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01
Dec
MPs Watch: Assisted dying, new Tory leader and family farms tax
Every month, the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.
In November, Donald Trump won the US election and British farmers joined forces to protest against Labour’s inheritance tax plans.
Kemi Badenoch was also elected leader of the Conservative party.
Here’s what we know 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?
Mr Gordon voted 14 times in the House of Commons.
Most recently, he voted in favour of the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – otherwise known as the assisted dying bill.
Mr Gordon also voted in favour of the third reading of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers Bill) but he voted against the Budget Resolution Number 34: VAT on private school fees.
He also made several spoken contributions in the Commons Chamber. Mr Gordon presented a petition on school transport in North Yorkshire and asked the government whether reforming orthodontic dental contracts will be reformed.
What did he do in his constituency?
Mr Gordon visited Knaresborough Forest School this month. He said the work the school does to support children with special educational needs and disabilities is “outstanding”.
He also met with stakeholders working to improve Knaresborough Town Football Club and victims of major flooding in Knaresborough in May.
Mr Gordon also said he has secured a meeting with Minister for Skills to discuss funding for Harrogate College. The funding has come under jeopardy after a legal battle caused delays in the project.
The MP spoke to King James’s School students who are interested in getting into politics and also met teachers at New Park Primary School.
Mr Gordon also attended Remembrance Day services in Harrogate, at Stonefall Cemetery and in Starbeck. He said a representative laid a wreath in Knaresborough on his behalf.
What else?
Mr Gordon joined the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme this month. He has pledged to spend 15 days alongside the military and visited Harrogate Army Foundation College as part of the scheme.
Mr Gordon also took part in the Annual Poppy Ride to raise awareness and funds for the Royal British Legion.
The MP also joined the Dignity in Dying group, as well as other MPs, in support of Kim Leadbeter’s private members' bill. Mr Gordon said after the vote on November 29:
Today, Parliament took a historic and compassionate step towards giving people dignity and choice at the end of their lives. This Bill, supported by a clear majority of MPs, reflects the views of the British public, who overwhelmingly want to see this compassionate and safeguarded option become law.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke
Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative – Wetherby and Easingwold
What did he do in Parliament?
Sir Alec voted against all eight bills he voted for this month.
These included the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, as well as the Budget Resolution Number 34: VAT on private school fees.
He made two spoken contributions in the House of Commons. Sir Alec told the House Bishop Monkton residents had been “let down” by Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency at a Rural Affairs debate.
Sir Alec also said he had “many concerns” over the assisted dying bill.
What did he do in his constituency?
Sir Alec encouraged his constituents to contact him about the impact increased Employers’ National Insurance will have on people.
He also shared a petition to stop bus fares being increased and had a tour of Skelton-on-Ure. He visited a day nursery and the Black Lion pub, which is currently being refurbish by the community.
Sir Alec attended a Remembrance Day service in Easingwold and visited the Light Up Easingwold event.
What else?
Sir Alec joined farmers who had travelled to London – 30 of whom were his constituents – to protest against government’s family farm tax.
Sir Alec said:
Whilst there’s often a lot of hyperbole in politics, it is no exaggeration to say that this attack on our rural economy will directly impact on the UK’s food security. For many farmers, whilst they are custodians of land that has been cultivated by generations before them, the average household income is around £35,000 per annum.
If a farmer dies, this could mean a death tax of around £400,000 payable to HMRC, with the ability to repay, with interest applied, over ten years. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that this means the family would need to go without any income for ten years to repay HMRC.
He also attended the 70th NATO parliamentary assembly in Montreal this month. Sir Alec was elected vice president of the assembly.
Sir Alec also congratulated Kemi Badenoch on her new role as Conservative leader.
Julian Smith
Sir Julian Smith, Conservative – Skipton and Ripon
What did he do in Parliament?
Sir Julian Smith voted 19 times in Parliament this month.
He voted against the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and the second reading of the Finance Bill.
Sir Julian also voted against the Budget Resolution Number 34: VAT on private school fees, but voted in favour of clause 20 of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill at the committee stage.
Sir Julian did not make any spoken contributions this month. However, he did submit several written questions on lead contamination.
What he did in his constituency?
Sir Julian laid a wreath at a Remembrance Day event in Ripon this month. He said wreaths were laid in Skipton, Bentham and Pateley Bridge on his behalf.
He went to Kirkby Malzeard to see how Yorkshire Water was getting on with extensive roadworks in the village. Sir Julian said he urged Yorkshire Water to minimuse disruption for residents and businesses.
Sir Julian also presented Harrogate district man James Badger with the Points of Lights Award. Mr Badger was awarded this for his fundraising efforts for Blood Cancer UK.
On November 29, Sir Julian also caught up with Dean John Dobson at Ripon Cathedral’s Christmas Fair.
What else?
Sir Julian joined the Independent Family Brewers of Britain’s celebration this month, where he met Simon Theakston of Masham’s Theakston Brewery.
He also shared Harriet Cross MP’s letter urging Rachel Reeves to reform the family farm tax.
Sir Julian also marked the 70th anniversary of the Yorkshire Dales being named a National Park.
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