Our #BBC is a vital national asset. It supports our democratic culture, is a lifeline to UK creative industries and globally is trusted by hundreds of millions. Ironically, recent events highlight the importance of well researched, balanced public broadcasting. We must stand by the BBC resolutely

It was an honour to hold a minute's silence to commemorate the incredible contribution of Gurkha communities. In Folkestone, we are lucky to have the Royal Gurkha Rifles 1st Battalion situated at the heart of our community. Thank you Alex Baker for organising a beautiful ceremony. #Gurkhas

Our military personnel put their lives on the line to keep Britain safe. This Labour Government is upgrading 9 in 10 military residences across the UK with a £9 billion investment through the Defence Housing Strategy. Homes fit for heroes. Delivered by Labour. 🇬🇧

For decades, too many renters have lived at the mercy of rogue landlords. Labour have rebalanced that relationship with the Renters Rights Act. Interesting that Reform backed the landlords, rather than voting to give renters the security they deserve... #RentersRightsBill #Labour

Support for LGBT people is fundamental to my British values When a ReformUK MP compares that to backing Hamas, it needs calling out

Since July 2024, Kent Labour MPs have been pulling out all the stops to bring international rail back to Ashford. This is a key hurdle that we have cleared, and we will carry on fighting. #AshfordInternational #ORR #Ashford #eurostar #virgintrains #virgin

I voted against Farage’s “Brexit 2.0” bill today. It had 0% chance of becoming law. But his lie that Parliament is not sovereign had to be slapped down. PARLIAMENT IS ALREADY SOVEREIGN. It’s ALREADY in control. NO court can overrule Acts of Parliament. 1/2

It is an honour to have been elected to serve on the Justice Select Committee. I will use my new position to: - Defend the ECHR, - Protect the rule of law, - Improve the sentencing, probation and prison system, - Get the Hillsborough Law implemented in full. #justice #justiceselectcommittee

🚨OUT NOW 🚨 Can government solve its China problem? Host @alaintolhurst.bsky.social looks at the state of the Anglo-Sino relationship and the challenges therein with Labour MP @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social, ex-Asia minister Mark Field, Prof Kerry Brown and Luke de Pulford podfollow.com/politicshome...

"If we took the position of the Conservative Party, which is to withdraw from the European Convention and other international instruments, who is going to work with us upstream? It's Brexit 2.0 from the party opposite." @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social having a very good debate on the asylum system. ~AA

Major pension funds just announced £3 Billion of investment into UK rental homes, infrastructure and fast-growing companies providing 10s of thousands of new jobs and houses. This is a huge vote of confidence in our regions and our long-term plan to unlock sustainable economic growth.

V-Levels will streamline the confusing vocational qualification system with rigorous, flexible courses linked to real jobs. I’m proud to support the introduction of V-Levels, so we can build an opportunity society for our young people. #education #V-Levels

Reform's leader in Kent said that Reform councils were ‘the biggest advert’ for what a Nigel Farage government would look like. Unfortunately, its a bad advert. This video shows us what's really under the bonnet of Reform's chaotic operation in Kent.

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza is a source of immense hope. Hope that we can see an end to the suffering. Hope that we can see hostages returned to their loved ones. Hope that we are on a path to a just and lasting peace. The UK Government will play it's full part to secure this peace.

Our judiciary is world renowned. Yet this man wants to hand pick our judges and destroy centuries of judicial independence. It would be a full-scale assault on British democracy and our values. Judges should be picked on merit, not ideology - and Jenrick knows it. #Jenrick

Two years on from Hamas's horrific terrorist attack on Israel, we remember those who lost their lives. We also remember the victims’ families, and those still held hostage. I am committed to a lasting peace, a two-state solution, and a secure future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

How have Folkestone, Hythe, and Romney Marsh benefited from Government infrastructure investment since Labour came to power? - East Kent Hospitals Trust: £13 million - Flood defences in our area: £2.8 million - Filling potholes: £67 million across Kent

I condemn the latest Israeli military offensive in Gaza City on Sunday, which killed 31 Palestinians. I am also horrified by the latest Israeli strike in Lebanon which killed 3 children. www.reuters.com/world/middle...

When I first met Palestinian Ambassador last year, he said that the single most important diplomatic step the UK could take would be to recognise Palestine as a State. We have. There can be no two state solution without recognising Palestine’s right to exist. #Palestine #Palestinianrecognition

The Tories' disastrous Brexit project ripped up our returns agreement with the EU. It took a Labour Government to sort out their mess and negotiate a new deal with France. This would never have been possible had we left the European Convention on Human Rights, as the Tories and Reform would like.

Yesterday, I met with KCC Cllr David Wimble at my invitation in Parliament. David and I disagree on many things. But we do agree that politics should serve the people of Romney Marsh, Hythe and Folkestone. I look forward to a new chapter of civility and cooperation going forward.

Fighting for Ashford. We delivered a letter yesterday to the regulator to stress the incredible economic and social benefits of opening up competition and making the right decision for Kent. #Ashfordinternational #Eurostar #Kent #Labour #Folkestone #Hythe #RomneyMarsh

Because of Bridget: 🍽️Half of all schoolchildren in #Folkestone, #Hythe and #RomneyMarsh now get free school meals. 👶Parents get 30 hours of funded childcare a week. 👩‍🏫Our state schools have 6,500 more teachers. Bridget is delivering for us. #BackBridget

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. I'm delighted that our area will help create a blueprint for better community healthcare across the country. #NHS #Healthcare #folkestone #hythe #romneymarsh

Now we've recovered from the insomnia inducing Reform Conference, I'd like to make the serious point that Cllr Kemkaran's comments on vaccines were not only horrifically insulting to the Royal Family, they also showed Reform's health "policy" to be unserious and unsafe.

Vandalism on Royal Military Avenue. True patriots wake up and ask themselves how they can improve their country. They do not vandalise our public infrastructure, defacing signs and costing the taxpayer money. Vandalism is not patriotism.

The freedoms that allow the Reform leader to make preposterous statements on the world stage – the very freedoms that distinguish us from the dictatorships he carelessly invokes – are precisely the ones he seeks to dismantle. Read my article here: www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

Democrat @raskin.house.gov excoriates Nigel Farage for banning journalists from Reform UK events: "I'm asking you a direct question. Why do you ban journalists who oppose your views from coming to your events? Why did you tell local government not to do interviews with your local newspaper?"

Where is Farage? He’s in US - AGAIN - this time conspiring against British online safety laws and sucking up to his tech bros. He should be an MP instead of a wannabe MAGA VIP. #WhereisFarage

Energy drinks are bad news for kids. As a parent, I know that banning sales to under-16s is a long overdue step for the health and wellbeing of our young people.

One of the worst failures of the last government was closing down Sure Start. The IFS found that for every £1 of up-front spending, the programme generated over £2 in total benefits. This Government's Best Start programme will deliver profound educational, economic and social benefits.

Have you protected your children against MMR? Kent's MMR vaccine uptake is below the national target. This quick, free and safe jab is our best defence against potentially serious disease. Contact your GP to book an appointment. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article....

This is a great deal for Britain! Our defence sector has just agreed its biggest ever warship export deal with Norway. This will generate £10 billion for the British economy. We beat the US, France and Germany to this deal. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I’d add two pretty obviously dubious claims in the PE report (read it carefully and you’ll see weasel words creeping in to hide the weaknesses): (1) that the (express) agreement to incorporate the ECHR into NI law with access to courts and remedies doesn’t mean “ECHR as interpreted by the ECtHR);

⁠I was elected on a mandate to hold the Environment Agency and Southern Water to account, to ensure that they do everything they can to improve water quality in our community. That is why I have written to the Environment Agency to ask them to attend the next steering group meeting.

We need to move on from the implausible idea, put forward by those who made false Brexit promises, that UK border security depends on withdrawing from, or reforming, an international treaty The migration deal with France shows that the UK needs the ECHR, writes Labour MP @tonyvaughanmp.bsky.social

Was great to meet with Toby Howe, who is in charge of highways resilience at Kent County Council. The main item on our agenda was Operation Brock, which I appreciate a lot of people have concerns about.

Great news for North Kent College and those wanting to work in the construction sector! North Kent College will receive a share of a £100 million government investment as it becomes one of ten specialist construction colleges across the U.K.

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

The PM & Foreign Secretary's announcement on the UK's position on recognition of a Palestinian state is highly significant. The Government is rightly using recognition to put conditions on Israel that would drive desperately needed, positive changes in Gaza. This is the right step to take.

My statement on the situation in Gaza:

Holding a Palestinian flag, and putting up a sign that says nothing about Palestine Action, does not mean you support Palestine Action. Whatever you think about this person's views, the law protects the right to protest peacefully in support of Palestine. The Government have made that very clear.

🏳️‍⚧️🚨 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 have signed it too.

Recently, 9 EU leaders called for a debate on reform of the human rights Convention. I always welcome debate. But we can do much to solve shared challenges WITHOUT cutting down rights which protect us all. Here’s what I said to the Council of Europe about this yesterday ⬇️

As Chair of the APPG on Refugees, I am happy to welcome Refugee Week #CommunityAsASuperpower. In support of safe routes, I have asked the Government to rethink their position on barring citizenship for those who use irregular routes. #RefugeeWeek #SimpleActs #Folkestone #Hythe

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. 🔗 www.reuters.com/world/uk/fil...

How do we decriminalise abortion? (Spoiler alert: by supporting @StellaCreasy ‘s New Clause 20 to the Crime and Policing Bill). parliamentnews.co.uk/how-do-we-de...

***GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS*** 🍝Over 4,000 children in #Folkestone, #Hythe and #RomneyMarsh will benefit from September 🥘 Children of ALL families on Universal Credit eligible 💷 More money in families’ pockets. Labour is tackling the cost of living crisis!

For Women Scotland case. The EHRC have responded to my letter on their Interim Guidance. They seem to play down its force - describing it only as an “initial spotlight” on the ruling - and refer me to their consultation. I will definitely be responding to the consultation!