This is a real Labour Budget to help working people in hard times rising your minimum & living wage, taking more kids out of poverty than ever before in modern UK history, bringing down energy bills and funding for new Neighbourhood Health Teams in places like Folkestone & Hythe!

The Government has announced something that will massively help commuters in #Folkestone, #Hythe and #RomneyMarsh with the cost of living. For the first time since the 90s, the Government has announced that rail fares will be frozen. I've spent a lot of my working life

Local services in Folkestone and Hythe are on their knees and have suffered from historical funding neglect for decades. The fact is that services cost more to provide here – higher poverty, an older population, remote areas – there are a whole host of reasons. The Index of

If nuclear power is to return to #Dungeness, the Government must make regulation work for our communities and our country. Today, the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce has rightly called for a smarter system that protects nature and gets clean power built. Their proposed ‘alternative

I believe the majority of my constituents in #Folkestone #Hythe & #RomneyMarsh agree we should grant asylum to those fleeing war and persecution – provided the system is fair and managed. I spoke to one constituent, Janice, this week, who thinks that people seeking asylum should

The root cause of the small boats challenge is Brexit. Read my article in the New Statesman on the real political dividing line on border control between Labour and Reform, and my thoughts on how we restore it. #asylum #immigration #ECHR

On Trans Day of Remembrance, we honour those who were killed due to transphobic violence and hate. This year being one of the worst on record. We stand with the trans community in demanding decency from those in power, and building a society that welcomes Trans people as they are

Labour must fix the asylum system - but I have two very real concerns with Mahmood's plans, writes @tonyvaughanMP

As I said to Channel 4 yesterday, the UK isn’t a “soft touch” on asylum. UK asylum seeker benefits £49.18 per week – similar to European neighbours (£48 in Denmark) No right to work before 12 months (it’s 6 months in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands) UK settlement after 5

The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning. The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong. We absolutely need immigration controls. And where those controls decide to

It is unacceptable that Littlestone and Dymchurch beaches still have “no swim” warnings in place. Dymchurch has seen big improvements this year, which is why I wrote to the Environment Agency last month asking that they upgrade Dymchurch’s rating. Yesterday, I asked the

Great news for Folkestone and Hythe! Our area has been chosen by the Government as a pioneer site to receive a new Neighbourhood Health Team. This will see thousands of pounds invested into multi-disciplinary teams to support people with long-term conditions such as diabetes,

Today on the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day, we honour all those men and women whose bravery and sacrifice brought an end to WW2 and ensured peace for future generations. Their legacy continues to affect our daily lives in the freedoms we enjoy today and we shall never forget them.

🔋Bring power back to Dungeness 🔋 #Nuclear #Dungeness #Romneymarsh

This is a highly significant development in the UK's position on recognition of a Palestinian state. The Government is rightly using recognition to put conditions on Israel that would drive positive, tangible changes on the ground in Gaza. Given the increasingly horrific

🏳️‍⚧️🚨 New letter from MPs on trans rights & EHRC Consultation on the #ForWomenScotland ruling. I have written a letter to the EHRC to urgently raise concerns about the Draft Code of Practice consultation after the ruling. I am proud to say that 32 of my colleagues share these

As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, I am happy to welcome Refugee Week and this year's theme #CommunityAsASuperpower. I am proud of Folkestone for the continuous care and kindness shown towards refugees and asylum seekers, including through the community

Shocking & shameful racist attacks on Filipinos & others in Northern Ireland. Those behind these hate crimes must face justice, and victims given support. Local leaders must help de-escalate and reject divisive rhetoric fuelling this violence. 🔗

How do we decriminalise abortion? (Spoiler alert: by supporting @StellaCreasy ‘s New Clause 20 to the Crime and Policing Bill). https://t.co/JrLcDFxEkx

In this Spending Review, Labour has chosen: 🧑‍⚕️ Investment in our public services, not austerity. 📐 Putting public services first. ⚡️Energy security through energy independence. 🪪 Bolstering our national security. 📡 Building a high tech, high growth economy. How is the