constituency – Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB

Seeking Stronger Ties with Swanley

Michael has recommended that the town of Swanley be formally recognised in the name of his constituency in his response to the Revised Boundary Proposals 2018. Should his request be granted, the official name of the Sevenoaks constituency would become Sevenoaks & Swanley.

Revised proposals for all the parliamentary seats were published in October by the Boundary Commission for England. Under the new proposals, the Sevenoaks constituency remains largely the same, but would gain the Wrotham, Ightham and Stansted ward from Tonbridge, increasing the size of the Sevenoaks electorate to 72,561.

The review aims to make constituencies more equal in size. Parliament has also approved the principle of reducing the size of the House of Commons. If the majority of MPs support the detailed plans, the proposed changes will take effect at the next election.

Happy with the boundary proposals, the local MP took the opportunity to recognise Swanley as a key part of his constituency.

He said: “My constituency is special because it is diverse. The town of Swanley is very different from the town of Sevenoaks, and each contributes equally to the character of the constituency. I refer to my constituency as Sevenoaks & Swanley, and I believe that now is the time that Swanley be recognised in its formal name.”

Sevenoaks Preserved in Boundary Plans

Michael has welcomed the Boundary Review proposals that largely maintain the current borders of his Sevenoaks constituency.

Revised proposals for the shape of parliamentary seats were published Tuesday (17/10) by the Boundary Commission for England. Under the new proposals, the Sevenoaks constituency will gain the Wrotham, Ightham and Stansted ward from Tonbridge, bringing the size of the Sevenoaks electorate to 72,561.

The review aims to make constituencies more equal in size. Parliament approved the principle of reducing the size of the House of Commons in 2011. If the majority of MPs support Tuesday’s detailed plans, the proposed new constituencies will take effect in 2022.

Michael said: ‘I warned the Commission about moving wards out of my constituency, and happily they have listened. Instead of losing constituents, I am set to gain. It is right that the fundamental shape of the Sevenoaks constituency is respected.’

The proposals are now open to a public consultation until 11 December 2017. Comments can be made via https://www.bce2018.org.uk/node/6488.

Michael will support the proposals, but once again he will also request that the name of the constituency be formally recognised as ‘Sevenoaks & Swanley’.

Rotary Club of Darent Valley

Michael met Rotarians and their guests at their new regular lunch venue held at White Oak Indoor Bowls Club, Swanley on 3rd October. Members had requested a talk based around Michael’s new role as Defence Secretary.

As all knew, it had been an extremely busy summer, with Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa dominating the agenda, as well at the NATO summit and the draw down of troops and equipment from Afghanistan. We now face a direct threat from Islamic extremism. The government is working closely with our allies to drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy ISIL and what it stands for.

Michael has already had two trips to visit servicemen and women in Afghanistan; met the RAF crews in Cyprus – whose tireless efforts saved lives by delivering aid in Iraq and visited several defence allies in the middle-east and Europe. Last month he hosted the defence delegations from 28 NATO countries and their partners at the NATO summit in Newport, Wales; arguably the most significant summit since the end of Cold War.

He wanted to reassure everyone that his current role does not affect his constituency work, which he very much values. In addition to his regular advice surgeries he had also had meetings with Swanley Town Council, Healthwatch Kent, and Lloyds Bank Sevenoaks in the last few weeks. He recently opened the new branch of Handelsbanken in Sevenoaks, launched a new current account at Sevenoaks Crown Post Office, and presented Swanley Station staff with a Secure Station Award.

Earlier that day he had spoken at the West Kent Partnership Business Engagement Event in Brands Hatch, Plans for the following week would include a visit to West Kingsdown Primary School, attending the British Tour Car Championship Final Roadshow event at Brands Hatch and a parish meeting at Badgers Mount. A business advice surgery will be held shortly and Swanley Jobs Fair is being organised for mid-October.