There's negativity around about UK aviation. Why don't we use powers under the Transport Act 2000 to grant smaller airports commercial Special Use Airspace designations. Then they can become centres for civilian drone research and manufacturing? www.goodgrowthfoundation.co.uk/a-golden-tic...

A Golden Ticket for Government: Fast tracking Special Use Airspace to let innovation take flight at regional airports — The Good Growth Foundation

Regional airports are judged against a passenger model that was never built for them, while regulation blocks anything better. We set out a better way forward. Granting Lydd Airport Special Use Airspa...

goodgrowthfoundation.co.uk

I agree with Joe, we need regular consular visits, so we can ensure Craig and Lindsay’s welfare and enable regular calls between them and their family. It's not an ask for the impossible, but an ask for practical action to protect their physical and mental wellbeing. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

No regular contact with couple held in Iran, family say

Craig and Lindsay Foreman's family say they were promised contact after they ended hunger strikes.

bbc.co.uk

FREE THE FOREMANS: Last week I spoke at a roundtable to mark the appointment of Alistair Burt as the UK’s first Envoy for Complex Consular Cases. I spoke about what I am doing to secure the release of Craig and Lindsay - they are imprisoned arbitrarily in Tehran on totally false charges.

This week I participated in a debate on whether there should be a referendum on nationalising the water industry. We need greater public control and ownership of our water sector. We also must strengthen regulation through ensuring independent monitoring of the data private water companies provide.

Looking forward to this! All LME members welcome to join.

Labour Movement for Europe@labour4europe.bsky.social · last mo.

Small Boats, Migration and Rights: Is Europe the Answer? Join us next Wednesday for a members-only webinar with MP for Folkestone and Hythe, @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social and Professor of Human Rights, Alice Donald. Not an LME member already? Click the link below!

Spoke to The Guardian about the intimidation we saw in Dover. It's totally unjustified to see deliberate disruption at a major port, a piece of critical national infrastructure. The Police must have the resources they need to support public order policing. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-i...

From black-clad agitators to an appeal for ‘Tommo’s Mum’: an unsettling week with the Patriot Platform

A militaristic operation with features of influencer culture, the new anti-migrant movement seems to show a shift in tactics and rhetoric

theguardian.com

I voted for assisted dying again, as the Bill expanded individual choice, contained incredibly strong safeguards against coercion and abuse, and would have legalised assisted dying in a safe and dignified way. This is not the end of the campaign. Most people in Britain support a law like this.

This month I’ll request that the Assembly agrees to take action, so up to 210 billion euros of Russian assets can deliver compensation to Ukrainian victims. I was proud that (PACE) approved the draft resolution and recommendation based on my report. pace.coe.int/en/news/1040...

Russian assets should be used to pay Ukraine potentially ‘billions’ in compensation after Strasbourg Court rulings

Russian state assets should be repurposed to pay Ukraine potentially “billions of euros” in compensation after two rulings against Russia by the European Court of Human Rights, according to a committe...

pace.coe.int

Yes to energy independence. Yes to more renewables. Yes to an energy mix, including new nuclear. But covering 10% of Romney Marsh and some of our highest quality arable land, with solar, isn't fair, when the clean energy mission is a national endeavour. www.kentonline.co.uk/romney-marsh...

‘Covering vast swathes of farmland with solar panels makes no sense’

MP Tony Vaughan says while generating solar energy is important it should not come at the cost of our farming communities.

kentonline.co.uk

The Folkestone Nepalese Community Centre is raising money for disaster relief in the Nepal-Tibet region. If you would like to make a donation, please use this link: fncuk.org/appeal-for-n... If any constituents need assistance, please email me at: tony.vaughan.mp@parliament.uk

Craig and Lindsay matter. 168 people have signed this petition today. Please consider signing it, see the link below⬇️ www.change.org/p/free-linds...

Nearly 100,000 People Are Standing With Mum and Craig

The last few weeks have brought some important changes, but they have also made it very clear how much still needs to happen. The five-day fast was an extraordinary show of solidarity with Mum and Craig, and I remain incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, shared it or supported us during those days. It helped bring a very difficult chapter to a close, but our attention now has to be firmly…

change.org

Progress is being made - still more work to do, and we need to bring asylum accommodation fully in house, so there isn’t private sector profiteering, but this is welcome. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Number of asylum seekers housed in hotels halves and small boat crossings slashed

There were 16,000 asylum seekers living in Home Office hotels in June this year, down 50 per cent on a year earlier

independent.co.uk

Sending my love, thoughts and solidarity to the people of Nepal and Tibet this morning. We have an amazingly vibrant Nepalese community in my constituency. If constituents know anyone affected and they need assistance from the FCDO, please get in touch at tony.vaughan.mp@parliament.uk

Incredible news from Sainsbury's - they’ll create 10000 work experience opportunities for young people, starting in October 2026! My office will be in touch with the company today to see what opportunities for young people we can deliver, for Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.

Recent, promising economic news: 1. Consumer confidence at its highest level for 2 years. 2. Private sector productivity growth - 1.8% in Q2 26 compared with 2025, showing some tentative signs of AI adoption driving growth, plus we’ve closed the productivity gap with the US.

This is important public health advice from the Food Standards Agency - under fives, over 65s, women who are pregnant and those with health conditions should avoid under-cooked eggs when they are eating out. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Under-fives and pregnant women told to avoid runny eggs when eating out over salmonella risk

The advice also applies to the over-65s and others with underlying medical conditions amid salmonella outbreak.

bbc.co.uk

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 right that waste criminals will face a tough crackdown under this government. Fines for illegal dumping will rise from £300 to £5k. Fly tippers will now have to complete up to 20 hours of unpaid work cleaning streets, and be required to repay the cost of clearing their dumped waste.

The PM wants to end rough sleeping. He’s backing his words with action. £442 million will provide every homeless person with a route off the streets before 25 December. This route may be a place to stay/it could be tailored mental health or addiction support. This is the caring society we must be!

It was great to join Hands off our Marsh in Old Romney for their community walk around the proposed South Kent Energy Park. I am concerned about the cumulative impact of the proposed solar farms on the Marsh - covering up to 10% of the land in panels would not be proportionate at all.

Good luck to all students receiving their GCSE results today, and a big thanks to teachers and school staff for supporting our young people! #gcseresults

Good that Virgin has been granted track access, enabling it to run daily return services between St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel. Ashford International also needs to be an international station again and I'm looking forward to working with Kent Labour MP colleagues to continue our campaign.

Great news 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, opening up access to education, work and cultural opportunities.

Truth. Justice. Kindness. Peace. Unity. The five words that Joe Bennett’s mother, Lindsay Foreman, told him to reflect on each day.

Tragically, this does not surprise me at all. We must go beyond the Water Special Measures Act by putting our water system under public control. On another note, it surprises me how little the Greens talk about our water system and other environmental issues. www.ft.com/content/91fd...

Only 1 in 7 of England’s rivers, lakes and estuaries meet ecological standards

Charity says Environment Agency data shows that the country’s waters are ‘among the filthiest in Europe’

ft.com

2 facts that get lost in the small boats debate: Almost 60% of all Channel crossing events have been stopped before they enter UK waters since July 24. Over 46k small boat crossing attempts have been prevented since July 24. We need proper safe routes provision, but enforcement has stepped up.

Heather is right - we can’t achieve stability and prosperity at home if the world is in complete chaos. That’s why we should set out a roadmap to spend 0.7% of GDP on aid and development. labourlist.org/2026/08/putt...

'Putting development at the heart of foreign policy' - LabourList

Setting a pathway back to 0.7% while using our G20 presidency to champion debt relief and financial reform would honour Labour's internationalist tradition.

labourlist.org

Announced today: 100 new community mental health centres to open, offering walk-in support. 59 new mental health emergency departments providing specialist care. This is about bringing mental health care closer to communities and ensuring people get early diagnosis, treatment and support.

If you’re looking for a brilliant day out this summer, come to Folkestone! Seaside sauna, great fish and chips and seafood, amazing independent businesses, a vibrant arts scene - I agree with Rob Beckett! www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/n...

Rob Beckett raves about great family day out in Kent seaside town

Comedian Rob Beckett has hailed a Kent seaside town as home to the "best fish and chips" he's ever eaten after a recent visit.

kentonline.co.uk

Chucking the Navy in the Channel won't end small boat crossings. The question is how do we end the small boat crossings whilst meeting our international obligations, our legal obligations and our obligations to our European allies?