As we mark 100 years since the first women gained the right to vote, Kelly Tolhurst MP is inviting everyone in Rochester and Strood to get involved in UK Parliament Week and play a part in our thriving democracy.

Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst has expressed delight at the Secretary of State for Housing’s decision to reject an appeal to build 225 new homes at Cliffe following representation from the MP and the local community.

Last week I was pleased to meet Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock MP, to discuss the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Groups’ (CCG) decision not to award Medway Maritime Hospital with a hyper acute stroke unit (HASU).

Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, has today warmly welcomed the £240m of additional funding for councils to spend on adult social care services to reduce pressures on the NHS this winter.

Last month, I was delighted to speak for the first time as Minister for Small Business and Corporate Responsibility and bring forward positive draft regulations for the UK’s small and medium sized businesses (SMEs).

This morning, Kelly Tolhurst MP was joined by fellow MPs Rehman Chishti and Gordon Henderson, as well as Lead of Medway Council Cllr Alan Jarrett, at a meeting with Dr Mamun, Medway Maritime Hospital’s stroke physician to discuss the recent hyper acute stroke unit (HASU) decision.

As a lifelong Medway resident, I was devastated to learn recently that the loss of Rochester’s city status was not an administrative mistake after all, but a deliberate policy by the then Labour leadership and hidden from the public.

Last week, Tuesday 9 October, Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst met with Rail Minister Jo Johnson to discuss continuing concerns with Govia Thameslink (GTR) and Southeastern services but received assurances for service improvements in next year’s franchise renewal.

Yesterday, I was joined by Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti to meet with the Chair and senior directors of Medway’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss the failure to award Medway Hospital with one of three hyper acute stroke units.

I am deeply angered and frustrated with Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership decision to dismiss Medway Maritime’s bid to host one of three hyper acute stroke units.