Kevin was invited to write an “Election Special” Kev's Column for the Torbay Weekly and you can read it below:
Building on a strong reputation of working hard throughout the year and of delivering for our bay, I am pleased to be standing for re-election.
Our bay needs energy, commitment and a positive plan for the future. With one of the biggest programmes of investment for decades getting underway, we cannot see Torbay taken back to the political arguments of the past. I am the only candidate able to work as part of a united Conservative team with Torbay Council’s Leadership and our Police & Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, to deliver the progress needed.
Whilst other candidates focus their time on party political points or personal attacks, I have been setting out my plan for our bay, with a focus on the issues residents have raised as their priorities:
- Regenerating Our Town Centres
- Tackling Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour
- Investing in Torbay’s Health & Care Services
- Supporting our Bay’s Next Generation
- Backing our Bay’s Small & Family Businesses
- Cutting Taxes for Workers and Pensioners
- Protecting Our Bay’s Environment
- Tackling abuse of our asylum & immigration system.
I have worked to secure an unprecedented level of investment for Torquay & Paignton. A major regeneration scheme in Torwood St has been completed, revitalisation work is underway at the Paignton Picture House, Levelling-Up funding awarded for the first phase of the Oldway Masterplan and a deal agreed to revamp the Torquay Pavilion, with a staggering figure of over £100m of financial support for our bay’s regeneration secured from the Conservative Government.
Alongside physical regeneration projects, I have supported work to tackle homelessness through the creation of a government funded rough sleeper outreach team. I also helped secure funding for 36 new supported homes for young people at risk of homelessness, alongside funding for new affordable homes as part of wider regeneration projects.
I am proud to have worked as part of the Home Office team which delivered Boris Johnson’s 2019 Manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 extra Police officers, with Devon & Cornwall Police now having a record number of Police Officers. This will grow further under the Conservatives pledge to recruit another 8,000 Police Officers by 2029, with new officers targeted towards neighbourhood crime fighting work.
Torbay’s health services have also seen major investment, including the new Acute Medical Unit, Operating Theatres Block and Endoscopy Suite at Torbay Hospital. Yet the biggest project of all, the Building a Brighter Futures Project, is set to be delivered during the next Parliament with an investment worth £350m in our NHS services on the line in this election.
I led calls for the landmark Global Ocean Treaty to be ratified by the UK and have secured an investment plan to improve all our bay’s beaches to “excellent” water quality (as judged by independent analysis) by 2030.
I will continue my “Foster’s Fund”, which sees me reject a 10% pay rise implemented for MPs (despite my objection to it) via donations to local charities, with over £60k donated already.
The Lib Dem Leadership of Torbay Council showed they can’t deliver for our bay. Meanwhile Labour simply won’t deliver, having already threatened to review the project to rebuild Torbay Hospital, whilst also putting at risk the major funding secured from the Conservative Government to regenerate our Town Centres, Oldway, Paignton Seafront and The Pavilion.
On Thursday 4th July residents can vote to back my positive plan and work throughout the year, or instead vote for parties\candidates who show up at election time and are more interested in party-political point scoring & personal attacks, than making a positive difference for our bay.
Your vote could be the one which decides whether Torbay’s seat in parliament is used to make a positive difference, or simply as a platform for party-political points.
Do get in touch on [email protected] or 01803 557 753 if there is an issue you would like to raise before you decide how to vote
