Liz Truss resignation: Harrogate district reaction

Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister today after just 44 days in office.

See how the Harrogate district reacted to the news this afternoon.

5.01pm – Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems still searching for candidate

The lengthy process to find a prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough remains ongoing.

The local party called today for an election but as yet it doesn’t have anyone to take on Conservative Andrew Jones.

It said in June it had started the process but four months on the matter remains unresolved.

David Goode, chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems, said

“We are moving at pace to select a parliamentary candidate. It is a rigorous process for a target seat but be in no doubt we are planning to fight Harrogate and Knaresborough to win at the next election, whenever that maybe. We need a MP who will work for us, not just trot along behind the government.”

Monika Slater, a Lib Dem who represents Bilton Grange and New Park on North Yorkshire County Council, said

“Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy.

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough deserve better than this incompetent and chaotic government, which has sent mortgages spiralling while our NHS services are stretched to breaking point.

“The Conservative party have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country.

“This country needs a general election and Andrew Jones and other Conservative MP’s cannot prop up more chaotic Governments.

“At the next election people across Harrogate and Knaresborough will be backing the Liberal Democrats to get a fair deal on the NHS and the cost of living instead of more Conservative chaos.”

4.35pm – Andrew Jones MP: Truss departure ‘inevitable’

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has published a statement on his Community News website.

Mr Jones said:

“As difficult as today is for her it has, I’m afraid, been inevitable and it is the national interest that matters.

“It was an enormous and unforced error to bring forward the mini-Budget without an assessment by the Office of Budget Responsibility and an accompanying statement on departmental spending.

“It was a mistake for her to surround herself with just supporters and not form a broader-based team.

“Ms Truss began to undo the damage with the appointment of Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor who jettisoned a lot of the mistakes she had made, calmed the markets and emphasised the need for stability.

“But the personal damage to her was done and too severe for her to have any hope of recovery.  It has felt in parliament that over the last week her authority had been seeping away. That is why she had to go.”

Mr Jones, who said there was “plenty to be positive about here in Harrogate and Knaresborough” when the government announced its mini-budget last month, did not reveal who he supports as a successor.

But he said whoever it is “needs to bring on board all the talents available to them, adding:

“Our politics and our country need a period of calm stability and I look forward, at last, to that being delivered.”

4.17pm – Could North Yorkshire be home to the Prime Minister by next Friday?

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak is the clear bookies’ favourite to succeed Liz Truss as Prime Minister. Oddschecker currently has him at 10/11, with Penny Mordaunt second favourite at 11-4. But the odds against third favourite Boris Johnson have been slashed to 9-2.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith both supported Mr Sunak in the leadership contest against Liz Truss.

3.50pm – Nigel Adams ‘not doing any media at the moment’

Minutes after posting that none of the local Conservative MPs had replied to us, one of them responded. But it isn’t exactly hold-the-front-page stuff.

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams’ senior parliamentary assistant emailed to say:

“Nigel is not doing any media at the moment.”

3.41pm – Silence from Harrogate district MPs

We asked the three Conservative MPs whose constituencies include parts of the Harrogate district whether Liz Truss was right to resign and who they supported to be her successor.

We asked Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams to reply by 3.30pm today. So far none has replied.

3.06pm – Are local opposition parties ready to fight an election?

Local Liberal Democrats and Harrogate supporters have been quick to call for an election but would they be ready to fight one?

Currently only the Green Party has a prospective parliamentary candidate to take on Andrew Jones in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

We have asked the Liberal Democrats and Labour for details of their search to find PPCs and will report their responses.

2.50pm – Yorkshire Party calls for end to ‘London-centric’ politics

The Yorkshire Party says ‘Yorkshire has been left to fend for itself’.

https://twitter.com/Yorkshire_Party/status/1582825610136588288

 

2.33pm – Tories ‘have lost mandate to govern,’ says Green PPC.

Paul Ko Ferrigno, the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Harrogate and Knaresborough, has added his voice to calls for an election. He said:

“The Conservatives are unable to govern themselves and have lost any mandate to govern the country.

“People are worried about the cost of fuel and the cost of energy and rising mortgage rates and rising inflation and their dwindling quality of life.

“We don’t need another week of Tory navel gazing, we need a General Election and a government that puts people first.”

2.11pm – Ripon-based Lib Dem leader in House of Lords calls for election

Dick Newby, the Liberal Democrat peer and party leader in the House of Lords, has tweeted for an election.

The Conservatives no longer have any shred of credibility left. Their MPs should do their patriotic duty and call a general election. https://t.co/i7iTru5ReT

— Dick Newby (@RichardNewby3) October 20, 2022

2.05pm – Harrogate Labour campaigner calls for election

Chris Watt, local Harrogate Labour party campaigner, has also called for an election.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The Tory government are a shambles. They’ve trashed the economy and presided over 12 years of stagnation.

“They can keep changing their leader but we need a change of government.

“The choice is clear: more of this incompetent Tory government, which the MP here has consistently supported. Or a Labour Government led by Keir Starmer. We need a General Election now so the people can decide.”

He has also been tweeting:

The Tories can keep changing leader but we need a change of Government and a General Election now. @UKLabour stands ready to serve.

BBC News – Liz Truss resigns as prime minister after Tory revolthttps://t.co/CyaXUp9Lky

— Chris Watt (@ChrisWatt4) October 20, 2022

2pm – Call from Liberal Democrats for General Election

Skipton and Ripon Liberal Democrats have called for a General Election following the departure of Liz Truss.

https://twitter.com/SkiptonRiponLD/status/1583077632979062784?s=20&t=yOrqpSznmcwOkHCPUYvvNA

1.55pm – Harrogate politicians reaction

Following the announcement of the resignation of Liz Truss, the Stray Ferret has contacted the Harrogate district’s three Conservative MPs for their reaction.

We have also contacted opposition parties for their thoughts on this afternoon’s news.

Man arrested after intruder breaks into Harrogate district house

A man has been arrested following two burglaries in a village near Boroughbridge

North Yorkshire Police said they responded to a report of a man breaking into a house in Marton-cum-Grafton in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The suspect broke into the house while the owner was asleep, but later fled after the occupant woke up and startled them.

The man was later arrested after officers found them in a hedgerow nearby.

Later, police received reports of garden tools being stolen from a property nearby.

A man in his 40s from Barnsley was arrested on suspicion of burglary. Enquiries are ongoing for both incidents.

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‘Get jabbed’ plea as ‘wave of covid’ predicted in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire health bosses are urging people to get their flu and covid vaccines ahead of the winter period.

NHS officials say they are preparing for a busy winter of respiratory illnesses, which may overwhelm hospitals.

Dr Bruce Willoughby, Harrogate GP and part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said he expected to see more cases of covid in hospitals in the coming weeks.

He said:

“Health and care services in North Yorkshire and York, like everywhere, are already extremely busy. We do expect to see more cases of covid in the coming weeks as people mix freely again and spend more time indoors as the weather gets colder. The risk of catching covid is highest indoors and in crowded places.

“More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the pandemic. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before it starts spreading. 

“You can help though. Your actions during the pandemic made an enormous difference and we need people to look out for each other in the same way again.”

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, added that there was also a risk of a wave of flu hitting hospitals.

She said:

“We expect to see a wave of covid in North Yorkshire during October/November and possibly another in January.

“There’s also the risk of being hit with a wave of flu cases at the same time so it’s particularly important that people take up the offer of vaccinations as soon as they can.

“Please also remember the basics – hands, face, space and fresh air. They protect against covid, flu and lots of other nasty viruses that can make you feel quite unwell.”

Read more:

People aged 50 and over, pregnant women, carers, frontline health and care workers, care home residents and people of all ages who are vulnerable are eligible for a covid booster jab now.

Those who are able to book their vaccinations can do so via the NHS website.

Most groups are eligible for a flu vaccine and have been offered a free vaccine. People do not need to wait to be invited for a flu jab and can book at their GP surgery.

Harrogate district MPs back government amid chaotic fracking vote

Two Harrogate district MPs voted against a motion to ban fracking last night amid a chaotic night in the House of Commons.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tabled the motion as part of an opposition day debate to introduce a law to ban fracking in the UK.

Conservative MPs were whipped to vote with the government in what was seen as a test of confidence in Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, and Julian Smith, Skipton and Ripon MP, voted against the motion. Nigel Adams, Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate, did not vote.

Mr Adams was one of 40 Conservative MPs who did not take part.

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The government won by 319 votes to 228 – however the night descended into chaos amid allegations that Tory MPs were “bullied and manhandled” into supporting the Prime Minister.

Confusion arose when Graham Stuart, climate minister, told the Commons before MPs entered the voting lobby that “obviously, this is not a confidence vote”.

The move led to whips trying to get their own Conservative MPs to vote against the opposition motion.

Charles Walker, a Conservative MP, described what he saw as “inexcusable” and said there was “no coming back” for the government.

Following the vote, Labour MP Chris Bryant urged the deputy speaker of the House of Commons to investigate the claims.

He said:

“I urge you to launch an investigation into the scenes outside the entrance to the No Lobby earlier. 

“As you know, members are expected to be able to vote without fear or favour and the behaviour code, which is agreed by the whole House, says that there shall never be bullying or harassment of members.

“I saw members being physically manhandled into another Lobby and being bullied.”

Speaking about the allegations, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News that to “characterise it as bullying was mistaken”.

Swinsty and Fewston parking charges to include ‘season ticket’

Controversial parking charges at Harrogate district reservoirs are set to include season tickets, Yorkshire Water has confirmed.

The company is to introduce payment machines and automatic number plate recognition at Swinsty, Fewston and Thruscross car parks.

Yorkshire Water said previously that the revenue generated will help to pay for an in-house rangers team, which would undertake maintenance jobs and tackle anti-social behaviour at its sites.

Proposals for parking machines at both Fewston and Swinsty reservoirs have been approved by Harrogate Borough Council.

While no date has been confirmed for when charges will come in, Yorkshire Water said they will include season tickets for one or multiple sites.

A spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“There will be an option for visitors to purchase a ‘season ticket’ for the year which can cover just one car park or all car parks in the Washburn Valley, obviously this will work out cheaper than ‘pay as you go’ option, depending on how frequently people visit.

“The prices for the season tickets will be £30 per annum for a single site and £45 per annum for multiple sites. Blue badge holders, as previously stated, will be able to park free of charge.”

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Car park users will be able to pay via card payment on site, by using the RingGo app or telephone.

The proposed tariffs will be one hour at £1, two hours at £2, six hours at £3 and an all day pass for £5.

Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, based in York, has been appointed to operate the parking meters. 

While the company said the charges will help to avert anti-social behaviour, Washburn Parish Council and local residents previously raised “serious concerns” about the impact of parking charges on local roads.

The council wrote to Harrogate Borough Council to object to the plans at both Swinsty and raised concern that the charges will “lead to unsafe conditions on local rural lanes”.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Drivers should be aware of upcoming roadworks on Skipton Road in Harrogate.

Meanwhile, long term works in Harrogate town centre remain in place this morning.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Traffic is moving as normal in the Harrogate district during rush hour this morning.

However, motorists should be aware of temporary traffic lights which are expected to be put in place on Skipton Road.

North Yorkshire County Council is carrying out work to replace light columns on the road. According to the authority’s roadworks map, the lights will be in place until October 25.

Temporary traffic lights on the A61 near Daleside Nurseries in Killinghall remain in place. Drivers should expect delays in the area this morning.

The lights have been put in place by Yorkshire Water and are expected to end today.

In Harrogate town centre, long-term work on Crescent Road means motorists are unable to turn left at the Parliament Street junction. Traffic coming the opposite way on Ripon Road is unable to turn right.

Work to to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, has been delayed and is now expected to start on Monday (October 24).

North Yorkshire County Council said this is so the authority can “finalise legal arrangements around access across private land to facilitate the work”.

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The scheme requires the road to be closed and a diversion will be in place via Pateley Bridge; the B6451 Dacre; Menwith Hill Road; Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Also, lights will be installed on the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley. The road suffered a landslip during storms in February 2020 and a weight limit has been in place since.

It was expected that the work will be carried out until December 9.

Details of the scheme are here.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

The Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting cancellations on its 7 and 36 services this morning. You can get updates here.

County council rejects Station Gateway contingency funding request

County council bosses rejected a suggestion by Harrogate Borough Council to allocate contingency funding to the town’s £11.9 million Station Gateway project.

According to a North Yorkshire County Council report, the borough council was consulted on the use of surplus money from on-street parking charges – known as civil parking enforcement.

The county council manages on-street parking across North Yorkshire and collects fines which are enforced by the districts.

The county council estimates it will allocate £3 million in funding to projects and services over the next three years and consulted the borough council on the matter.

Trevor Watson, director of economy at Harrogate Borough Council, said in a letter that part of the money could be allocated to the gateway scheme.

He said:

“With inflation rising it would be prudent to budget for additional match funding from civil parking enforcement surplus expenditure.”

Mr Watson also suggested the funding could be used to develop mitigation measures as part of the west of Harrogate infrastructure plan and as “top-up” funding for cycling schemes on Victoria Avenue and at Pannal.

However, county council bosses turned down the gateway idea and said that “it would not be possible” to match the funding.

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It added it could not do so “as the surplus is fully committed for the continuation of delivering services and projects”.

The Stray Ferret asked the authority whether it had identified any other areas for contingency funding for the gateway scheme.

We had not received a response by the time of publication.

Inflation hits major projects

The move comes as the county council is facing higher costs for major projects amid rising inflation.

In August, the council’s realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill increased in cost from £61 million to £68.8 million.

The council put the increase down to rising inflation affecting construction costs.

Gary Fielding, corporate director at the county council, warned councillors that the “burden of risk” for major projects will fall on the authority amid the current economic climate.

Mr Fielding said in August that the authority continues to “monitor costs and market conditions when embarking on projects”.

Boroughbridge couple’s three-year new build nightmare

A Boroughbridge family has been left in limbo for three years after ongoing problems with a new build property.

Chris and Katie Eve bought the house on Hockley Croft estate in December 2019.

But they still have items stored in a shipping container outside because of unresolved issues.

The new build estate, constructed by Harron Homes, consists of eight properties.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Mr Eve said his family, which includes two young children, had looked forward to leaving Harrogate for a new home in Boroughbridge.

He said:

“We moved there because we wanted something slightly more rural.

“We liked the development itself and thought it would be good for the kids.”

Lack of insulation

But numerous problems, particularly with the insulation, has led to a three-year nightmare, including the couple having to store clothes and belongings in shipping containers on their drive. Other properties on the estate also have to use containers.

The Eves’ garage ceiling has been taken down four times because of problems with the insulation and fire board, and damp has also been found in the property.

Mr Eve said the couple could “see their own breath” in the front room because of the cold temperature, and had endured “countless” other problems, including uneven bedroom floors and roof trusses being weathered and warped.

Site managers from Harron, council building control and customer service managers have been to the property to inspect the property.

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On two occasions, the family have had to move items stored in the garage into shipping containers — the latest container has been there for a year.

The couple said they are still waiting for Harron to fix the problems and, as a result, have been forced to employ their own structural engineer to look at the house.

Currently, they are staying in the living area above their garage. But despite the ongoing problems, Mr Eve said the family is determined to make the house work.

He said:

“We like the location and we get on really well with the people around us.

“I do not feel like we should move because Harron would buy it off us and sell it off with the same issues.”

Harron Homes response

The Stray Ferret approached Harron Homes for a response to the complaints made by the family.

Tony Lee, managing director for Harron Homes Yorkshire, said:

“Harron Homes prides itself on creating quality homes so we are disappointed that we’ve not reached that standard on Hockley Croft in the past.

“We are currently working with a small number of residents to agree start dates and convenient times to rectify defects. We are committed to resolving matters as swiftly as possible and I am confident that our operations are robust, and our teams have the resources to deliver the service and quality I expect for our customers.”

Ripon man charged with attempted murder

A Ripon man has been charged with attempted murder, assaulting emergency workers and carrying a weapon in a public place.

Kyle Harpin, 33, of North Street in the city, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was charged with attempting to murder another man, who was named in court, on North Street on Sunday.

Mr Harpin was also charged with assaulting two police constables at Harrogate District Hospital on the same date.

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He also allegedly used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress towards another police officer at Harrogate Police Station.

Mr Harpin faced a further charge of carrying a knife in a public place on North Street in Ripon.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on November 7.

Plan approved to convert former Pateley Bridge police station into home

A former police station in Pateley Bridge will be turned into a home after plans were approved.

The owners of Kendall’s Farm Butchers in the town bought the station on King Street.

Former North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan announced last year that the building would be sold as part of cost-cutting measures.

The Stray Ferret later revealed in July this year that the station was sold for £297,000. It was estimated to sell for £142,000.

In a planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by Paul Kendall, a third generation butcher, the family bought the building to relocate to Pateley Bridge.

Now, the council has approved the plan.

Planning documents reveal they had been looking to relocate closer to the business for many years but were unable to find anywhere suitable.

Harrogate architect James Robinson, who submitted the plan on behalf of the Kendalls, wrote that living within 200 metres of the main shop in Pateley will be “revolutionary” for the family, as it will allow for a much better work-life balance.

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