Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 3rd August 2022) below:
Lionesses
Football has come home!
56 years after England last won a major football trophy the Lionesses lifted the European Championship. There being a sense of destiny about it being at Wembley having beaten Germany in a final which went to extra time.
It is not just Wembley Stadium itself which has changed dramatically since 1966. When Bobby Moore lifted the World Cup, the Football Association (FA) ban on women playing on the grounds of affiliated clubs was still in place. This ban not being lifted until 1971, with another two decades passing before the FA took on the administration and development of the women’s game.
The whole nation has got behind the Lionesses over the last few weeks, with record TV audiences and attendances at games. This will mean new resources flowing into the women’s game, hence the biggest legacy we must achieve from the excitement generated by this tournament is every girl getting the chance to follow the dreams which will be inspired by the Lionesses success.
Leadership
As glass ceilings are shattered in sport, we are on the verge of having either our third female Prime Minister or our first from a BAME background.
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are presenting strong platforms for the future of our nation. One point uniting them both is continuing the UK’s solid support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom, yet there is a clear choice for Conservative Party Members to make:
At a time when our economy faces a potential recession, we cannot tax our way to prosperity. As families across our bay face increased energy bills, pausing the levies on them will help reduce average bills by £153. Young families stuck paying monthly rents similar to what they would pay on a mortgage for the property they live in, need a change in how the mortgage market operates. The business rates system needs reform, so it no longer penalises companies for investment in premises on the High St when our Town Centres desperately need it. Our local NHS needs a guarantee the up to £350m investment planned as part of the Health Infrastructure Plan will go ahead. Finally, we cannot re-open the divisive arguments of six or even three years ago on Brexit which the electorate have decisively resolved.
It is for all these reasons I am supporting Liz Truss and hope Conservative Party members across our bay will do the same. From working with her in Government she is best placed to deliver for our nation and to unite both party and country as we go forward to face the challenges of the future.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 20th August 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB and Friday 26th August 10am till 12noon at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with, rather than a wider policy debate. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.
