I was delighted and humbled to be re-elected as your MP - it is the absolute honour of my life to do this job. I am very grateful to the officers at Sevenoaks District Council for organising such a smooth day, and for the hundreds of staff who manned the polling stations from 7am until 10pm, many of whom also attended to assist with the count until the early hours. My thanks also to the other candidates, and to my local team who have supported me not just through the 6-week campaign, but throughout the last four and a half years.
However, my biggest thanks go to those, whether by post or in person, who voted in this election. In the coming months and years, I will continue to fight fiercely and protectively for our area, as I have done every day since first being elected in 2019. Locally, I will continue to provide unwavering support to local communities in their bid to protect our precious Green Belt. I will continue to campaign for further rail improvements to both rush-hour and off-peak services. I will work with Kent Police to see more visible police officers on our streets, and support shop owners as they tackle incidents of shoplifting.
With many of our local children attending grammar schools, there is a great deal of worry locally about the pressure on grammar school places that will result from the fallout of the proposal to tax private school fees, as well as fears that some of our local private education establishments will be under pressure. Locally our private schools are incredibly supportive of our state schools through sharing facilities and resources, working together to support all our young people. I will do my utmost to support local parents, and no matter the odds against, argue against the taxation of education.
I will continue to work hard in supporting local residents who are facing difficulties, and will of course seek to hold the new Government to account, as any Government needs effective opposition. I, along with my colleagues, will ensure we provide careful scrutiny of all that the Government proposes. To provide support when it is right to do so, and to oppose when it is necessary for the country and our area.
Being your Member of Parliament is the best job in the world, and I look forward over the next four to five years to doing all I can to protect and improve our community, to correspond and help you with any problems you might face, and to stand up for local residents.
