Editor’s Election Diary: Is 5,000 days of local Tory control ending?

It’s been 5,134 days since Andrew Jones and Julian Smith were elected Conservative MPs for Harrogate and Knaresborough and Skipton and Ripon respectively in 2010.

Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a general election on July 4 means they could have just 40 days left in Westminster.

The national polls don’t look good for the Tories but unlike some of their colleagues, who have chosen to stand down, Messrs Jones and Smith are preparing to fight.

Mr Jones will be up against two men in their 20s from the main opposition parties: Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon and Labour’s Conrad Whitcroft.

The latter, whose candidature was announced just hours before Mr Sunak called the election, informed me he was too young to vote in the Brexit referendum when we met on Friday. Look out for the interview on Bank Holiday Monday.

While Mr Gordon has been attacking the Tories’ record, Mr Jones has been questioning his youthful opponents’ local credentials.

Having two twenty-somethings in the race is a step forward for better representation of young people in politics but so far just one of the five candidates declared — Shan Oakes of the Green Party — is female.

Reform UK has actually had two parliamentary candidates so far. It emerged this week that original selection Richard Brown had been replaced by John Swales after a dispute that resulted in Mr Brown saying of Mr Swales that he “didn’t want to see the bugger again”.

The website Electoral Calculus gives Mr Gordon a 62% chance of winning but UK Polling Report has Mr Jones slight favourite, giving him a 36.72% likelihood of success against Mr Gordon’s 35.4%. These regularly updated forecasts will be compulsive but perhaps not wholly reliable viewing in the weeks ahead given the disparities.

Electoral Calculus says Labour has a 59% chance of winning in Skipton and Ripon, but at the time of writing Keir Starmer’s team hadn’t even named a candidate. With an autumn election expected, the announcement of a July election caught many people on the hop — expect a busy week ahead of more candidates being announced. Will the Official Monster Raving Loony Party detect enough local lunacy to throw its hat in the ring?

It will be particularly interesting to see the outcome in the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, which includes Boroughbridge and numerous villages in the former Harrogate district.

The Stray Ferret will be in Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Ripon, and Harrogate this week speaking to readers, local groups and businesses to find out what matters to you.

We also have several articles this weekend setting the scene for the campaign ahead. Stay tuned, as Election ’24 hots up.

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Yemi’s Food Stories: quick and easy baking tips to satisfy your sweet tooth

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

With summer upon us, we have to be ready to make the most of nicer weather.

Impromptu barbecues and last-minute guests are a reality when the sun begins to shine, so sometimes we need to make desserts in a flash. Baking for (and with) the family can be the perfect way to whip something up quickly, as well as an opportunity to spend time with your family.

The aroma of freshly baked goodies wafting through the house, the joy of working together, and the pleasure of indulging in sweet treats are just a few of the many reasons to bake.

But sometimes we want the end result without the fuss of complicated recipes or a long list of ingredients. In this post, we’ll explore simple baking techniques and some handy shortcuts, including how to navigate missing ingredients and make use of possible freezer items.

Yemi’s currant crumble cake

Baking shortcuts

One-bowl-wonders are perfect for barbecues, unexpected guests and busy days. Opt for recipes that require only one bowl to reduce clean-up time. Cakes, brownies and cookies often have one-bowl versions that come together in minutes.

‘Mug cakes’ can be a life-saver on those nights when your sweet craving isn’t budging. They are the epitome of quick baking. Mix a few ingredients in a mug and microwave for a minute or two. Voila! An instant dessert.

Pre-made pastry used to be frowned upon, but now even top chefs will recommend and admit to using it because the quality is much better. Keep pre-made puff pastry or pie crusts in your freezer. They’re perfect for whipping up quick tarts, turnovers or pies. The possibilities are endless!

Freezer-friendly items are also very useful. You can blend a bag of frozen berries, egg whites and lemon juice to make the lightest and fluffiest mousse, or add frozen berries tossed in flour and sugar, then cover with pastry to form an open turnover tart.

Missing ingredients often stop us in our bid to make desserts – but it doesn’t have to stop us from baking. Here are some common substitutions and tips for making do with what you have:

Eggs – if you’re out of eggs, you can use 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana per egg. Yogurt and buttermilk are also good substitutes.

Butter – replace butter with an equal amount of margarine, shortening or even oil. For a healthier twist, you can use mashed avocado or Greek yogurt.

Milk – no milk? Use water, juice, or even coffee. Non-dairy milk like almond, soy or oat milk works well too. Add lemon juice and cream to a recipe to replace sour cream.

Flour – if you’re short on all-purpose flour, you can use a combination of other flours you have to hand. Whole wheat flour, almond flour and even oat flour can work – though textures may vary.

Sugar – substitute granulated sugar with brown sugar, honey, maple syrup or even agave nectar. Adjust the liquid content if using a syrup.

The currant crumble cake

Currant crumble cake

 This week, I relied on a basic sponge cake recipe, crumble recipe and some frozen red and black currants to make a quick cake.

For my sponge cake, I used the 6:6:6 ratio of flour, sugar, butter (ounces) to 3 eggs and made a crumble mix to get some texture.

I layered half of the cake batter with the frozen currants and some crumble mix before repeating it, finishing with a generous crumble topping.

Once cooked, I served it with ice cream and some rhubarb compote.

Embrace the simplicity; family baking doesn’t have to be a complicated affair.

With these shortcuts and substitutions, you can quickly satisfy your sweet cravings and create wonderful memories in the kitchen.

Get creative with what you have on hand and enjoy the process of baking together.

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Police ‘very concerned’ for missing Ripon boy Leland, 15

Police are “urgently searching” for a missing teenage boy from near Ripon.

According to a North Yorkshire Police statement this afternoon (May 24), Leland, 15, is from the village of Grewelthorpe.

It added:

“He was last seen yesterday at about 4.30pm in Wetherby. It’s believed he has since travelled elsewhere by bus.

“We’re very concerned for Leland’s welfare, and searches are ongoing to find him. We are urging people to contact us with any information about his whereabouts.”

He is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, and of slim build. He was wearing a black and grey Berghaus tracksuit and black trainers.

If you see Leland, or know where he is, you can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or 999 for an immediate sighting.

Quote reference number NYP-23052024-0365.

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Sheffield United top Harrogate’s list of pre-season friendlies

Sheffield United are coming to Wetherby Road as part of Harrogate Town’s pre-season friendly fixtures.

Town announced four matches today as part of their preparations for what will be their fifth season in League Two of the English Football League.

Simon Weaver’s men hosted Sheffield Wednesday in a pre-season friendly two seasons ago.

Now they will take on Sheffield’s leading club, who have just been relegated from the Premier League.

The Blades, managed by Chris Wilder, will make the trip from South Yorkshire to The EnviroVent stadium on Tuesday, July 23 for a 7pm kick-off.

Town’s pre-season shapes up like this:

The club said further fixtures and ticketing information for these matches will be confirmed in due course.

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Judicial review threat to Ripon’s 1,300-home Clotherholme scheme

Ripon City Council could begin legal action to ensure key concerns relating to the 1,300-home Clotherholme scheme are addressed.

North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee granted government agency Homes England outline permission to develop Ministry of Defence land in the north-west of the city last week.

Although there is widespread acceptance that the scheme will go ahead, Ripon councillors, Ripon Military Heritage Trust and Ripon Civic Society have all called for safeguards to be installed on two key issues before the homes are built.

They want to see vital military heritage sites at Clotherholme preserved and a rethink on a proposal to ban right-turning traffic at the Low Skellgate / Somerset Row junction, which is one of many transport measures relating to the development.

The junction where traffic could be prevented from turning right.

Cllr Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon Ure Bank and Spa division said she was disappointed local voices “did not have the impact we wanted” at last week’s planning meeting in Northallerton.

She said:

“There was a small success in that they will look again at the ‘no right turn’ proposal for the junction at Low Skellgate.

“However, I have campaigned for nearly four years now for the traffic assessment to be reviewed as I believe the existing one is flawed, having been conducted in June when there is less school traffic on the road.”

Neither Cllr Brodigan nor Cllr Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservatives and Independents group who represents Ripon Moorside and Minster, sit on the countywide strategic planning committee.

But both spoke at last week’s meeting to flag up concerns. Cllr Williams said:

“The banning of right turning traffic at the Low Skellgate / Somerset Row junction will mean my constituents effectively being cut off and having to find an alternative way to get to their homes.”

Last week’s strategic planning committee meeting.

The strategic planning committee agreed to review plans to preserve the city’s military heritage when the application comes back to councillors for the reserved matters application, which contains the details of the scheme.

But Cllr Brodigan said:

“This fails to preserve the military heritage, which I believe the planning committee intended, as the developers can start bulldozing the buildings under the planning consent.

“So it is not enough, unless the city council considers a judicial review, which I believe we will.”

Cllr Brodigan added:

“Homes England, like other developers, talk about place-making, consulting with the community etc. They say it is not just about chimney pots, but in fact it is.

“I would like to see some genuine engagement from Homes England with the Ripon Military Heritage Trust to preserve the significant military heritage at Clotherholme for posterity. We will ‘soldier on!'”

‘We need as many voices raised as possible’

Ripon Military Heritage Trust said in a statement it was disappointed the planning committee did not agree to a deferral “but instead approved the scheme without the safeguards in place that the trust believes to be essential to ensure the preservation of a group of the historic buildings”.

The statement added:

“Nevertheless, we were encouraged by the general support for the heritage expressed by a clear majority of the committee and for the view voiced by several members that land should be allocated for this purpose.

“And we were also partly reassured by the determination of elected members to keep the final decision on heritage preservation in their own hands rather than deputing it to officers as was being proposed.

“However, given that the committee in approving the overall development has agreed a plan to demolish all the barrack buildings, we are concerned that the developers may seek to pre-empt any decision on the heritage by simply bulldozing Deverell Barracks at the earliest opportunity.”

The Stray Ferret is backing the trust’s campaign to save Ripon’s military heritage and the statement said “we need as many voices raised in concerned protest as possible”.

The statement added:

“We are most grateful to the Stray Ferret for its continuing support of our fight to save this important part of our heritage.”

The houses are due to be built on land between Clotherhome Road and Kirkby Road.

The Stray Ferret is backing the trust’s campaign to save key parts of the city’s military history, as reported here. Please sign the petition here. 

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Harrogate to get new ceremonial mayor next week

Chris Aldred is set to be appointed the new Harrogate charter mayor at a meeting next week.

Mr Aldred is a Liberal Democrat councillor and represents the High Harrogate & Kingsley division on North Yorkshire Council.

The non-political role involves promoting the historic and ceremonial traditions of the Harrogate area during events and occasions.

It differs from the former Harrogate Borough Council mayor who covered the whole of the former borough and undertook a much wider range of engagements.

His fellow Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Broadbank is set to be his deputy.

The charter mayor will be elected by the Harrogate charter trustees after Mr Aldred was nominated at a meeting last year. These are 10 councillors representing divisions that cover the unparished parts of Harrogate town.

Mr Aldred said he was “honoured and humbled” to be nominated for the role.

It has been held by Conservative councillor Michael Harrison for the last 12 months when Mr Aldred served as his deputy.

Mr Aldred said:

“Whilst the role of Charter Mayor is very much ‘mayor-lite’ compared to the role played by the mayor of the former Harrogate district, there is a significant part to play as first citizen of the unparished area of Harrogate town.

“I am looking forward to representing the town at civic events and maintaining the traditions of the mayoralty at ceremonial events such as Remembrance Sunday, which I know are very important to many Harrogate residents.”

If, as expected, a Harrogate Town Council is created following elections in May next year, the new council will have the power to usher in a more wide-ranging mayoralty.

Mr Aldred added:

“I very much hope that I will be the last charter mayor and be able to hand over the chains of office next May to a newly elected chair of Harrogate Town Council. The charter trustees basically exist to babysit the mayoralty and its traditions until a town council is created, elected and fully functioning.

“Until then I will endeavour to carry out the role of charter mayor to the best of my abilities and represent our great & historic town as best as I can”.

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Mr Aldred worked in local government across Yorkshire for 23 years in the tourism and arts sectors. He has also worked at Bradford Cathedral, the Army Foundation College and Harrogate Convention Centre.

He was first elected as a councillor in 2018 to Harrogate Borough Council.

He’s been married to Sue for 35 years and is a keen runner, having completed more than 400 park runs. He also likes to cycle, look after his pet cat Zelda and explore old churches. He follows the trials and tribulations of Leeds United.

The meeting will take place at Harrogate Civic Centre at 9.15am on Thursday (May 30).

Harrogate and Knaresborough Reform candidate replaced after internal ‘bust-up’

Reform UK replaced its candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough after an internal row over some of his social media comments.

Richard Brown was named as the party’s parliamentary candidate in August last year.

But he was one of eight nationwide candidates described as ‘unsavoury rogues’  in a Mail on Sunday investigation in March.

The article claimed Mr Brown “made misogynistic remarks about Labour MP Jess Phillips” and shared false claims that doctors refused to treat Boris Johnson on the basis that he didn’t have covid.

Reform UK initially stood by Mr Brown but he was eventually replaced by John Swales, who stood for the party in last month’s Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election.

The two men were friends but speaking to the Stray Ferret today, Mr Brown said they had a “big bust-up two or three weeks ago” and he “didn’t want to see the bugger again”.

He claimed he was “sacked without justification” and described the Reform UK leadership as “incompetent”, adding:

“I’ve had to cope with it for last 18 months.”

Mr Brown said he and some other former Reform candidates and supporters had formed a movement called Restore GB, which had similar policies to Reform but “without the baggage”. He added:

“We want Reform policies but can’t work with the Reform hierarchy.”

Mr Brown said he was trying to register the organisation in time to stand as a candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the general election on July 4.

He said he founded Reform’s party in Harrogate in February last year and had built it up to have hundreds of supporters, adding:

“Reform Harrogate would be nothing without me.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Swales about Mr Brown’s comments.

He replied:

“Richard Brown was appointed to set up Reform UK in Harrogate and Knaresborough and was part of the team that established their presence over the last 18 months.

“With a new prospective parliamentary candidate now in post and a superb team of activists being developed, Reform UK now have the opportunity to significantly enhance their profile and expand local awareness of their detailed policies.”

He added:

“The appointment and management of prospective parliamentary candidates is dealt with centrally by the senior leadership team at Reform UK headquarters.”

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Council backs down from legal battle with housebuilder over 53 homes in Harrogate

A long-running campaign to prevent 53 homes being built off a quiet cul-de-sac in Harrogate has suffered a severe setback.

Teesside developer Jomast applied to build the homes off Knox Lane in Bilton.

Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee overruled a council officer’s recommendation when they voted to reject the scheme in September last year.

The campaign group Keep Knox Natural hailed the the outcome, which it said had “strengthened local community spirit and resolve”.

Jomast subsequently appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate and indicated it intended to seek costs. It said the plans had been recommended for approval by council officers four times and councillors were wrong not to approve them.

Trevor Watson, the council’s assistant director of planning, said today it had “agreed not to contest” the appeal.

Mr Watson said:

“In October 2023 we refused planning permission for 53 houses at Knox Lane, Harrogate on grounds relating to highway matters, landscape impact and biodiversity issues. The developer Jomast appealed the decision with the Planning Inspectorate.

“The public inquiry to consider the appeal will take place from July 23, 2024 where all interested parties will be able to put their views forward to the independent planning inspector who will make a final decision.

“However, following external legal advice, members of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency planning committee have decided not to contest the appeal.”

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Opposition parties prepare for chance to end Tory stranglehold in Harrogate and Knaresborough

Opposition parties have welcomed the chance to end 14 years of Conservative domination in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the general election.

Andrew Jones has held the seat for the Tories since 2010, winning four elections in a row.

But with some national forecasts predicting a Liberal Democrat win, and Labour buoyant after David Skaith’s mayoral victory, there appears to be everything to play for on July 4.

Electoral Calculus currently gives the Lib Dems a 65% chance of success in Harrogate and Knaresborough, compared with 22% for the Conservatives and 12% for Labour.

But UK Polling Report says the Conservatives have a 35.78% chance, the Lib Dems 35.62%, Labour 24.05% and the Greens 4.1%

Tom Gordon, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate said it was a “once-in-a-generation chance to kick the Conservatives out of power”, adding:

“It’s clear that only the Liberal Democrats can beat the Conservatives in Harrogate and Knaresborough, it’s neck and neck here and every vote will count.

“After years of struggling to get GP and dental appointments, soaring rents and mortgages and our rivers being polluted by filthy sewage, it’s time for a change in Harrogate & Knaresborough.”

Conrad Whitcroft, who was named Labour’s parliamentary candidate yesterday (May 22) just hours before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the election, said:

“After 14 years of Conservative-led failure I am glad that Rishi Sunak has finally had the guts to call a general election. The people of Harrogate and Knaresborough now have the chance to give their verdict on this government’s record of chaos and decline.

“I am proud to have been chosen by the Labour Party to stand in Harrogate and Knaresborough. I am ready to give Harrogate and Knaresborough the chance to vote for change.”

Green Party candidate Shan Oakes said a vote for her party was “a vote for real change”, adding:

“We’re the only party to have clear and consistent policies to move us all towards a fairer,  healthier world where we work with nature instead of trashing her. I’m deeply saddened by the outrageous  profiteering we are seeing at the expense of nature.

“People and nature have been sacrificed on the altar of corporate greed . The Greens have been clear on this for at least half a century…and it’s time our voice was heard.”

John Swales, Reform UK’s candidate, said he hoped to poll a higher percentage of votes in Harrogate and Knaresborough than the 12% to 14% the party was generating nationally.

Mr Swales said Harrogate was no longer a genteel spa town; it had expanded hugely and many people had concerns about issues such as housing that were shared by Reform, he said, adding it was the only real party for change.

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Labour names candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough

The Labour Party has selected Conrad Whitcroft as its candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next general election.

Mr Whitcroft, who has never previously stood for parliament, lives in York and works as a project manager for insurance firm Aviva.

He was elected to represent Fishergate on City of York Council this month and supported David Skaith’s successful mayoral campaign for Labour.

Mr Whitcroft attended school in Northampton then graduated from the University of York with a degree in politics.

A profile on the York Labour Party website describes him as an ‘active union rep’ and environmental campaigner. He has also been an intern in the House of Commons.

Mr Skaith’s victory in this month’s York and North Yorkshire mayoral election boosted local Labour supporters.

But the party faces an uphill battle to win in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next general election. Mark Sewards, its candidate in 2019, polled just 10% of votes to finish third behind Conservative Andrew Jones and Liberal Democrat Judith Rogerson.

Mr Jones will defend the seat for the Tories while Tom Gordon will stand for the Lib Dems.

Conrad Whitcroft with supporters.

In a Labour press release today, Mr Whitcroft said Harrogate and Knaresborough “has been let down by more than a decade of Conservative-led government”.

He added:

“It will be an honour to lead the campaign for Labour in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

“My priorities in our area include tackling anti-social behaviour, building more affordable housing and working closely with David Skaith.

“I know Harrogate and Knaresborough well and enjoy campaigning there with the local Labour Party. I particularly enjoy the Knaresborough-based Turning Point Brewery which I have had a tour of in the past.”

The press release added:

“As a councillor, Conrad has delivered ward funding to fight the cost of living crisis and has recently taken a leading role in a campaign to stop a new takeaway in a residential area.

Harrogate-born Mr Skaith said:

“Conrad worked hard for my election campaign and has proven himself as a councillor. He will make an excellent Labour candidate for my home town.”

Chris Watt, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party, said:

“As Labour’s win in Harrogate and Knaresborough in the recent mayoral election showed, it’s all to play for locally and when Rishi Sunak finally has the courage to call the election the choice will be clear: more chaos under the Tories or real change and a fresh start with Labour.

“Conrad has shown that’s he an effective and energetic campaigner who gets results and we are looking forward to working with him for the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

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