“Hugely important live animal export ban only possible now we’re out of the EU” says Craig

Craig Mackinlay MP is celebrating after the ban on the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter passed its final stage in the House of Lords in what he has described as a “hugely important development for animal welfare.”

The passing of the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill delivers on a commitment made by the South Thanet MP who often cited the UK’s inability under EU free trade regulations to ban live transports as just one reason why the UK should leave the EU and determine its own animal welfare law in this area.

Thanet District Council has previously paid more than £5.1 million in compensation to individuals and businesses involved in the export of live animals for loss of trade after the then Labour-led Council banned the practice of live exports from Ramsgate Port in 2012. These payments followed a High Court ruling in December 2013 that found TDC’s ban in breach of EU law.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“It’s great news that the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter has been banned. This marks a hugely important development for animal welfare.

“I congratulate all those involved in the campaign locally over many years, particularly Ian and Yvonne Birchall and everyone at Kent Action Against Live Exports.

“Stopping once-and-for-all this foul and inhumane trade from Ramsgate Port has been a totemic issue for me that I’ve raised repeatedly in Parliament.  

“The ban delivers on a key Manifesto commitment - only possible now we’re out of the EU.”

Craig welcomes Conservative Government decision to build Europe's first high-tech nuclear fuel facility

Today's announcement to build Europe’s first high-tech nuclear fuel facility has been welcomed by Craig Mackinlay MP.

The South Thanet MP and Chairman of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group has long campaigned for strengthened domestic energy security, the isolation of Russia from global energy markets, and the provision of more reliable and affordable energy in the UK.

The Conservative Government's decision to award £196 million to Urenco to build the plant will produce advanced nuclear fuel for export or domestic use that will help to power British homes in the next decade. It will also support around 400 highly-skilled jobs.

The decision follows the awarding of a licence to build a new nuclear power plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. The site licence is only the second granted in the past 35 years and represents a significant show of confidence in the nuclear industry.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

"It's clear that the only realistic way of reaching Net Zero must involve nuclear energy. Nuclear power is reliable, safe and clean and we need a lot more of it.

“These announcements help put us back on the right track and will give us greater energy security as we produce our own advanced nuclear fuel right here in the UK."

Craig calls on Broadstairs residents to lobby Labour Council and oppose plans for migrant centre

Local Conservative MP, Craig Mackinlay, is calling on residents in Broadstairs to support his campaign against a proposal to use the former student accommodation at Northwood Court in Millennium Way to house up to 86 asylum-seeking males between 16 and 17 years of age.  The site is by the Nelson College Broadstairs campus which formerly belonged to Canterbury Christ Church University.

Planning Application TH/23/1574 was submitted by Ready Homes after the site was identified by Kent County Council and Ready Homes as suitable for a Reception Centre which will provide specialist accommodation and support the unaccompanied asylum-seeking Children’s Service.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“The proposed migrant centre at Northwood Court in Broadstairs is close to two schools and has a large local residential population. It is well documented that older adult asylum seekers lie about their age during the process, gaming the system knowing full well that ‘child’ asylum seekers get even greater support and funding. Location and these realities are significant factors which the community should oppose. Were this proposal to go ahead, it would have implications on our local police’s ability to deliver the service Thanet residents need and deserve.

“The Labour-dominated Planning Committee could stop this, leaving the applicants, an agency for Kent County Council, to go to Planning Appeal. The previous Conservative Administration at TDC had an innovative plan to put this building to use as emergency accommodation for local homeless families. I hope that planning reasons can be put forward for the change of use to be refused.

“I call on Broadstairs residents to formally object to this ill-conceived application and lobby the Labour Council to put Broadstairs residents first.”

The Planning Application can be viewed and objected to online at https://planning.thanet.gov.uk/online-applications/ by typing ‘TH/23/1574’ in the comments box.

Objections can also be sent by letter to: Planning Applications Section, Thanet District Council, PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, CT9 1XZ. Objecting residents should ensure to include their name, full postal address and also quote the application number: F/TH/23/1574.

The deadline for objections is 24 May 2024.

Craig congratulates Conservative Matthew Scott on re-election as Kent PCC

South Thanet MP, Craig Mackinlay, has congratulated Matthew Scott on his re-election as Kent’s Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC).

Mr Scott, who first became PPC for Kent in 2016, achieved 44.2% of the vote in the county on a pledge to cut crime, support victims and build trust.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“Under Matthew’s leadership there are more police in Kent today than ever before.

“Crime has been falling. Burglary is down by over 40%. And the number of county line drug gangs has reduced substantially.

“His re-election as the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner is welcome and thoroughly well-deserved.

“I look forward to working with Matthew on all policing matters relating to Thanet.”

Millions of workers receive take home pay increase as further National Insurance cut takes effect

Today millions of workers on monthly salaries will have a little more cash in their pockets as the Government’s Spring Budget cut to National Insurance appears in April’s pay-packets. Since Autumn 2023, National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for workers have been slashed by a third – the largest cut to employee and self-employed NICs in history.

The main rate of employee National Insurance has been cut for 27 million workers from 12% to 8%, saving the average employee on £35,400 over £900 a year. An average full-time nurse will save £1,053, a typical junior doctor £1,508 and an average teacher £1,270.

These cuts are possible because the economy is turning a corner, thanks to the Government’s decisive action that has helped bring inflation down from 11.1% to 3.2% and ensure borrowing costs start to fall. Because of this progress, the Government can now cut taxes to reward work and grow the economy.

This marks another step towards the longer-term ambition to end the unfair double tax on work and abolish employee and self-employed NICs altogether. 

These tax cuts – worth over £20 billion a year – have been achievable while protecting spending including keeping the Triple Lock.

Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“National Insurance is an unfair double tax on work, and cutting it is the fairest and best way to incentivise work and drive growth.

“That’s why I’m pleased the tax burden on workers is falling as a result of the Chancellor reducing National Insurance for both employees and the self-employed.

“The effective personal tax rate for an average full-time employee was 23.6 per cent in 2010, and thanks to these NICs cuts will fall to 19.6 per cent by the end of the forecast in 2028-29. These changes give the average earner the lowest effective personal tax rate since 1975 – lower than in America, France, Germany or any G7 country.

“A full time National Living Wage worker’s take home pay is now 35 per cent greater in real terms than it was in 2010 due to the successive increases in the National Living Wage and the tax cuts that have been delivered.

“I’ll continue to urge the Chancellor to cut taxes still further in the months and years ahead.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said:

“We’re on the right track – we’ve been able to slash National Insurance to return hundreds of pounds back into the pockets of hard-working Brits because of the decisions we’ve made to manage the economy responsibly.

“Over the years ahead we want to get rid of National Insurance completely for workers – it is an unfair double tax on work and we’ve shown we can protect spending on public services while eliminating it.”

Southern Water to continue beach cleaning at Botany Bay

Craig Mackinlay MP has welcomed confirmation that Southern Water will continue supporting Friends of Botany Bay CIC with its beach cleaning activities through to March 2025.

Some £5,000 has been earmarked by the Water Board to assure the beach clean operation and help with other projects including a community fruit garden in Northdown Park to promote biodiversity.

South Thanet MP, Craig Mackinlay commented:

“It’s fantastic news that the Friends of Botany Bay community group and our wonderful beach cleaning volunteers now have the funding necessary to continue to keep Botany Bay clean for the next 12 months.

“This announcement shows what can be achieved when local people, politicians and a private utility company work constructively together.

“My thanks to the indefatigable Cllr Barry Manners and Cllr Cedric Towning who have led conversations on this and to Southern Water for working with us to keep this beautiful Blue Flag beach clean for both local residents and visitors alike.”

Friends of Botany Bay CIC Director, Barry Manners added:

"The funding will support paid and volunteer beach and clifftop cleaning as well as efforts to improve biodiversity in Botany Bay and Cliftonville.

“Of course I share concerns to see sustained improvement and infrastructure upgrades with all UK water companies - but this should not conflict with pragmatic constructive engagement to assist groups working to improve the local natural environment. Especially as there's demonstrably so much that can be achieved in doing so.”

Craig welcomes focus by national press on sale of counterfeit ‘Royal Mail’ stamps on a potentially mammoth scale after first raising the problem last year

Craig Mackinlay MP welcomes today’s focus by national media on fake stamps, originating from China, circulating in the UK after an investigation by the Daily Telegraph.

Craig first uncovered the facilitation of the distribution of counterfeit postage stamps on a potentially mammoth scale last April. The South Thanet MP found that high quality fake stamps from China, only distinguishable from proper postage stamps under deep analysis, were being offered on the Amazon platform.

As part of office purchases, the MP ordered a small number of stamps without any consideration that Amazon were likely to be supplying counterfeits. After delivery, noticing a Chinese supplier address on the delivery envelope and reading of a proliferation of counterfeit postage, the MP looked more closely at the stamps delivered via Amazon, sending them to Royal Mail for proper forensic analysis.

The stamps bore numerous high quality security features but detail of the Queen’s head was marginally different from genuine stamps and only noticeable when closely comparing these fakes side by side with originals.  Analysis by Royal Mail’s specialists confirmed the stamps as counterfeit.

Craig Mackinlay MP said:

“I was astonished to find last April that Amazon, an entrenched retailer with an annual turnover of £25 Billion in the UK alone, continued to facilitate the distribution of counterfeit postage stamps.

“This renewed focus shows that the problem persists and, if anything, may have increased despite my warnings in April 2023 to the Royal Mail, City of London Police, National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, and my intervention at Deputy Prime Minister’s Questions the subsequent month.

“The authorities need to do much more to stamp out those who facilitate this practice and their illegally gotten cash.”

New pothole and road repair plans for Kent revealed

Craig Mackinlay MP has welcomed Kent County Council’s response to the Government’s request to set out their plans for over £8.5m to be used to repair and resurface roads in the South Thanet constituency over the next two years as part of £135m allocated to Kent as part of a long-term, 11-year plan to improve local roads.

A nationwide programme of pothole repairs and road resurfacing projects, made possible by the first tranche of £8.3 billion in reallocated HS2 funding, has been revealed – with the first set of roads already having been resurfaced to make journeys by road safer, faster, and smoother.

Councils have already been paid £150 million to get on with the work and deliver improvements, with another £150 million following in this financial year. 

As a condition of this funding, and to make sure money is being spent on pothole repairs, local authorities are required have published two-year plans detailing exactly which local roads will benefit. The plans for Kent County Council can be found here.

 Craig Mackinlay MP commented:

“I know from speaking to people across Thanet how frustrating potholes and poor-quality roads can be.

“Whilst Labour are waging a war on motorists with blanket 20mph limits and a ban on road building in Wales and the ULEZ expansion in London to tax the poorest drivers off the road, as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Fuel I am on the side of hard-pressed drivers and want to do all I can to encourage government to help them.

“That is why I welcome this government funding to improve journeys for drivers across the country, funding road and pothole repairs, and committing £135m over the next ten years to improve roads across Kent, including those in Thanet.”

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added:

“We’re on the side of drivers, which is why this Government is getting on with delivering our plan to invest an additional £8.3 billion in the biggest ever funding increase for local road improvements, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.

“Alongside this unprecedented funding, which is already being used to improve local roads, we’re making sure local people can hold their local authority to account and see for themselves how the investment will be spent to improve local roads for years to come.”

Waitrose and Co-op become latest supermarkets to launch ‘Best of British’ sections online following campaign backed by Craig

Waitrose and Co-op have become the latest supermarkets to launched ‘Best of British’ sections on their websites in the ongoing cross-Party campaign supported by South Thanet MP, Craig Mackinlay, which called on the nation’s supermarkets to make it easier for consumers to buy homegrown produce.

Craig and 125 other cross-Party MPs signed an open letter calling on supermarkets to highlight the very best of British produce by implementing a ‘Buy British’ section online.

The letter, written by Dr Luke Evans MP, stated ‘Our ask is simple, create a tab that collates produce from farmers,’ citing consumer choice, environmental benefits and support for farmers as reasons to make the change.

The recent move to implement a ‘Best of British’ section by Waitrose and the Co-op shows increased support for the MPs campaign amid country-wide calls to buy more homegrown produce.

Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Ocado have also launched online sections collating all British-sourced food and drink since Craig made the call.

Craig Mackinlay MP said:

“It’s great to see two more supermarkets support our campaign for a ‘Buy British’ button online, bringing the total to six major national supermarkets which reach millions of customers across the United Kingdom!

“The aim of the ‘Buy British’ tab is simple; to make it even easier for shoppers to buy homegrown produce, which has the dual bonus of helping to protect our environment while supporting Britain’s farmers.”

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Barclay MP, said:

“UK farmers produce exceptional food to world-class standards. It’s great to see British supermarkets celebrating homegrown and reared produce by making it easier for customers to back our farmers and choose British food.”

A Waitrose spokesperson added:

“We are really proud of our British farmers. We do a great deal to promote the care and effort they put into producing food to our customers online and in our shops. We back our farmers by paying them a fair price for the high standards of environmental and animal welfare standards they deliver for us and offer our customers their high quality food at great value.

“We have recently added a ‘Best of British’ section to Waitrose.com. It includes some of our products which are 100% British all year round, such as fresh eggs, meat and milk. If it is a success with our customers we will consider expanding on it.”

Craig welcomes Conservative Government’s new ‘Plan for Drivers’ measures

Craig Mackinlay MP has welcomed new measures by the Conservative Government to tackle anti-driver road schemes and overzealous traffic enforcement, helping to reduce journey times for motorists as part of its long-term Plan for Drivers.

The South Thanet MP and Chairman of the pro-motorist All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Fuel UK had previously successfully lobbied against a so-called Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme Kent County Council briefly introduced in Albion Street, Broadstairs - much to the annoyance of local residents back in the autumn of 2020.

Draft statutory guidance for councils has been published on LTNs setting out that there must be community engagement and support for proposed schemes to ensure every LTN has local consent before it is implemented. The guidance - which will come into force this summer - aims to prevent councils having to reverse poorly implemented or locally unpopular schemes, as occurred in Labour-run council areas in Jesmond, Newcastle and Streatham Wells, London, often at significant cost.

Councils are also receiving strengthened guidance on setting 20mph speed limits, reminding them they should only be used in sensible and appropriate areas such as outside schools, and where safety and local support is at the heart of the decision. Alongside driving schemes, consultations are being launched to tackle overzealous enforcement and prevent local councils from turning drivers into ‘cash cows’ by profiting from traffic restrictions.

Meanwhile Welsh Labour are spending £40 million to roll out blanket 20mph speed limits which will cost the Welsh economy billions and is causing huge disruption to drivers, while also refusing to build any new roads, taking the nation back to square one. In London, Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan is raising millions of pounds every month through his ULEZ expansion, which unfairly targets businesses and those on the lowest income with a £12.50 tax every time they want to use their car.

Craig Mackinlay MP said:

“People across Thanet rely on car journeys every day to get to work, visit the shops, and see friends and family. So, I understand the frustration when those journeys are delayed by unwanted LTNs and 20mph limits.

“That’s why I successfully lobbied Kent County Council to promptly remove the ill thought out traffic scheme they previously imposed on residents in Albion Street in Broadstairs.

“This new guidance from national Government will allow local authorities to find workable ideas to address congestion issues in and around Thanet, while ensuring that the views of local residents form the backbone of any future plans.”

Transport Secretary, Mark Harper MP added:

“We want local people to have their voices heard, and any traffic schemes to have the consent of those they impact.

“Well thought out schemes, like 20mph limits outside schools, can make our roads safer, but we are raising the bar to help ensure all traffic schemes work for everyone in the community.

“We’re on the side of drivers, and these latest measures show we’re getting on with delivering what we promised in our Plan for Drivers – making their lives better, fairer and cheaper, and helping people travel in the way that works best for them.”