Thursday December 27 | 2018
Times
All the news that matters
s our
Don’t mis
W GREAT NEIZ YEAR QU e 17
From pag
COPY
Local, National and International
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
COPY
Page
COPY
Page
Page
COPY Page
PHOTO: Rose Bainbridge
The Ice Queen makes it a cool start to the holidays
GOLDEN GIRL: Olympic Dancer Jayne Torvill took to the ice with family and friends at the Tunbridge Wells ice rink on Sunday. The Winter Olympics Gold Medal winner of 1984 had ‘loads of fun’ as she posed for selfies with fans before heading to the Assembly Hall for the Sleeping Beauty panto. The rink is open until January 2.
Minister warns no deal on Brexit would ‘ravage’ economy for years Clark vows to use position in Cabinet to make sure that never happens By Jonathan Banks FAILURE to reach a deal on Brexit would be ‘a disaster for Britain ravaging our economy for a generation’. That is the warning from Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark who in his role as Business Minister is at the heart of the ongoing Brexit debate within Theresa May’s Cabinet, the Conservative Party and the country at large. There has even been unsubstantiated media speculation in recent days that he would quit his ministerial post in the event of a ‘no deal’.
Mr Clark told the Times this week: “No deal would be a disaster for Britain, ravaging our economy for a generation.
‘It is imperative to bring some clarity to this matter as quickly as possible’ Tonbridge MP, Tom Tugendhat “I will use my positon in the Cabinet to make sure it will never become the policy of the British Government.”
Mr Clark fully supports Theresa May’s proposed so called Chequers’ exit package as does the Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat although he would do so reluctantly. He told this newspaper: “As things stand, and with a very heavy heart, I was intending to back the Prime Minister’s deal. “Though we still have to negotiate the transition arrangements I do think it is imperative to bring some clarity to this matter as quickly as possible. There are firms and companies lining up to invest in our towns and they
need to know what we are planning before they do. That requires an agreement and so far this is the only one on the table. “Of course, the current turmoil in Westminster and the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Europe to seek some further assurances leave us no more certain what the future holds. “I hope this will provide the opportunity we all need to think hard about the implications of decisions before us. None of us were elected to gamble
Continued on Page 4