New Maritime Minister announced

The RYA would like to welcome the appointment of Rochester and Strood’s Member of Parliament, Kelly Tolhurst, as the newly appointed Parliamentary under Secretary of State for the Department of Transport. The move comes as part of the Prime Minister’s recent Cabinet reshuffle.

Kelly was previously the Parliamentary under Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and replaces Nusrat Ghani in the role.

Kelly, a marine surveyor by trade, has a strong family connection with sailing and grew up helping her father in the family-run boatyard. She is passionate about the nations coastal and river areas and in 2016 established an All Parliamentary Party Group for marine leisure. She is also the Patron of the Medway and Swale Boating Association, a group whose aim is to protect and promote all waterborne sports and pastimes.

The RYA looks forward to working with the new Maritime Minister over the coming months and discussing the current governmental issues affecting boating.