As we welcome in 2026, I am ever mindful of the challenges and opportunities ahead for Maidstone & Malling. This constituency is rich in heritage and community spirit, and I remain determined to protect and promote both.
The draft TMBC local plan is currently undergoing public consultation until January 2nd 2026. I am deeply concerned by the simultaneous inclusion of Broadwater Farm, Bunyards Farm, Paris Farm, and the Bradbourne site. Taken together, these threaten to overwhelm our green spaces and local services from Allington to Kings Hill. I urge all constituents to ensure their voice is heard by taking part in the consultation. I assure my fellow residents that I will keep pressing for solutions that meet the need for homes while preserving the beauty and integrity of our countryside.
Fairness and justice remain at the heart of my work. Alongside the Kent Messenger group, I am proud to continue campaigning for improvements to the Blue Badge scheme, ensuring that disabled residents receive the recognition, respect, and practical support they deserve.
Another important ongoing mission is the Lobular Moonshot Project, initiated by The Late Dr Susan Michaelis. Invasive lobular breast cancer is the second most common type of breast cancer, with twenty-two people a day being diagnosed with it in the UK. This disease remains under-researched, under-funded, and poorly understood, which is why our goal is to raise £20 million for a 5-year research project.
And for our vulnerable children nationally, I will be continuing to campaign with Paula Hudgell to create a Child Cruelty register, ensuring convicted criminals are closely monitored after their sentences have been spent.
In our exposed frontier county, we must robustly press the government to stop the boats and find a humane and effective way forward, ensuring genuine refugees are safeguarded while upholding fairness and security for our pressured communities and resources.
On the cultural front, I will be supporting Music@Malling 2026, which will once again bring world-class classical, contemporary, and jazz performances to our historic venues in the Mallings.
And I am personally looking forward to a smorgasbord of sport, with the Winter Olympics, the largest FIFA World Cup ever, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Over and above the thrill of competition, these events enable the power of sport to transcend borders and foster friendship among communities and nations.
My thoughts and prayers are with those suffering in conflicts across the globe. For the millions of people being devastated by violence and unrest let there be resolution, healing, and hope.
For all of us, I wish for 2026 to bring renewed aspiration, stronger communities, and meaningful progress in every sense.
Happy New Year!
