with Kent County Council to raise my urgent concerns and asked if money provided from the Government in October (as part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan “BISP”) can be used to help fund the routes that are being withdrawn. As the terms of the funding require it to be used for improved provision, rather than simply replacing existing routes, I will also be writing to the Department for Transport (DfT) to ensure that there is no bar to these vital routes from being maintained. I am working closely with Tom Tugendhat, the Tonbridge and Malling MP, whose constituents are also badly affected. Let me be clear; local children must be able to get to school, and we must all now work together so that a solution can be found.
