MPs call for urgent return of international services to Ashford, warning £2.7bn in lost growth

Ashford International could deliver up to £2.7 billion in economic growth for the South East over the next five years if international services are restored, according to a new report by the Good Growth Foundation. The report calls on the Government to support reopening the station and several Kent and East Sussex MPs have backed the campaign, including: Sojan Joseph, MP for Ashford, and Helena Dollimore, MP for Hastings and Rye.

In January, HS1 was forced to reduce its charges for running services on the line - explicitly to encourage the introduction of new operators. The Good Growth Foundation argues the Government should favour potential new operators that will run international services at Ashford.

Since its closure to international travel in 2020, Ashford International - which cost £80m to build and acts as a regional rail hub - has largely sat dormant, leaving communities disconnected and vital economic opportunities unrealised. The vacuum has fuelled frustration in parts of Kent and Sussex, where Reform has been gaining ground.

The report, Light at the End of the Tunnel, highlights the transformative potential of reopening Ashford International, including:

• Delivering up to £534 million GVA per year to the South East, totalling £2.7 over five years.

• Increasing tourism by an estimated 500,000 visitors a year - boosting footfall for hotels, restaurants and local businesses.

• Reducing return journey times to Brussels from almost six hours to just over three and those to Paris by over 2 hours.

• Turning a ghost station into a visible symbol of government investment in left-behind communities.

The Good Growth Foundation estimates that reopening international services would require £2-3.5 million in capital investment - a modest amount relative to the economic benefits.

Director of the Good Growth Foundation, Praful Nargund, said: “At a time when Britain is struggling with a stagnant economy, it is absurd that the international services at Ashford lie derelict. This is a ready-made opportunity to bring vibrancy and growth back to towns and coastal communities that have been left behind for too long. The Government should signal its support for this project, which would generate billions for the South Coast and be a visible symbol of investment in a region battling the populist right.” 

Labour MP for Ashford, Sojan Joseph, said: “Ashford International was built to be a gateway to Europe and a hub for the whole south coast. Its closure has cut off workers, families and businesses from the growth and connections our region depends on. Reopening the station would revitalise towns across Kent and beyond, and show that we are central to Britain’s future.”

Labour MP for Hastings and Rye, Helena Dollimore, said: “The loss of Ashford International means more than just trains to the people I represent - the impact on jobs, opportunities, tourism and links with our European neighbours is huge. Restoring international services at Ashford is key to unlocking the economic growth that we need along the South Coast.”

MPs Urge Government to Push Through Rapid Planning Reforms to Unleash £4.7bn in fiscal headroom for the Chancellor

A new intervention backed by senior Labour figures calls on the Government to unleash a wave of housebuilding by using limited changes to draft and existing legislation to push through urgent planning reforms.

The plan, Rapid Reforms, published by the Good Growth Foundation, outlines four targeted reforms that could be enacted immediately, becoming a catalyst for £4.7bn in headroom and building an additional 229,000 homes over the next four years - meaning the Government would be able to reach its 1.5 million new homes target.

The proposals, which could create up to 90,000 additional homes per year by 2029/30, have won the backing of Chris Curtis MP, Chair of the Labour Growth Group - a caucus of over 100 Labour MPs.

Curtis said: “This is exactly the kind of practical, pro-growth reform the country needs. We have the tools to build now - this plan shows how to use them. If we want to meet our housing targets and prevent blockages, we must act without delay.”

The full suite of proposals include:

• Delegating planning decisions: Exempting developments in line with local plans from committee call-ins, handing decisions to professional planners.

• National planning rules: Activating the Levelling Up Act’s National Development Management Policies to standardise decisions and allow automatic approval in certain contexts.

• Unlocking homes near infrastructure: Removing the cap on housing linked to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

• Empowering communities: Enabling ‘Street Votes’ to allow residents to collectively propose and approve local developments.

The Good Growth Foundation highlights that delays in planning are contributing to the worst housebuilding rates since the global financial crisis, threatening housing supply and economic growth. It argues that current discretionary processes, especially in planning committees, are creating unnecessary bottlenecks and investor uncertainty.

The proposed changes could be enacted by Secretaries of State in time for the Autumn Budget and OBR fiscal outlook.

Praful Nargund, Director of the Good Growth Foundation, said: “Right now, the public is sceptical about delivery; they want action, not more promises. These rapid reforms are about just that: change people will notice. They are also key to tackling the UK’s wider fiscal challenges. This is the moment to show growth isn’t just a number on a graph. It is something that can viscerally improve people’s lives.”

Notes to Editors

Full estimates for additional homes and fiscal headroom are available upon request.

Majority of Britons Back Windfall Tax on Private Healthcare to Fund the NHS

Former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock and the Good Growth Foundation are calling on the Government to institute a windfall tax on private healthcare. New polling from the Good Growth Foundation, released today (Monday 4th August), reveals a clear public appetite for bold action to rescue the NHS, including a windfall tax on private healthcare profits.

The public also strongly support targeted taxation of the private sector to fund NHS reform:

• 43% support a general tax on private healthcare, including 15% who strongly support it

• 55% support a windfall tax on private healthcare companies, including 25% who strongly support it. Only 17% oppose the idea*

• Just 37% support charging NHS patients who can afford to pay - and opposition (39%) outweighs support

• 59% agree that “the NHS needs more investment, and it also needs to change to become more modern and efficient” - compared to just 17% who say it doesn’t need more money, and just needs to change to become more modern and efficient.

Amid growing concern about the future of universal healthcare, a majority of Britons (55%) say they support the NHS being free at the point of use and funded through taxation - while just 33% support a mixed, insurance-based model, similar to the system floated by Nigel Farage. Only 7% favour a fully private, insurance-led system.

There is a strong sense the NHS is in need of reform:

• 80% of the public believe the NHS “needs to change in order to survive”

• 71% are worried they’ll have to pay for NHS services in the future, and only one in five (20%) believe the NHS will remain universally free.

Good Growth Foundation Director, Praful Nargund said: “We have sleepwalked into a two tier-healthcare system, and we have to back the NHS. It is in a dire state: from 8am GP scrambles to months-long waiting lists. It’s simply not good enough. People are being forced to go private for care they should get for free. That’s not a system in need of tweaks, that’s a system on the brink and in need of major reform. A windfall tax on private healthcare would be a bold, fair first step to fund an NHS the British public deserve.”

Former Labour Party Leader, Neil Kinnock, said: “Introducing VAT on private health provision could provide vital funding for the NHS and social care. After 14 years of underinvestment, many people are turning to private healthcare not out of choice, but because they cannot afford to wait. This has increasingly led to unequal access to care. Ending the VAT exemption to generate much-needed revenue is a reasonable and widely supported step.”

The polling also finds:

• 51% say access challenges like GP wait times stop them from seeking help when they need it.

• The biggest challenges identified by the public include staff shortages (50%), long waiting lists (50%), and underfunding (47%).

NOTES TO EDITOR

Full research details available on request.

The above polling statistics are taken from a nationally representative survey conducted by the Good Growth Foundation of 2,054 adults aged 18+ living in Great Britain, with a small boost to oversample those who voted Labour in the 2024 General Election and currently intend to vote Reform UK (133). Fieldwork was conducted between 20 - 24 June 2025. 

All figures are weighted to be nationally and politically representative of all Britons, based on age, gender, education level, region, vote in 2024, vote in 2019, and political intention.

*The full question asked to respondents was: “A “windfall tax” is a one-off tax on companies that have made unexpectedly large profits, like those recently applied to some oil and gas firms. To what extent would you support or oppose a windfall tax on private healthcare companies to help fund the NHS?”

“To win the next election, Labour must fix the NHS” - Good Growth Foundation

New polling released today by the Good Growth Foundation shows that fixing the NHS is Labour’s essential route to recovery and re-election, far outweighing economic concerns in voters’ minds.

The NHS isn’t just a top public priority - it’s Labour’s pathway to rebuilding trust and winning back voters, especially those who have switched away from the party and are now considering voting for Reform (Labour-Reform switchers).

80% of Britons believe the NHS "needs to change in order to survive", with overwhelming public backing for reform, digital innovation, and a shift toward prevention-focused care. 87% of Labour-Reform switchers think so.

Confidence in the current system is shaky: 71% are worried people will have to pay for NHS services in the future, and only 20% believe the NHS will remain universally free. For Labour-Reform switchers, 77% are worried about this and only 14% think services will remain free. 

When asked about healthcare funding, the majority (55%) support free care at the point of delivery, funded through taxes. Only a third (33%) support a Farage-style system featuring a combination of free and insurance-based care, while 7% favor mainly private insurance. Five percent were undecided. Labour-Reform switchers agree, with 54%, 32% and 11% respectively. 

The NHS: Labour’s Political Keystone

Cutting NHS waiting times is the highest-ranked national goal across all voters (average rank 2.2), surpassing better pay for working people, policing, schools, and housing. This holds true for Labour-Reform switchers as well.

• 40% say a better NHS would improve their lives most - double those who chose a stronger economy (20%) (38% & 22% respectively for Lab-Ref switchers).

• When asked about government priorities over the next decade, a better NHS tops the list at, beating the economy and jobs  and crime. Among Labour-Reform switchers - a critical voting bloc - the NHS ranks second, just behind immigration, and well ahead of the economy. 

While immigration remains an important issue for Labour-Reform switchers, the NHS closely follows, showing that Labour’s health reforms resonate strongly across voter groups. This confirms that the NHS is not only a public concern but a political imperative for Labour’s comeback.

Real Change on the Ground: Popular NHS Reforms

Labour’s focus on community care, digital innovation, obesity prevention, and vaccine rollouts reflects exactly what people want. 

• A majority (58%) say investment should prioritise local NHS services like clinics and GP surgeries, even if it means less funding for hospitals. Even more Labour - Reform switchers (64%) agree. 

• The preference is clear: 45% want to be treated at GP surgeries for non-urgent issues, well above hospitals (5%). (36% Lab-Ref switchers, 9% hospitals)

• Voters also support more care at home, as set out in the ten-year plan. 81% of voters and 80% of Lab-Ref switchers support the NHS offering home visits.

On prevention:

• 46% support prescribing weight-loss drugs for obesity (47% for Lab-Reform)

• 66% believe these drugs would support healthier lifestyle choices or have no negative impact (75% for Lab - Reform).

On AI:

• 42% trust AI to provide health advice directly to patients via apps or chatbots and 

• 44% trust it to assist clinicians with diagnostics and treatment - showing growing public comfort with tools like the NHS app, which the Health Secretary has proposed expanding with AI-powered advice. 

Praful Nargund, Good Growth Foundation Director, said:

“Fixing the NHS is Labour’s path to recovery. It’s not just good policy - it’s the route to winning the next election. From endless GP call queues to hours waiting for an ambulance, people are feeling the cracks in the system every day. Voters are crying out for change that they can actually feel: faster access to GP appointments, care closer to home, and a system that works before it’s too late - for the voters and for the NHS. Labour’s future rests on whether it can deliver. If the party gets this right, it doesn’t just rebuild the NHS - it rebuilds trust, and wins back the voters it’s losing.”

GGF responds to Bank of England interest rate decision

Praful Nargund, Director of the Good Growth Foundation, said:

"Interest rates are at a stand-still as the Bank navigates a highly unpredictable international environment. It’s good to see expectations for the economy are on the up - but we know that higher rates will negatively impact mortgages and fiscal headroom.

"On top of that, fears that escalating conflict in the Middle East will harm our economy are coming true. Oil prices are volatile, and we’re now faced with the possibility of even higher inflation, and even higher energy costs. The impact will hit hard and fast - not just for businesses, but for families across the UK."

GGF Responds to the Spending Review

Praful Nargund, Director of the Good Growth Foundation, said: “The Good Growth Foundation has been banging the drum for an approach that puts people first - so the Chancellor‘s emphasis on everyday lives and the desire to ensure people genuinely feel Britain‘s renewal is right.

"The Chancellor herself has today acknowledged that voters are impatient for the Government’s growth ambitions to improve their lives.

"GGF research shows over 70% expect to see the benefits of growth within the next four years, while almost 50% of swing voters expect to feel them within two years. We have argued the Government must tie growth to ordinary people’s lives to reap electoral rewards. The Chancellor has made a good start by investing heavily in the NHS, tying national security to high wage jobs, as well as investing in skills and training - areas our research shows are particularly important to the public. This skills and retraining must be focused on Brits of every age and every stage of their career.

"The Government needs to ensure that every Briton, young and old, in and out of work has the access and ability to take part in upskilling, new employment and ultimately good growth.”

UK Government adopts all four Good Growth Foundation policy proposals for UK-EU reset

Praful Nargund, Director of the Good Growth Foundation, said:

“There remain challenges with implementation, but the Good Growth Foundation gave four recommendations for a common sense deal with the EU: an independent arbitration for SPS and energy cooperation; linking carbon and energy markets to bring down bills; a new defence pact; and a controlled youth mobility scheme - and we are happy to see the government has progressed across all four of these pillars. We think this is right for good growth right across the UK.”

Britons Say Trump Greater Threat than Terrorists and Want EU Deal that Brings Up to £2.6bn in Fiscal Benefit

A new Good Growth Foundation Report has found that Trump 2.0 and Putin’s war in Ukraine are pushing Britons, including Reform-leaners, towards the EU. Britons are more likely to view Donald Trump as the biggest threat to UK interest than terrorist organisations (24% and 22% respectively), second only to Russia (34%). 

The Good Growth Foundation is calling for a politically popular relationship to address the cost of living crisis, deliver security and add up to £2.6 billion in fiscal benefit.

According to the Good Growth Foundation report, 67% of Labour 2024 and 60% of Labour-Leave voters back joining forces with the EU against unpredictable partners in a forced choice against doubling down on the special relationship with America. 

Nearly three-quarters of Labour-Reform switchers want to either rejoin (35%) or have a closer relationship with the EU but not rejoin (39%), greater than Britons overall (32% want to rejoin; 34% want a closer relationship but not to rejoin). 75% of Labour-Reform switchers support “some” or “a lot” of cooperation on trade and the economy, and 73% on defence and security. 

Britons say that any deal with the EU must lower the cost of living. The public’s most frequently chosen top 3 priorities are decreasing energy prices (51%), food prices (48%), and the cost of goods and services (46%).

Amongst those who want a closer relationship, there are clear red lines for any deal with the EU, beyond accepting full EU membership:

• 38% do not want EU boats and fishing to gain greater access to UK waters (lower among Labour-Reform Switchers at just 31%, and Labour Leave voters at 30%)

• 34% want to restrict access to public services and benefits for EU citizens (33% of Labour-Reform Switchers, and 29% of Labour Leave voters)

• 31% want to prevent European Court of Justice oversight of a EU-UK deal (28% of Labour-Reform Switchers, and 24% of Labour 24 voters)

The Good Growth Foundation is proposing policy solutions that honour the public’s red lines and alleviate fears in areas like immigration - as deep concern that closer economic ties with the EU will lead to greater immigration persists. Britons and Labour’s electoral coalition think legal and illegal migration worsened since Brexit (net -23% say legal migration worsened; -42% say illegal migration worsened). Two-thirds of Britons, Labour 24, Lab- Reform, and Lab-Leave voters believe  ‘legal migration is not selective enough, and is letting too many people in’.

GGF proposals include:

• Introduce a capped Youth Mobility Scheme to generate up to £1bn in annual fiscal benefit

• Implement a capped scheme for 18–30-year-olds, with no access to public funds, visa fees, healthcare surcharges and a three-year limit, with the option to implement a cost of living surcharge. In some scenarios students could be included in the scheme and gain home tuition fee access.

  1. The scheme addresses migration concerns (two-thirds think migrants cost more than they contribute) while boosting the economy.

  2. A 100,000-cap scheme (students excluded) yields up to £1.03bn in annual fiscal benefit, boosting the CHX headroom and providing funds which we recommend are used for cost-of-living measures like the Household Support Fund.

• Unify Carbon Markets to take up to £1.6 billion off household bills

• Link the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) with the EU ETS, raising £700m–£1.6bn annually for the Treasury. Revenue can fund:

  1. Option 1: £25–£56 bill reductions for all 28.4 million households.

     1. Option 2: Expand Warm Homes Discount, increasing payments by £115–£262 for 6.1 million eligible households.

  2. Join the EU electricity market via regulatory alignment, saving £120m–£370m yearly by eliminating trading inefficiencies.

• Avoid ECJ Jurisdiction via an alternative panel

• Establish an independent arbitration panel for UK-EU disputes (like in agri-food, energy, defence), with a limited ECJ reference procedure for EU law interpretation, as in the EU-Switzerland agreement (2024).

  1. This avoids direct ECJ oversight (a red line with 31% of voters), unlike the Windsor Framework, while enabling cooperation on trade and security. It also supports veterinary agreements and carbon market alignment, reducing trade frictions. 

• Secure a formal defence and security pact and joint-procurement with the EU

• Leverage the public’s appetite for ‘good relationships with good people’ and establish a formal pact to gain access to €150bn Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund to boost the defence industry and make military build up more affordable. 

  1. Work closely with Europe on specific capabilities to credibly counter the threat from Russia and support Ukraine. 

Praful Nargund, Good Growth Foundation Director, said:

"A closer relationship with Europe must answer the crisis of insecurity, cutting bills and offering safety amidst tumultuous global politics. Faced with the threat that Trump and Putin pose to UK interests, the public is looking again to Europe as a vital partner in protecting Britain’s security, economy and future. 

“But support remains fragile, easily lost if voters feel their core concerns are dismissed, especially on immigration. The issues that underpinned Brexit - control, sovereignty, fairness - haven’t gone away. Our proposals meet people where they are: they respect their red lines while offering a pragmatic, workable path to rebuild cooperation without reigniting division. It is a plan that can strengthen the UK’s place in the world while taking on the cost of living - with the potential to cut bills and ease pressure on families across the country.”

In the report foreword, Alastair Campbell, Author and former 10 Downing Street Director of Communications & Strategy, said:

"This report details how to navigate public attitudes, and develop messaging and policy to take that first step to a closer relationship with the European Union. Because we must get a closer relationship. Britain’s future is at stake - and this time, we have to get it right."

Jake Richards MP said:

“The Brexit paradigm is now history, and it's time for a patriotic approach that builds our country's resilience. As the Good Growth Foundation lays out, if we address the public's concerns head on, the Government can achieve a better and deeper relationship with our European partners. That means improved living standards, economic protection and a stronger, more secure Britain.”

Allie Rennison, Director SEC Newgate, former government policy adviser on business and trade said: 

“This is a report which has done the hard work of talking to different stakeholder constituencies and looked ahead to possible compromise landing zones to get an agreement that is politically tenable on all sides.”

GGF Responds to Prime Minister’s Speech

Praful Nargund, Good Growth Foundation Director, said:

"Our own research has shown that the public are keen on more support for manufacturers, an industry many feel has been left behind. The Prime Minister’s announcement today is a constructive and symbolic move to bolster the car manufacturing industry - a critical exporter for Britain.

”But the reality is that the last week has brought era-defining change - for markets, business, and in time, UK consumers. We must now accept that the US will be an unreliable partner for the near term. The Prime Minister is right to take a calm and pragmatic stance - for now, choosing to avoid reciprocal tariffs.

”And whilst the promise of further pro-growth measures is reassuring, we have to avoid navel-gazing and think more boldly, more seriously about developing stronger trading ties with others as quickly as possible. The UK has the opportunity to be a safe haven in an ocean of chaos. That means picking our friends carefully.

”For months now, the public has said it prefers a close trading relationship with the EU over one with the US. We have to get our ducks in a row ahead of the upcoming UK-EU summit to achieve meaningful change, strengthening our relationship with the UK’s biggest trading partners. In May, the Good Growth Foundation will be providing answers on how we can boost those ties, to bring more stability to our trading prospects and more money into people’s pockets."

National Insurance Holiday for Firms Hiring Those on Benefits Can Save £1.1 billion Per Year

Ahead of a rise in Employer National Insurance Contribution on Sunday (6 April), the Good Growth Foundation (GGF) is calling for a National Insurance Contribution (NICs) holiday for employers that hire people from long-term sickness or disability benefits. The fully-costed policy saves up to £13,549 per long-term sick person hired and £1.1 billion per year overall by reducing benefit spend and getting people back into work.

GGF research has found that nearly 7 in 10 people (67%) support businesses receiving tax incentives to hire people out of work due to health reasons. A NICs holiday will reduce costs for employers and provide an incentive to hire those in receipt of long-term sickness or disability benefits, reducing the welfare bill and offering opportunity to those who would like to work, but struggle to find employment.

Praful Nargund, Director of the Good Growth Foundation, said: 

“If we want a compassionate welfare system that helps people realise their potential, we need a comprehensive approach that includes employers. The risk of failure is too high - if we do not adequately support those who want to enter the workforce, more may fall into poverty. A NICs holiday for employers that hire those in receipt of long-term sickness or disability benefits would be a step in the right direction. This is a straightforward solution to a fraught political problem. Businesses need it, voters support it and it puts money back into the public purse.”

Voters support incentives for firms hiring those out of work due to health reasons.

• Polling conducted by the Good Growth Foundation found 67% of the public support businesses receiving tax incentives to hire people out of work due to health reasons - including 69% of Labour 2024 voters and 74% of Conservative-Labour swing voters.

The majority of voters say that the current welfare system fails to get people back into the workforce

• 53% think that the welfare state does a bad job of supporting people into work when they become unemployed.

• 46% think that it does a bad job specifically on helping those with disabilities and illnesses into suitable jobs.

Businesses are reporting hiring challenges, hindering economic expansion and hurting growth.

• Previously, the Good Growth Foundation’s business survey found workforce health is a growing concern for firms - with 35% of firms expressing concern about employee absence due to health issues and 78% of businesses saying it is important for the Government to improve public health to support recruitment.

Notes to Editor

Full costings and explanation of assumptions available on request.

Polling Data:

Conducted by the Good Growth Foundation.

Fieldwork: 2-6 March 2025

Sample size: 4,193

Weighting: All figures are weighted to be nationally and politically representative of all Britons, based on age, gender, education level, region, vote in 2024 and vote in 2019.

Focus Groups

Focus groups and interviews were conducted online by the Good Growth Foundation, 25 February 2025.

Scenario

• Assumes the baseline rate of long-term sick people moving into work is 16%

• Assumes an additional 33% of the deadweight (148,000) people move from long-term sick into work as a result of this policy

• Assumes 50% replace other workers

• Employer NI loss: £1061m/annum

• Employee NI gain: £66m/annum

• Employee income tax gain: £166m/annum

• Welfare payment savings: £1923m/annum

Total fiscal gain: £1.095bn/annum

Total fiscal gain if replacement rate is 0%: £1.828bn/annum

• In our model, each additional long-term sick person employed will create welfare savings between £13,549-16,468.

• “Additional” in this context refers to extra people going from long-term sick into work than the status quo/if our policy did not exist.

• The variable between the two figures is the replacement rate in our modelling i.e. the number of additional long-term sick individuals supported into work that then replace other workers. 

• This is because we assume the people that are replaced will take Universal Credit, offsetting some of the savings made from reducing benefits paid to long-term sick inactive people.

• For a 50% replacement rate (the rate we have cautiously assumed for all scenarios) the savings are £13,549 per additional long-term sick person that enters employment.

• For a 0% replacement rate (we have modelled this alongside each scenario as well) the savings are £16,468 per additional long-term sick person that enters employment.

About the Good Growth Foundation

The Good Growth Foundation (GGF) is a think tank that campaigns for a fairer economy, so growth can work for good. Following the UK’s lost decade of growth, we campaign and conduct research to advocate for economic growth that will reduce inequality and open access to opportunity for people of all backgrounds.

GGF was founded by Praful Nargund, who ran as the Labour parliamentary candidate in Islington North in the 2024 General Election and sat on Labour’s Council of Skills Advisors, where he shaped education policy. The chair of our Advisory Board, Tim Allan, is a former Downing Street advisor to Tony Blair and the founder of Portland Communications.

Contact

The GGF press office can be reached via email at contact@goodgrowthfoundation.com