Hamish Falconer

I planned to write this Lincolnite column about something else, but last week the Conservative Government did a very strange thing: they told the press they had plans to turn a recently abandoned RAF station in Lincolnshire into a detention camp for migrants. 

We all know where they mean: RAF Scampton, the former home of 617 Squadron ‘the Dambusters’. I went to Scampton’s closing ceremony in September and was moved to see the Red Arrows in one of their final displays before moving to RAF Waddington. 

But the departure of the station from Scampton, does not mean the site was lying empty: an ambitious plan had been agreed and announced less than 24 hours before the Conservative briefing.

It’s a plan that would bring £300 million of investment and thousands of jobs to Lincoln and our surrounding area.

It would, and I hope will, support our expertise in space and aviation and keep the airspace above Scampton operational- the station has one of the longest runways in the country, potentially suitable for the space industry.

The plans also include a continued focus on the heritage of the historic station which not only launched the daring Dambusters raid but spawned three recipients of the Victoria Cross including Guy Gibson. 

But the investors, the district council, and the service families and veterans who still live on the station now find themselves in limbo.

The Scampton Development Corporation say they cannot continue with their plans if the Conservatives continue with theirs. So far, there has been no public confirmation from the Government. 

It’s time to bring this limbo to an end: I’ve started a petition calling on the Conservatives to announce that they will let the Scampton development go ahead and end these damaging rumours. 

Those who live on the station utterly oppose the detention camp plans, but not because they are opposed to migrants.

They tell me they were appalled by the pathetic far right protestors, obviously from outside the county,  who tried to break into the station, harass locals, and make youtube videos from inside the station. They got short shrift locally and were sent on their way.

Those who live there oppose these camp plans because they are proud of Scampton’s history and ambitious for its future as part of Lincoln’s heritage, aviation and space industries. 

The petition has got more than 4000 signatures since it launched this afternoon: if you agree please do sign up here https://chng.it/YHxxKzPS9w  

By Hamish Falconer Labour Lincoln MP Candidate

Hamish Falconer is the Labour candidate for Lincoln MP

I’m always touched as I cycle around the city to see the number of Ukrainian flags. This week is the first anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Before becoming Labour’s candidate I was part of Britain’s diplomatic service and served overseas in countries scarred by violence: I’ve seen first hand the horrors of war, and I know what a heartbreak it is for the Ukrainians who’ve had to flee their homes and families for safety in the West.

I’ve met many Ukrainian refugees here, hosted by generous Lincoln residents: they are all grateful and want to give back to the city and country that has taken them in. Some are training to be doctors or teachers and will continue to make a contribution to our community for as long as they are here.

Let’s hope that Putin soon ends his violent, illegal invasion: as long as the world stands with Ukraine, he can’t win and won’t win. Until he sees that, we need to keep supporting Ukraine and Ukranians however we can.

I’ll be at this fundraiser for Ukraine on Friday, the one year anniversary- all are welcome.

Hamish Falconer was selected as the Labour candidate for Lincoln MP

Lincoln initiative on energy independence

The war in Ukraine is one of the drivers of the terrible increases in people’s energy bills: a massive concern to almost everyone I speak to right across the city.

There’s a lot we need to do to address the cost of living crisis: one of those things is reducing our dependence on foreign fossil fuels like Russian gas.

I was so impressed by the work being done at Lincoln University during a recent visit: they have groundbreaking work ongoing on alternative fuels, reducing energy emissions in almost everything we do from house building to farming (with AI robots!), working on wind power out at the coast, to powering turbines with hydrogen rather than gas.

It is easy to feel depressed about the scale of the challenges that the country faces, but there is a lot that can and is being done here to address those challenges. And there are opportunities for us too: just as in the past, Lincoln has the potential to invent and build our way into the future. 

Running onwards

One area where there is a real energy shortage is in my efforts to get running again.

I’ve signed up for the Lincoln 10k and have eight weeks to go. If you see me running on the Foss Dyke or around one of the Commons tell me to keep going…

I’ll be raising money for ECHO, a dedicated group of volunteers who each week feed over fifty people who need the help. If you want to contribute my JustGiving page is here.

I hope to keep The Lincolnite readers up to date with some of the things going on in the city that I see while I’m out and about in the city.

Do write to me if you want me to come see you, or think there’s somewhere in Lincoln, Bracebridge Heath, Waddington or Skellingthorpe that needs some attention. 

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Hamish is Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Lincoln