Diplomatic Implications of RAF Croughton Expansion

Today I held a debate in the House of Commons to make the case for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ‘call in’ a recent applications by the South Northamptonshire-based RAF Croughton. The base plays host to personnel from the US Air Forces’ 501st Combat Support Wing and recently submitted plans to facilitate an expansion to South Northamptonshire District Council.

In August 2019, Anne Sacoolas, an American member of personnel at the base was involved in a collision with local resident Harry Dunn, 19, when she unintentionally drove on the wrong side of the road. The incident, and subsequent decision by the United States to not allow Ms Sacoolas to return to the UK to face justice, has led to a deterioration in relations between the base and local community.

With plans now submitted to South Northamptonshire Council, the local community are increasingly concerned by the safety implications of potential extra personnel on the roads, as well as the wider diplomatic implications over the United States’ refusal to extradite Ms Sacoolas. Such concerns give weight to the argument that such a decision is eligible to be ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

You can read my speech in full here.