After almost 20 years working as a barrister, I came into politics in July 2024 to serve the community I love.
Folkestone and Hythe is where my children grew up, where I served as a trustee of a local charity, and where the most beautiful coastline, sunrises and sunsets unite the community in a love for this wonderful area.
My mother worked as a care assistant her whole life, having come here from the Philippines in the 1970s. My father was an engineer from London. My parents’ values of hard work, respect and compassion drive everything I do.
Folkestone and Hythe was for so many years forgotten by Westminster. Not any longer.
As your first ever Labour MP, I will fight every day to improve your lives and be your voice in Parliament, so we can make this area the best it can be for everyone.
LATEST NEWS
Media
My Adjournment Debate Speech about Lindsay and Craig Foreman
Lindsay and Craig Foreman - My Q to the FCDO
LET'S GET FREIGHT OFF THE ROADS AND ON TO RAIL IN KENT!
Ministry of Justice Questions 19.05.26
Times Radio Interview - 11/11/2026
Book a one-to-one surgery appointment
Request to attend a local coffee meeting
Send me a message
Great to see Liam Finch at the Hythe Venetian Fete this week. A job well done to Finch Building and Construction who were the principal contractors for the event this year, they also made excellent fencing and seating for the Fete - lovely to meet with you, Liam!
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Message from me to all of the students in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh who collected their GCSE results yesterday:
If you got what you wanted, fantastic, if you didn’t, don’t give up on your dreams, see this as a learning experience, and keep fighting for your goals.
It’s been encouraging to see that national GCSE outcomes have improved overall. Maths has been the standout success, so a special well done to all those maths teachers for their hard work in my constituency! Over 6000 more 16 year olds achieved a grade 7 and above in Maths this year.
Our education system must expand the routes to success that exist, so it’s right that from next year, young people will be able to study more technical qualifications.
Students will be able to study V Levels alongside expanded T Levels and we’ll have fully-funded apprenticeships for the under-25s – with new pathways to provide 14-year olds with valuable early access to technical skills, work experience and connections with local employers the year after.
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During the pandemic, the Johnson Government launched the ‘Everyone In’ Scheme, which was incredibly successful - it brought 90% of rough sleepers off the streets.
Andy Burnham on the steps of Downing Street said he wanted to end rough sleeping.
He’s backing his words with actions and £442 million of new investment is going in to provide every homeless person with a route off the streets before 25th December.
For many, this route will be a place to stay, for others it will be tailored support to help them with their mental health or possible addiction.
People who are long-term rough sleepers account for 40% of all homeless people, so we need to tackle the root causes with sustained and patient support.
This is the caring society that we must build and the big vision, bold politics that the public rightly expects from us.
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It was great to join Hands off our Marsh in Old Romney for their community walk around part of the area proposed for the South Kent Energy Park. A big thank you to Kim Gowing for organising the walk.
There was a very strong turnout and it was a brilliant opportunity for us as a community to discuss the proposal.
I am concerned about the cumulative impact of the proposed solar farms on the Marsh’s high quality farmland, the local tourism and hospitality sector, the wildlife, the drainage system and the visual and noise pollution, as well as the fire safety issues with battery storage systems.
I have held meetings with all of the solar companies and I have spoken out about this issue in Parliament. I will be organising a meeting between my office and all of the companies, so we can discuss the cumulative impact of the proposals.
I want more renewable energy development, but we must protect our rural economy and our rural heritage. Covering up to 10% of the Marsh in solar panels is not proportionate, especially as it’s already home to major infrastructure, such as Dungeness nuclear power station and Lydd Airport.
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Good luck to all students receiving their GCSE results today, and a big thanks to teachers and school staff for supporting our young people!
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Exciting to see that Virgin Trains has been granted track access by the ORR, enabling it to run as many as 20 daily return services using the HS1 line between St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel.
I know that Virgin has plans to run services between St Pancras and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
We also in this conversation can’t forget about Ashford - Ashford International needs to be an international station again.
Virgin was right to recognise that there is significant public interest in the reintroduction of international services at Ashford and Ebbsfleet - but they want the international parts of the stations to be reopened first.
I look forward to working with my Kent Labour MP colleagues to continue our campaign to reopen Ashford International when Parliament returns.
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Great news from Heidi Alexander that disabled people across England will be able to travel on buses for free, all day, every day.
Time restrictions on bus passes for disabled people will be lifted from April 2027, benefitting 28000 people in Kent and opening up access to education, training, work and cultural opportunities.
This is backed by £60 million of funding from within existing DfT and DWP budgets.
Proud of this Labour government for what it’s doing to help bus users - this comes on top of the £2 bus fare cap, the Bus Services Act, which allows local authorities to setup their own bus companies and we will have provided a fourfold increase in Local Transport Grants by 2029.
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Annoyed with potholes? Me too! If you have any you want fixing, send them here: tonyvaughan.co.uk/potholes
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Keep our beaches clean! Read my article on this below and at tonyvaughan.co.uk/articles
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