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Restoring Eurostar services to Kent could unlock billions of pounds for the local economy and bring in thousands of visitors, a report has claimed.
The research by the Good Growth Foundation comes amid a campaign to restore Eurostar services at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International stations, which were stopped in 2020.

Ashford International was once a proud gateway to Europe. Since international services were suspended in 2020, it has become a symbol of decline – leaving millions in taxpayer investment unused and communities across Kent and Sussex feeling cut off and forgotten.

Reopening the station is about far more than trains. It is a test of whether the Government is serious about backing coastal towns, restoring growth in the South East and tackling the rise of populism in a region where Reform UK is a credible threat. Reinstating international services would turn a ghost station into a driver of good growth, pride and opportunity. It is a visible, economically beneficial step to show that communities on the South East coast are not forgotten – and that the Government is ready to back them.

My Speech in the House of Commons on the Third Reading of The Mental Health Bill (2025) [Lords]

Our system and attitudes towards mental health are outdated. The fact it has taken 42 years to update the UK’s primary piece of mental health legislation is perhaps the biggest indictment of how reluctant we have been to address it.

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to speak in this debate to recognise the sacrifices made throughout Ashford, Hawkinge and the villages, and to honour the legacy of all those who lived during world war two. We should recognise that it is our duty today to continue to uphold the values they sacrificed so much for

A new campaign urging Eurostar services to return to stopping in Kent has been backed by political voices in the county.

Campaign video – bring back European travel!

An MP is backing calls for vital improvements to a road bridge following the tragic death of a young woman.
Sojan Joseph (Lab), the MP for Ashford, says he is in full support of raising the height of the barriers.

The case for international travel to Kent could not be clearer. The infrastructure is already in place at both Ashford and Ebbsfleet – which has cost taxpayers around £80 million and is now – due to broken promises by Eurostar – just sat there rotting away.

Today, five Labour MPs met with the minister for rail, Lord Hendy, to see what steps the Government is taking to see the return of train travel to the continent for foot passengers.

It is our duty to stick to our manifesto pledges. However, that does not mean that we can’t find a Brexit that works.

Much like the rest of the developed world we have an aging population. And, just like nations, such as Japan, the United States and the vast majority of the European Union who also have a population whose average age is becoming increasingly older, that demographic has far more complex health conditions than younger generations.

Sir Keir Starmer piled pressure on Eurostar to restart services stopping in Ashford as the Government seeks to repair the damage of Brexit and spark economic growth in Britain.

A few weeks ago, we saw the Government roll out monumental reforms to the current welfare system.

This week I met with Damian McBeath – the Head Teacher for The John Wallis Academy in my Ashford Constituency.

Since being elected to Parliament one of the highest number of emails and letters I continue to receive is regarding potholes.

In this week’s Kent Politics Podcast we welcome special guest Ashford MP Sojan Joseph.

Before becoming an MP, I worked for 22 years in the NHS, including a role as a mental health nurse.