Things are looking up for MP Damian

It may have proved a gamble that went wrong for Theresa May but the aftermath of the election has been good for Kent MP Damian Green.

Promotion to the job of First Secretary of State means he is effectively second in command to the PM.

The Ashford MP’s calm performances as a cheerleader for Theresa May during the campaign – a foil to the rather more confrontational style of fellow Kent MP Michael Fallon – were one of the few positives for the Conservative Party.

But the MP, who is a big music fan, will be having to give one event a miss this year. He won’t be joining the thousands heading down to Somerset for the Glastonbury festival.

THE Conservatives are trying to appear united around Brexit but it is a fragile peace.

Now the South East MEP Richard Ashworth has broken cover in a very public manner, saying the PM has no mandate for a hard Brexit and to completely cut the UK’s ties to Europe would be economic suicide.

Clearly not everyone in the party is planning to sing from the same hymn sheet.

MEANWHILE, Kent continues to punch above its weight when it comes to its MPs holding office. As well as Damian Green and Michael Fallon holding cabinet posts, the Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark retains his job as business secretary and Tracey Crouch continues to be sports minister and has added the job of minister for civil society to her portfolio.

KENT County Council has a target to raise £100 million from EU grants between now and 2020

As things stand, it has secured about £65 million from around 35 projects, not a bad effort.

But it is warning of tough times ahead. A report this week to county councillors says in rather a long-winded explanation: “A potential lack of new projects because of uncertainty over ‘Brexit’, the consequent curtailing of our current EU programmes as well as staff resourcing and match-funding issues, do pose a threat to meeting our overall EU funding target and the delivery of our priorities.”