How will we remember 2022? In January alone we had climate change, calamity and Covid combined.
It was the warmest New year's Day on record in Central London, 'party gate' stole most of the headlines and the pandemic was running riot once again with the new Omicron variant.
At the end of February the appalling Russian aggression toward Ukraine commenced and has since led to unthinkable atrocities taking place there.
I have been continually mindful of the millions of people who are affected by such terrible conflict and this Christmas I pray that their families and loved ones stay safe, that their ordeals will be over soon and that peace will prevail.
During the rest of the spring and summer here in the UK, mercifully we were liberated from Covid restrictions and life started to return to some sort of normality. Climate Change was in the news again with our highest ever recorded temperature of 40.3 C. And ‘Party gate’ eventually translated into the resignation of Boris Johnson and the appointment of Liz Truss.
Then, for me, the seminal moment of 2022 took place with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. A truly great stateswoman had left us and the outpouring of gratitude and feeling of loss swept across the nation and beyond.
In the immediate aftermath of the late Queen’s funeral the autumn minibudget brought with it more political turmoil with Liz Truss’ resignation and our third PM within the year, Rishi Sunak. Thankfully he has since brought much stability to the country, charting our way through an international cost—of—living crisis, and he has my full support.
Here in Maidstone and The Weald we had a productive and busy year. My neighbouring MPs and I organised our fourth annual Apprenticeship Fair in March which was a great success once again; bringing together hundreds of students with leading British Companies and creating jobs and careers for our community.
On the business front, together with the Department for International Trade, my team presented our first Export Showcase in Maidstone, helping local companies develop their overseas sales potential.
On trains, after a long period of engagement with successive transport ministers, Maidstone’s city commuters were given a great new rail service into Charing Cross and London Bridge. There’s still work to do in getting the Thameslink service reinstated but this is still good progress.
And on housebuilding, after concerted efforts working alongside Maidstone Borough Council and several other Kent MPs, Ministers have indicated a climbdown over controversial targets for housebuilding each year. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities now says that although targets remain an important part of the planning system, ministers would now consult on how these can better take account of local density. They say targets will now be a "starting point" and become "advisory" rather than mandatory.
I must also give credit to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, who have continued to perform amongst the best in the country, reducing waiting times and improving patient experiences. They have achieved this partly through astute new investment in facilities and technology at our two hospitals in Maidstone and Pembury - we are fortunate indeed to have them near us all in this great constituency.
After a tumultuous twelve months, and with the cost-of-living crisis to tackle through the winter, we have much work to do but my team and I are there for you when you need us.
