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31
May
MPs Watch: Harrogate Town Council election, VE Day and tasers
Every month, the Stray Ferret analyses what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.
In May, the Liberal Democrats won the first ever Harrogate Town Council election by a landslide.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8 following the death of Pope Francis.
Parliament is currently in recess and will return on June 2.
Here’s what we discovered after analysing our MPs’ online presence.
Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat – Harrogate and Knaresborough
What did he do in Parliament?
Tom Gordon voted 15 times in Parliament in May.
He voted in favour of clauses three and 21 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill at report stage, but voted against clause 14 of the same bill at the same stage.
Mr Gordon also voted against the UK-EU Summit on opposition day, as well as an amendment to clause 10 of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at report stage.
The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day was marked on May 8. Mr Gordon said in Parliament:
My constituency has the largest Commonwealth war graves site in the north of England. We regularly put on fantastic events throughout the year, including the Remembrance Sunday services and Christmas services. Will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating those involved for the fantastic work they do in making sure that we do not forget?
The Lib Dems secured 15 of the 19 seats up for grabs at the inaugural Harrogate Town Council election this month.
Mr Gordon cited the party’s success in the Commons, asking MPs to congratulate those who were elected and requested a debate on local government reorganisation.
What did he do in his constituency?
Mr Gordon marked the VE Day celebrations in Harrogate and Knaresborough on May 8.
He joined a commemoration at Harrogate’s war memorial before attending the lighting of the beacon at Knaresborough Castle in the evening.
Mr Gordon also took part in Knaresborough Medieval Day this month, which he said a “fantastic event filled with stories, displays and activities”.
Mr Gordon enjoyed a spot of brunch at Yellow Chair, a new coffee shop and pizzeria in Harrogate, on May 17.
What else?
Mr Gordon this month announced he will be taking part in the Great Knaresborough Bed Race to raise money for Knaresborough Town Football Club.
He met with Adoption UK and adoptive parents on May 19 to discuss the impact of cuts to the Adoption Support Fund.
Mr Gordon also attended KFC’s 60th anniversary celebration in Parliament this month. He told his social media followers his first job, aged 16, was at the Castleford branch of the fried chicken giant.
“It set me up for the world of work”, he said.
When the Stray Ferret contacted Mr Gordon for comment, he said:
The highlight of the month would have to be the local elections in early May, where the Liberal Democrats won 15 of 19 seats on Harrogate Town Council — a fantastic result. Long before the election, we’d been campaigning for the funds Harrogate Spring Water once paid to the former Borough Council — now redirected to Northallerton — to be returned to Harrogate. We remain committed to ensuring this money is spent locally, where it belongs.
In Westminster, I welcomed Rocoil – a fantastic local business – to Parliament for the Science, Innovation and Technology’s Innovation Showcase. Seeing local innovation on show in Parliament was a real highlight.
In parliament, I also hosted the first official meeting of the APPG for Diabetes, pushed for better funding for school buildings, and demanded answers from the government on behalf of hundreds of infected blood victims now facing the loss of significant compensation.
Back in the constituency, I’ve continued visiting local charities, businesses, and organisations. Recent visits include Kirsty’s Free From Factory, Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity (which I recently helped raise money for), the Oakdale Centre, and road safety advocates Lauren and Rebecca from Road Safety Talks.
Looking ahead to June, my team and I will be taking part in the iconic Knaresborough Bed Race to raise funds for Knaresborough Town Football Club’s new pitch. I’m sure it’ll be another busy month.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke
Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative – Wetherby and Easingwold
What did he do in Parliament?
At the time of writing, Sir Alec had not voted in Parliament at all during May.
He also did not make any spoken contributions this month.
Sir Alec did, however, submit a number of written questions to the government.
The MP asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the economic impact of avian influenza on poultry producers in North Yorkshire since 2022, as well as if he will provide targeted funding for poultry farmers in North Yorkshire to improve on-farm biosecurity infrastructure in the context of avian influenza.
What did he do in his constituency?
Sir Alec kicked off the month by opening the newly refurbished Long Marston Village Hall, which was celebrating the 40th anniversary of its family fun day on May 7.
He joined the Wetherby and District Royal British Legion’s commemorations of VE Day earlier this month.
On May 13, he visited pupils at Queen Ethelburga’s School as part of his Democracy in Schools tour.
Sir Alec visited a number of other places in his constituency in May, but they are not part of the Harrogate district.
What else?
Sir Alec congratulated Wetherby’s new mayor on May 14. Connor Mulhall is the youngest ever mayor of Wetherby.
He marked Dementia Awareness Week this month. Sir Alec said online:
So much work is underway to deliver my plan to make Wetherby & Easingwold the UK’s first dementia-friendly constituency. This week, I’ve been out and about visiting third sector services that provide valuable support, alongside our health professionals, for those with dementia.
Sir Alec congratulated Newby Hall and Gardens, which took home a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Shower and attended the NATO Assembly Spring session in Ohio.
When the Stray Ferret contacted Sir Alec for comment, he said:
Last week, I was delighted to launch Dementia Awareness week in Wetherby & Easingwold and thank all those who offer care and support for those living with dementia. It is my ambition to make ours the UK’s first dementia-friendly constituency and I’m working closely with partners on an exciting project due to be launched this autumn. Over 900,000 are living with dementia, and Dementia UK estimates that one third of people with dementia don’t have a formal diagnosis. The NHS must correct this, and I hope to raise these points in the House when we discuss dementia care next week.
Over the recent bank holiday weekend, I attended the NATO Assembly spring session in Ohio. As vice-president of the assembly, I tabled a motion setting out our position that peace in Ukraine must be just, and not a reward for aggression. Across the military alliance, members agreed that any deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and reject Russia’s illegal annexations; justice for war crimes and credible security guarantees, possibly including NATO membership, are essential; if Russia won’t compromise, allies must step-up military, economic, and humanitarian aid; and appeasement would embolden authoritarian regimes and undermine global stability. We continue to work to achieve those goals and lobby our own governments to deliver those promises.
Julian Smith
Sir Julian Smith, Conservative – Skipton and Ripon
What did he do in Parliament?
Sir Julian voted 14 times in Parliament in May.
He voted in favour of clauses two and 19 of the Data (Use and Access) Bill at the report stage, and clauses 18 and 21 of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill at the report stage.
Sir Julian voted against the third reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, however.
Sir Julian also made a number of spoken contributions in the Commons. During a debate on protecting prison staff, he said:
I support the shadow Secretary of State’s request for accelerating the supply of stab vests. Can I ask the Minister for a bit more detail on the Government’s thinking on the use of tasers? There is a long track record of taser use in the UK, and it would seem that we could also accelerate the use of tasers in prisons as quickly as possible.
What did he do in his constituency?
On May 2, Sir Julian welcomed the implementation of a reduced speed limit on the A61 at South Stainley. It followed a lengthy road safety campaign to reduce the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph.
Sir Julian also marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day, sharing pictures of the celebrations in Ripon Market Place.
He visited Ripon City Wetlands with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust this month. Sir Julian described the site as a “fantastic example of conservation and tourism”.
Sir Julian visited a number of other places in his constituency but they do not fall in the Harrogate district.
What else?
Sir Julian urged local schools to register for free Parliamentary visits and welcomed a new UK-US trade deal that he said will bring opportunities for businesses and farmers across North Yorkshire.
He also met the Economic Secretary to the Treasury to discuss banking hubs and access to cash in rural communities.
The Stray Ferret contacted Sir Julian for comment. He said:
This May has been a busy and productive month across Skipton and Ripon and in Westminster.
I have also been keeping constituents informed about the upgrade to North Yorkshire’s Council Tax, Business Rates, and Housing Benefits systems, which will unify services across the county. While there may be some temporary disruption, this change will ultimately improve efficiency and access for residents.
I also urged the government to expedite the supply of stab vests and consider the accelerated use of Tasers for prison officers following recent attacks. It is important that we ensure the safety of those who work tirelessly to maintain order and security within the prison system.
New measures, introduced under the Procurement Act 2023, to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in public procurement have come into effect, and I have been informing local businesses of these changes. The new measures will help local businesses compete more fairly for public contracts and ensure prompt payment throughout the supply chain.
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