Strayside Sunday is our weekly political opinion column. It is written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party.
Almost twenty years ago, I was fit (and silly) enough to be able to kick a football around the muddy playing fields of South London as Number 10 for a team called The Westminster Wanderers. The Wanderers brought together political hacks, lobbyists and journos from across the political spectrum, united both by our desire to spend Sunday mornings in the cold and damp, and Monday mornings spent stiff and sore.
One of my teammates was the former President of the radical Federation of Conservative Students, a body so libertarian in its views that it proposed, while Mrs T was Prime Minister no less, that drugs ought to be legalised, along with free migration. The FCS became known as “Maggie’s Militant Tendency” and was eventually broken up by Conservative Party Chairman Stormin’ Norman Tebbit, to avoid further disrepute.
By the time we met, the activist in question was a senior player in James Goldsmith’s Referendum Party, parent to UKIP and grandparent to the Brexit Party, as well as a leggy and robust centre-half for the Wanderers. One fateful day in 2001, the man in question asked whether, given I knew a thing or two about communication (at the time I thought I did, although now I know I didn’t), I would write him a paper on how to turn around the reputation of the Conservative Party. I obliged with a missive entitled “Rebranding the Nasty Party” and, within a month, was appointed Director of Communication for the Tories. It didn’t end well.
I recount this horrible history because, if Labour have their way, and if the Conservatives aren’t careful, this week may mark the return of the nasty party into the popular consciousness. Wednesday saw a Labour motion in parliament to extend provision of £15-a-week food vouchers to 1.4m disadvantaged children in England during school holidays until Easter 2021. Who could possibly argue with that? And, of course, that’s the point; Labour’s single-issue party managers know that there is no way to answer the question without self-incrimination. Support it and the Conservatives concede the problem statement – the existence of so many disadvantaged children in need of a meal – oppose it and appear mean and, well, nasty. Indeed a Liberal Democrat supporting friend of mine (not of this parish, for the avoidance of doubt) WhatsApped me on the day of the debate with a link to how individual members voted on the motion, with the accompanying text “milk snatchers are back.” This a reference of course to 1971 and the Blessed Margaret, when Education Secretary.
As loyal party men, local MPs Messrs Adams, Smith and Jones voted against the motion. No surprise there, sadly. Labour isn’t a presence in these parts so no real need for a demonstrable show of compassion or principle from the Big 3. But the point is this: the motion was designed by Labour to cast the Conservatives in the role of villain; and Labour’s juice has certainly been worth the squeeze. Coinciding nicely with Boris Johnson’s refusal to bung Andy Burnham an extra ‘five mil for the workers’ in return for imposing Tier 3 restrictions, one feels an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of one’s stomach about the direction of travel.
At a time when any reputation the Conservative government might have had for competence is, in any view, in tatters (see also Test and Trace), they surely need to take utmost care not to allow long and deeply held perceptions about their lack of humanity resurface. I don’t know about you but I can’t go through another Tory re-branding round of “hug a hoodie” and dog sleds; it’s just too painful. And, although Labour’s Deputy Leader, the dreadful foghorn Angela Rayner, seriously overplayed her hand when calling us “Tory Scum” in Parliament this week, aged alarm bells are ringing. Labour is giving the impression that, in our much diminished Covid circumstances, some good old-fashioned class warfare is just around the corner.
Calling all Conservatives nasty, as if no other political party has such a characteristic, has never been accurate. I’ve had the displeasure to know and work with quite a few nasty people over the years in politics and beyond and, if pressed, I’d say that they are evenly distributed across the political spectrum. As the brakes are put on Covid spending, as inevitably they must be, we should remember that what this government has done to respond to the crisis so far has been remarkable, in the worst of circumstances. But it should extend that response to free school dinners. Not only does this risk a return of the nasty party label, it is both politically and morally wrong.
That’s my Strayside Sunday.
Read More:
- What is the situation with free-school meals for children in the Harrogate district?
- Harrogate restaurant to deliver meals for families in need
Crews tackle outbuilding fire in central Harrogate
Fire crews were called out to a derelict building in the centre of Harrogate today.
It happened at a house at the junction of Strawberry Dale and Woodbine Terrace.
The fire was reported to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service at 4.50pm. They found it in an outbuilding which contained rubbish, though the cause was not identified.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough put it out using a hose, and used breathing apparatus for comfort while on site.
Stray Kitchen with Stephanie Moon: It’s Apple Time
Stray Kitchen is our monthly column all about food written by renowned local produce expert, food writer and chef, Stephanie Moon. Stephanie studied at Craven College, Skipton. She then did a work placement at London’s five-star hotel/restaurant, The Dorchester. Stephanie was offered a full-time job, where she worked for world-famous chef, Anton Mosimann.
In the spirit of Autumn and Halloween, Stephanie’s first column will be talking about the delicious ways of using apples in various dishes.
I love this time of year. Our region has a real history with the Great British Apple. Did you know the Ribston Pippin was grown back in 1708 from apple pips which were sent to Henry Goodricke of Ribston Hall? This was the runner up of the Cox’s Orange Pippin.
In Little Ribston, there is still a Ribston Pippin tree growing in the grounds. Nick Smith, the Director of the Harrogate Flower Show, took me along to cook the apples under the tree years ago. This was filmed for Look North. I created my version of an 18th Century recipe ‘A Fraze of Pippins’ (basically a batter-like pancake, heavy on the spices with lots of apples). It was great fun.
Do you have an Apple glut?
My advice is to invest in an ‘apfelschaler’; a plastic contraption (you can get metal ones too) that peels an apple in seconds whilst you wind the handle. When you literally have kilos to peel it really helps.
The apfelschaler peeling an apple.
My Dad gets given boxes of apples and I help him to cook through an apple mountain (not even an exaggeration). We peel, cook the apples and place them in take away pots, lots of apple sauce, and freeze them. I now have a whole shelf of apple sauce in my freezer that is not mine.
Chutney made with apples is mind-blowingly good and great for Christmas gifts. If you make batches it becomes easy (just watch out for apple volcanos), then you cook the chutney as a hit with some boiling hot apple chutney will smart.
But perhaps you have no apples?
If you are lucky enough to look around villages surrounding Harrogate, they give them away for free by the side of the road. Local farm shops and fruit and vegetable shops have fruit racks that are groaning under the strain with every variety – much better than the supermarket fruits that can sometimes be months old.
Stephanie cooking.
There is always the plan to let someone else do the work. Nothing beats an Elite Meat pork and apple burger, a Taylor’s apple cinnamon tea or a Rosebud Preserves wild crab apple jelly.
Can you Adam and Eve it?
Till next time!
For more information on Stephanie Moon’s career in food click here.
Read More:
- Stray Foodie: Frances Atkins reviews the Grantham Arms, Boroughbridge
- Harrogate man cooks incredible 6,000 charity meals
One incredible Harrogate man cooks 6,000 charity meals
An incredible Harrogate man who really stepped up to the plate has single handedly cooked more than 6,000 meals for charity since the start of the pandemic.
Paul Welch started by cooking meals for his daughters who both work in the NHS. But he wanted to help more people so partnered with Supporting Older People (SOP).
Those behind SOP were delighted to work with Paul. The small and local charity was able to use its connections and experience to distribute the meals to those most in need.
Kate Rogata, the director of SOP, told the Stray Ferret:
“There is a lot of hidden poverty in Harrogate. The coronavirus pandemic has really excacerbated the problem. For some people Paul’s meals have been a lifeline. It’s not just older people that we help but anyone who is vulnerable and in need of a helping hand.”
The Supporting Older People team celebrating with Paul Welch as he passed the 5,000 meal milestone. Photo: Ernesto Rogata
There is no sign of stopping for 58-year-old Paul who uses a wheelchair after a paragliding accident 20 years ago. He spends 10 hours every day preparing, cooking and freezing food.
He has recently been reinvigorated after a major donation of £10,000 from Techbuyer, which has its UK base in Harrogate. That money will help him cook many more meals.
Read more:
- Harrogate shops raise money with ‘Giraffle’ for food bank
- Charity offers ‘New Beginnings’ for survivors of domestic abuse
It will also go towards one of his new projects. With Christmas looking like it will be particularly difficult for many this year, he wants to cook a three course dinner for more than 250 people.
He said, on reaching his major milestone, that he has “been thrilled to help people, particularly older people, then it’s definitely worthwhile.”
Supporting Older People had to adapt at the start of the pandemic. Instead of its usual meet ups and home visits the charity had to move online and by phone.
The charity also used its network of volunteers, which has grown to 200 during the pandemic, to deliver free weekly Asda essential hampers.
It also hopes, in the next couple of weeks, to establish coronavirus secure afternoon tea for up to six people.
Mrs Rogata added that while telephone calls help with loneliness that many still miss meeting up with people face to face.
Image Gallery: Brackenfield School pupils create art with 100 leavesA collaboration with a local artist has seen Harrogate pupils challenged to create works of art from 100 leaves.
The autumnal project asked Brackenfield School students and their families to use fallen leaves to produce an artistic piece, pattern or design.
Open to all year groups, the competition saw year 6 pupil Harry crowned the winner by artist James Brunt.
A lion’s mane of leaves
An autumnal hedgehog
The winning entry, by Harry
Read more:
- Image Gallery: Ripon and Harrogate resplendent in readiness for remembrance
- Art event will raise money for Harrogate hospital charity
A cheery sunflower
A seasonal heart
A Harrogate restaurant will cook meals and deliver food parcels to families in need over half term, following a controversial vote in the House of Commons over free school meals.
Ozgur Babat, the owner of Portofino Ristorante Italian restaurant on Albert Street, said he took action after the government voted down a Labour Party motion to extend free school meals over half-term and the Christmas holidays. There are currently around 2,000 children in Harrogate receiving free school meals.
He said:
“When I saw they’d cancelled free meals for kids, that was heartbreaking really. I have a daughter, she’s only two and a half. I put myself in that position where I couldn’t afford to buy the food for her. How would I feel?”
On Monday, staff at Portofinos will begin preparing pizzas in the kitchen as well as food parcels with rice, pasta and flour. Families can send the restaurant a message on Facebook to get food delivered to their door, with no questions asked.
He said:
“Even if we can touch one person, that will make us happy.”
However, Mr Babat said the restaurant has already received messages from 10 families in Harrogate who require food for their children.
Read more:
Mr Babat said even though his independent restaurant is “struggling to survive” because of the pandemic, this was something he felt he had to do. He now hopes other restaurants in Harrogate will follow his lead and join in if they can.
While some people may say it should be the government’s job to ensure that children in need are fed, rather than charity or local businesses, Mr Babat said he is not interested in the politics of what his restaurant is doing.
He added:
New giant book will light up Harrogate this weekend“We’re not thinking anything about politics. The kids are our future. It’s all about humanity and how we can help the people. Hopefully we won’t send any kids to bed without their bellies being hungry.”
A new book unlike any you have seen before will light up the Library Gardens in Harrogate for this weekend only.
The light installation will shine bright as authors take to the digital stage for the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.
As the sun sets the pages will turn and share well-known tales as well as the story of Harrogate.
The free exhibition will also feature ten-word stories from best-selling authors and Harrogate residents – the same as those that have been popping up around town on posters.
Read more:
- Harrogate International Festivals cuts more than half of jobs
- Writing on the wall ahead of Harrogate literature festival
The organisers Harrogate Festivals International say there will be plenty of room for watching the book and they will also ensure social distancing measures are followed.
Harrogate’s literature festival is now in its 12th year but will, like many events, be online due to social distancing requirements.
The festival will run from today until Sunday. It will be streamed on HIF Player on the Harrogate International Festivals’ website.
It comes at a difficult time for the organisation, which has been forced to cut more than half of its jobs.
Harrogate International Festivals said it made the cuts after missing out on an estimated £850,000 due to coronavirus. The arts charity, which was set up in 1966, now has just four staff remaining.
Harrogate events company folds after 46 yearsA Harrogate events company, which employed more than 30 people, is set to go into liquidation.
Andrew Manby, director of family events firm Joe Manby Ltd, had been vocal in calling for more government support for the beleaguered conference and exhibition industry.
The sector has been decimated since the pandemic in March. But Joe Manby Ltd, like many others, had been preparing for a safe and limited return in October until the government intervened.
Read more:
- Conference sector ‘cut adrift’, says Harrogate events company
- Italian bar and restaurant closes in Harrogate
Mr Manby told the Stray Ferret “it was a heartbreaking decision” after 46 years in the business:
“We were ready to start business again this month. We had run trials and proved that we could hold events safely.
“But at the last minute Boris Johnson put the cat among the pigeons and said we were not allowed. It is particularly frustrating seeing UK-based businesses like ours running events abroad.”
Joe Manby Ltd organised more than 50 events a year. In May last year it secured a three-year contract to provide events services for the Harrogate Bridal Show.
Mr Manby, who is one of the founder’s sons, believes many businesses in the events industry are in a similar position.
He said the government’s job retention scheme had kept the business ticking over but it was difficult to survive without a clear date for return.
Coronavirus has hit Harrogate’s events industry particularly hard.
The town usually hosts a string of major events, conferences and exhibitions but the convention centre’s conversion into a Nightingale hospital changed this.
Harrogate district restaurants extend discount meals into NovemberThe government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme may have ended but some restaurants in the Harrogate district have announced they will still be offering their own versions of the initiative in November.
The Eat Out scheme offered discounted dining on Mondays to Wednesdays during August.
It proved so popular that months later, some restaurants are continuing to provide cut price deals.
La Feria, on Cold Bath Road, is offering a 50% discount on food up to £10 from Monday to Wednesday until the end of November.
With 25 staff, Jez Verity, the director, was keen to support his staff when the furlough scheme ended this month.
Thanks to the ongoing discount, the restaurant has had more than 100 people in every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mr Verity said:
“It was a big, big success in August, I think all businesses in Harrogate had significantly benefited on those three days.
“We decided to carry it on in September and see what happened. The customers really embraced it, they knew what it was and it was easy to understand.
“It’s also a way for us to say a thank you to customers for supporting us, and really give something back to them.”
Read more:
- Harrogate shops raise money with ‘Giraffle’ for food bank
- Stray Foodie: Grantham Arms, Boroughbridge
Other restaurants offering similar deals are All Bar One, which is offering £10 off food with the download of their app until 12th November, and the Queens Head Inn at Kettlesing, which is extending their discount of 50% off food from Monday to Wednesday until the end of next month.
West Park and Al Bivio are also looking to encourage business on quieter days of the weeks, offering half price vouchers through The Stray Ferret.
Let us know if your restaurant is running a similar promotion in November and we will add your details to this article.
Sneak peek at Italian restaurant opening in HarrogateA new Italian restaurant is opening in Harrogate tomorrow to serve up fresh pasta and speciality wines.
Pranzo Italian, at 31-33 Cold Bath Road, is the second restaurant from chef Marco Greco. He opened his first in Ilkley two and a half years ago.
Marco cooking up a mafalde with four-hour braised beef shin ragu.
This new Harrogate restaurant will be open every day from 12pm to 10pm except on Sundays when it will close at 6pm.
Although it has meat, fish and vegetarian options, Pranzo Harrogate does not have a large menu. It believes in serving a few dishes it can perfect.
Read more:
As the restaurant has a large kitchen space downstairs, the chefs will be able to make fresh pasta each and every day.
Marco Greco, on the eve of Pranzo Harrogate’s opening, told the Stray Ferret:
“I have been looking for a new place for about a year. I know it is not the best time to open a new business, it was a bit crazy. But we are already fully booked for the opening night so it is looking good and I think it will be worth it.”
Pranzo Harrogate is the new Italian restaurant on Cold Bath Road.
Pranzo Ilkley is rated as the number two restaurant in the town on TripAdvisor.
Mr Greco has Italian heritage, learned to cook with his grandmother and followed in the footsteps of his dad who also opened an Italian restaurant.
He worked in his dad’s restaurant as soon as he left school and always dreamed of opening his own place.
Pranzo Harrogate has space for 30 people inside the restaurant and a further 20 outside under current covid restrictions.
It has employed 10 staff and intends to recruit more in the future.