Mary Lawes, Reform UK Candidate for Folkestone East

Mary Lawes is the Reform UK candidate for Folkestone East in the upcoming Kent County Council elections. We spoke with Mary about her decision to stand.

“they chose to target the most vulnerable in society to balance their books, stripping pensioners of their Winter Fuel Allowance just as winter began”

Kent County Council

I am Mary Lawes, and I am standing as a candidate for Reform UK because I am deeply concerned about the direction in which Labour is taking our country. Labour is misleading the British public, convincing them that only they can serve their best interests, while in reality, their policies are causing serious harm.

Labour’s Broken Promises

Labour’s General Election manifesto promised to fix the NHS. Instead of delivering real reform, they handed the unions a pay deal to halt strikes and increased public sector wages—yet the NHS remains in crisis.

They also repeatedly claimed that there was a £22 billion “black hole” in public finances. Were there? Regardless, they chose to target the most vulnerable in society to balance their books, stripping pensioners of their Winter Fuel Allowance just as winter began. They are also forcing farmers to give up their land and cutting support for the sick and disabled.

“we should be utilising our own energy resources while gradually transitioning to advanced nuclear technology, which is cleaner, more reliable, and does not depend on the weather”

The Cost of Net Zero

One of the most damaging policies Labour is pursuing is Net Zero. They have shut down domestic energy production, forcing the UK to import expensive foreign fuel—raising costs for consumers. Meanwhile, they are covering our countryside with solar farms and wind turbines while adding green levies to household energy bills.

The UK contributes just 1% of the world’s CO₂ emissions, yet billions are being spent on ineffective green policies. Solar panels, imported from China, are produced using materials mined by child labour under dangerous conditions. Instead of this, we should be utilising our own energy resources while gradually transitioning to advanced nuclear technology, which is cleaner, more reliable, and does not depend on the weather.

Neglect of Folkestone East

I am standing in Folkestone East, a deprived area that has been neglected for over 20 years.

There are no proper community spaces.
The Folkestone Harbour area, home to over 5,000 children, has just one small play area.
There are no sports facilities, football pitches, or youth clubs.
There are no organisations like Guides, Brownies, or Scouts.

Meanwhile, our roads are in disrepair. While new housing estates receive investment in infrastructure, our area suffers from dangerous roads, few pedestrian crossings, and an inadequate public transport system.

Protecting Food Security and Small Businesses

Our country’s food security is at risk. Without farms and farmers, we will be forced to import food, leaving us vulnerable to external control. Labour’s policies are deliberately worsening this situation as part of their globalist agenda.

Meanwhile, small businesses are struggling. Labour’s increase in National Insurance is making it more expensive to hire staff, while their so-called minimum wage increase does little to offset soaring costs in:

Energy bills
Water rates
Rent & mortgages
Council tax (which has seen record-high increases in our district over the last five years)

People are struggling, and in deprived areas, life is becoming unbearable for the most vulnerable in our society.

“With approximately 15,000 trucks entering the UK daily, this policy could generate significant funds to maintain and improve our roads”

A Fair Solution for Road Maintenance

Reform UK Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh has a practical policy to fund road repairs in Kent. British truckers must pay substantial fees to drive through Europe—so why shouldn’t foreign truckers contribute to our infrastructure?

We propose a £35 daily charge for trucks coming from the continent, using the existing infrastructure at Dover and the Channel Tunnel.

With approximately 15,000 trucks entering the UK daily, this policy could generate significant funds to maintain and improve our roads. We would want this ring fenced for Kent roads.

I am also committed to:

Improving road safety (with more crossings in high-risk areas)
Addressing the poor local bus service—especially the vital 74 bus route

“second rail service could bring much-needed competition to Eurostar, potentially reopening Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations, which have been closed since Covid”

Reviving Local Transport and Businesses

The approval of Richard Branson’s second rail service could bring much-needed competition to Eurostar, potentially reopening Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations, which have been closed since Covid.

Currently, Kent residents must travel to London just to board a train that passes through these closed stations. Increased competition would mean: