I am Tony Vaughan, the Labour Party candidate for Folkestone and Hythe.

Full statement

I have been a barrister for 17 years. I lived in Sandgate with my young family for around 9 years, until late 2022. I currently live in Canterbury but have been supporting the Folkestone & Hythe Labour Party continuously, working to improve residents’ lives here. I served as a trustee of South Kent Mind, a local mental health charity; and I’ve campaigned locally on a range of issues including GP services, housing and sewage pollution in our seas. Through my work within the law, I have protected workers’ rights, put a roof over people’s heads, and held Tory governments to account.

So as a campaigning lawyer, I know how to get things done and change people’s lives. No gimmicks; no “system says no”: just action. With me you will have weekly surgeries, continuous interest and presence in the constituency; collaboration with the local community to get the best out of people and our area; and the knowledge and skills to hold those in power to account. You can read about my local

Labour is the only party that can break the Tories’ unbroken grip on this constituency. A vote for any other party will help them remain in power. This will continue if I am lucky enough to receive the people of Folkestone & Hythe support and be elected as their representative, I will work to ensure that NHS waiting lists, GP waiting times and bring in more NHS dentists. Deliver decent and affordable homes, cut the cost of living to ensure that no more families have to choose between heating and food on the table, get our local high streets moving again and not only ensure public transport but boost it and to address the rise in anti-social behaviour, supporting local youth clubs and opportunities for young people to prevent this. And deal with the sewage pollution that has plagued our wonderful beaches and waterways for far too long.