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Question: What have the following got in common? Kent Wildlife Trust, The Holly Eatwell Trust (cancer in young people), The Giraffe Project (child education in Nairobi), The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust (supporting projects in athletics, adventure and the environment). Yes, they are all Maidsto...
In the celebrated 1994 movie, Forrest Gump memorably said "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." I wonder how many of our readers have unwittingly picked a hard centre and broken a tooth on a regrettable personal relationship? More than will ever ...
Last week's column was very much about the Westminster week, Monday to Thursday. It is an intense, surreal and often rather airless environment. Thank goodness for the oxygen of constituency work. Friday surgeries in Maidstone and Cranbrook are always a highlight for me – a return to normalit...
It was back to Westminster for me last week as Parliament resumed its work after the Christmas break. I felt a noticeable shift away from domestic toward international issues - perhaps because much of our own legislation is currently in 'The Other Place', as the House of Lords is affectionately know...
It was with great interest that I went to see the movie 'The Iron Lady' this weekend. Love her or loathe her, Margaret Thatcher was undoubtedly a strong and decisive leader and I wondered how Hollywood had chosen to present such an iconic British personality. Having run the gauntlet of a Westminste...
There are a plethora of polls, surveys and reports published throughout the year making assertions or claims as an excuse to create publicity or promote sales. But sometimes the pollsters do actually hit the mark, and well done The Halifax for naming Maidstone as the UK's 8th most 'des res' in 2011...
2011 was a year of colossal change. One that will be worthy of its own chapter in the study books of students for centuries. The 'Arab Spring' was an awakening of hope that has willed literally millions of suppressed citizens to press for positive change. A seismic shift from dictatorship to democr...
How many of us have benefited from the work of a charity in the last year? The range of possibilities is diverse, including anything from Animal Welfare to Cancer Research and from the St John's Ambulance to the Samaritans. Everyone who's visited one or our museums, or perhaps found a bargain in a ...
In this column, about a year ago, I highlighted a persistent problem that always becomes more acute at Christmas time. I make no apology for returning to the subject now. Domestic violence doesn't discriminate against age, race, class or creed. It permeates every section of society and needs to be r...
One side call it sound political protest, the other says it is self-serving disruption at a time when least we need it and least we can afford it. Either way, next Wednesday could see the biggest day of strike action in the UK for a generation. The Unions are right to do their best for their member...
RT @KentProbation: Man tells @BBCRADIOKENT of his motivation to complete domestic abuse programme. He says he didn't want his son mimick ...
10.1 days ago
Spoke in two very interesting debates yesterday. One on changes to legal aid and the other on banks and enterprise http://t.co/NBn1ulKR
29 days ago
Just bumped into the charming and gorgeous @stephenfry in Parliament. He gave me a big hug -really made my day! Will tweet the photo later!
34.8 days ago
