🌹 ‘I didn’t come into politics to make poor, vulnerable people even more poor and vulnerable’
Plus: Scaffolding goes up around town centre eyesore following prosecution over failure to carry out repairs, and date for closure of bus station revealed
Tony Vaughan on one year as an MP: ‘It’s been one of the most incredible experiences of my life’
This Friday marks one year since Labour’s landslide victory in the general election, which saw Tony Vaughan elected as the first ever Labour MP for Folkestone and Hythe.
Ahead of the anniversary, the Folkestone Dispatch spoke to him about his first year in Westminster, the government’s early struggles and the need for progressive parties to act together in the face of the Reform surge…
Sir Keir Starmer may have swept into Downing Street at the head of an impressive parliamentary majority last summer, but the travails of the government over the past 12 months have seen his party’s victory branded the ‘loveless landslide’.
Despite occupying a commanding position, the Prime Minister has been buffeted by plummeting popularity with the public and growing restlessness among his backbench MPs, as exemplified by this week’s drama over plans for reform of the welfare system.
Tony Vaughan, the barrister who was elected to represent Folkestone in parliament one year ago, was among those threatening to vote down the government’s flagship Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill when it went before the Commons yesterday.
Like many of his colleagues on the green benches, he had expressed concerns over the impact of proposed changes affecting disabled claimants of the personal independence payment, who number around 7,000 in his constituency.
“It was going to result in a lot of people who are already disabled, already marginalised, already living in poverty, being in an even worse position,” Mr Vaughan told the Dispatch this morning, after last-minute concessions from the government saw the bill pass in yesterday evening’s vote.
“I didn't come into politics to make poor, vulnerable people even more poor and vulnerable. I want to support this government. We've had 14 years of Tory chaos and austerity, and just horrendous policy making, so it was a big deal for me to say to my party I am not voting for this bill. As much as I want our programme of reform that we set out in the manifesto to be voted through, because we are dealing with the human dignity of the most vulnerable in society, I cannot support this.
“It would have been damaging [to the government if the bill had been voted down] but my view was that I do have to stick up for my constituents.”
Mr Vaughan explained that Labour MPs were being strongly pressured to back the bill as it stood, but he insisted that he could not support it in its initial form.
He said: “One of the arguments going around was that if you vote against it, then that will mean the government can’t get through its legislative agenda because backbenchers will feel emboldened to do whatever they want, or to pressure the government every time they don't agree, and that will mean the government just can’t get through these controversial things that the government says are necessary.
“It’s true that the benefits bill is going up at an absolutely huge rate and I agree that isn’t sustainable, and I agree we need to reform the welfare system. But it can be done and must be done in a way that respects disabled people’s dignity.”
A lawyer for almost two decades, with a background in human rights and equality law, he strongly emphasises that for him politics is ultimately driven by people, not policy.
Asked about the achievements of his first year in parliament, he pointed to the successful campaign to save the Folkestone Sports Centre, as well as government funding secured for sea defences and the local NHS hospitals trust.
He admits that ahead of polling day on July 4 last year he was uncertain about whether or not he would unseat incumbent Conservative Damian Collins, but having become the first Labour candidate to win the seat the last 12 months have been something of a learning curve.
“It’s been one of the most incredible experiences of my life,” he said when asked to reflect on his first year in Westminster.
“I’ve been a barrister for 19 years and I’ve done some really interesting things, been to some interesting places and worked with some interesting people, but this is on another level. It's challenged me in ways that I hadn’t even known I could be challenged.
“The scale of the need in Folkestone and Hythe is just staggering, the levels of deprivation and poverty. Understanding that and really seeing that is galvanising me to just do this in the best way that I can, showing people that they’re getting the Labour MP that they voted for.
“Some people feel that they haven’t got what they voted for. But one of the main reasons for wanting to come into politics is to try and restore trust in politicians and specifically trust in me delivering what I pledged to deliver when I stood for election.”
Public disillusionment with the new administration has set in early in the parliament, with recent YouGov polling finding just 23% of people surveyed expressing a favourable view of the Prime Minister.
The controversy over cuts to the winter fuel allowance, and the subsequent U-turn to make more pensioners eligible for the benefit, has been emblematic of a government struggling to find its feet—and alienating its own supporters as a result.
“That was self-inflicted, and in a way I think that some of that is driven by the Treasury saying, ‘make the numbers balance’, without any political antennae for how one should approach these things,” Mr Vaughan said of the winter fuel allowance issue.
“That has been, I think, at the root of a lot of these things because there is so much positive stuff we’re doing, so much positive stuff. Particularly free school meals for people on Universal Credit, that’s massive for people. There are loads of people on Universal Credit in Folkestone and Hythe. But all these positive things have been sort of overshadowed by the negative stuff.”
It is this ‘negative stuff’ that has been responsible for a number of his party’s local councillors quitting Labour in protest at the government’s direction. Mr Starmer has since said he “deeply regrets” his ‘island of strangers’ speech on immigration, but Cllr Bridget Chapman—who now sits as an independent on the district council—accused Labour of deploying rhetoric she says “panders to fear”.
Mr Vaughan told the Dispatch the Prime Minister’s ‘island of strangers’ speech was “silly” and said he could understand why Cllr Chapman took her decision to quit the party.
He said: “I want to be very, very clear that our Labour values are pro-inclusivity, pro-multiculturalism. We do not beat [Reform] by being them. We need to be us, and we need to show our Labour values.
“I understand where she [Cllr Chapman] is coming from. She’s a real powerhouse of a fighter for things that are right. I would hope that if we can change the narrative then we are going to be a place that Bridget feels happy to come back to. But I agree that there have been problems in how we’ve gone about things over the last year and I hope that that direction will change.”
With Reform now in charge of Kent County Council, having won five of the six seats up for grabs in the Folkestone & Hythe District Council area in May’s countywide poll, Mr Vaughan says parties of the left must be prepared to work with each other to see off the surge of support for Nigel Farage’s party.
He said: “I think progressive parties across the area need to think very carefully about how we approach [the next local elections]. Because if we don’t, if we just sort of plough ahead without actually thinking strategically, we’re all going to be in trouble.
“I’m doing this for public service, I can just go back to being a lawyer, but it’s the people of Folkestone and Hythe who need proper competent, visionary governance and they won’t get that with the Reform party. So we have to work together with the progressive parties so that we can make sure that people get the representation they deserve.”
News in brief
🚧 Scaffolding has gone up at a town centre eyesore after the owners were prosecuted over a failure to carry out repairs to the building. Asda, which owns the former Store Twenty One building in Bouverie Place, was fined £650 and ordered to pay £1,950 costs and a victim surcharge of £260 after failing to act on a S215 notice issued in 2023 demanding remedial work. A spokesman for Folkestone & Hythe District Council said: “Up until September 2024, the council exchanged communication with Asda with a view of resolution without the need for [court] proceedings however, despite reassurances being provided, no works were commenced.” Store Twenty One closed down in 2016 and the building had subsequently become a target for vandals.
📚 Hawkinge Primary School has been found to be ‘outstanding’ following an inspection by Ofsted in May. In a report published last week, the schools watchdog described the Canterbury Road school as “exceptional” and “inspiring”. The report goes on to say: “Highly effective, inspiring leadership means there is no complacency in this school. There is a steely determination and commitment to improve this excellent school even further.” You can read the latest report in full here.
🚍 Services from the bus station are expected to cease on the weekend of August 16/17, according to a Stagecoach notice posted around the Bouverie Square site. The current bus station is to be transformed into a park as part of ongoing work to improve the town centre. Bus stops are to be temporarily moved to Middelburg Square before eventually being permanently sited in Shellons Street. The Stagecoach notice states: “We are working closely with Folkestone & Hythe District Council to ensure a smooth transition.” Details of where buses will stop following the closure of the bus station are expected to be published in advance of the final weekend of operation.
🏞️ People are being encouraged to have their say about the future of Princes Parade, between Folkestone and Hythe, at drop-in sessions being held this week. The 18-acre coastal site was at the centre of a long-running controversy over redevelopment plans, which were eventually shelved in 2023. District council leader Cllr Jim Martin said: “Princes Parade is a subject which has dominated the local conversation for 15 years, so it’s right to ensure everybody with an opinion has the chance to share it with us. This event isn’t about us presenting ideas—it’s about having a chat and hearing what the people of Seabrook, Hythe and beyond have to say.” The sessions are taking place at Hythe Town Hall on Friday, July 4, between 4pm and 7pm and on Saturday, July 5, between 10am and 1pm.
🍴 Hotly-anticipated new restaurant Pomus Folkestone is set to open its doors to the public on Thursday, July 10. The new venue, which occupies the former Brewery Tap pub in Tontine Street, is an offshoot of the original Pomus in Margate. Founder Ryan Jacovides said: “We are so excited to bring Pomus to Folkestone and be in the heart of the Creative Quarter. It’s come early for us to expand following our Margate launch last summer, but taking on the iconic old Brewery Tap building was too good to pass up, and so I immediately said yes when I was approached about the site. We are bringing the same Pomus quality and welcome, but we’ve got big plans for the site with lots of local twists for Folkestone.” Bookings are now being taken here.
🏃🏾 More than 250 pupils from six local primary schools had the chance to participate in Folkestone Academy’s fifth Primary School Olympics last week. Youngsters from Churchill School, Christ Church CofE Primary Academy, Mundella Primary, St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy, Martello Primary and Folkestone Primary were able to take part in a range of activities, including football, cricket, gymnastics and skateboarding.
Sarah Green, Sports Trust project manager for schools and Folkestone School Games organiser, said: “In an era where nationally we are faced with challenges such as poor mental health and obesity, it is so important to give school age pupils an experience of what is on offer on their doorstep to keep them active. We would like to thank all the fantastic sports coaches without whose help the Folkestone Primary School Olympics could not happen.”
💬 The Leas Lift time capsule crowdfunding campaign has entered its final month. The initiative will support the ongoing restoration of the funicular, and offers donors the chance to contribute personal messages which will be engraved on 104 brass plates fixed to the Lift’s new tracks. Leas Lift chief executive Floortje Hoette said: “We are continuing to crowdfund to ensure we complete the restoration and bring the Lift back to the highest possible standard. This is your chance to play a role in that journey.” You can find out more here.
What’s on this week
💃 The first annual Wavelengths Festival of Dance is taking place at the Quarterhouse this week. The four-day event begins tomorrow, July 3, and will see seven companies showcasing their artistic work both in the venue’s auditorium as well as in nearby Payers Park. The organisers said: “For this inaugural festival we are focusing on seven local performance and dance companies as well as local dancers and organisations. There will be workshops, insightful talks, and thought-provoking film screenings.” You can find out more about the festival here.
🌊 The popular Folkestone Sandcastle Competition returns to Sunny Sands on Sunday, July 6. The event starts at 10.30am and judging of the teams’ efforts will take place at 1.30pm. It costs £10 per team to enter, with all proceeds going to The Church Street Project, local providers of creative therapy and counselling to young people. You can find more information on the competition’s Facebook page here.
🎙️ Dig out your cowboy boots and prepare to be transported to Tennessee when A Country Night in Nashville comes to the Leas Cliff Hall on Saturday, July 5. The show, which starts at 7.30pm, promises to take the crowd through decades of country classics as well as the best of today’s tunes. You can get your tickets here.
🎸 Saturday also sees a night of live music at The Music Workshop with performances from The Zombie Killers, Puppits, and Fortune Faded Glory. It all kicks off at 7pm. Entry is free but donations on the door will be gratefully accepted.
🎞️ Comedy-drama The Devil Wears Prada will be showing at the Harbour Arm on Friday, July 4, as part of this year’s free summer cinema programme. The 7pm screening is completely free to attend, you don’t need a ticket, and spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. You can find out more about this and other upcoming events at the Harbour Arm here.
Do you have an event in Folkestone you would like to promote in a forthcoming edition of the Dispatch? Send details to us and we’ll help spread the word!
That’s all from me this week. Sorry that the newsletter dropped in your inboxes a little later than usual today, unfortunately circumstances meant an early start this morning to get the interview with Tony in the bag and written up. As I am sure you know, the Dispatch is a one-man operation, and sometimes this means that things get a little fraught towards deadline! I hope to get next week’s email to you at the usual time, first thing on Wednesday.
All the best, Rhys
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