MPs Watch: General Election, Nidd bathing status and female toilets

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 May, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared a General Election will be held on July 4, meaning Parliament is now dissolved. This means our current MPs are no longer officially MPs, and every seat in the House of Commons is vacant until they are elected or re-elected.

This month, Labour’s David Skaith was also elected the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Here’s what we know after analysing our MPs’ online presence. This covers the period until Parliament was dissolved.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what found on Conservative Andrew Jones:

• Mr Jones made five spoken contributions in the House of Commons.

• During a Business of the House debate on May 15, he asked what the government intends to do to ensure that “privacy and dignity for women is protected in toilet facilities”. Mr Jones said the issue was raised to him during a constituency surgery.

• On May 13, Mr Jones was joined by rivers minister, Robbie Moore, to officially confirm the River Nidd’s newly awarded bathing water status.

• Mr Jones also requested a debate on NHS digitisation following a meeting with Harrogate’s Pumping Marvellous – a group supporting those with heart failure. He said this would “better enable” patient record access.

• On May 23, he voted in favour of the third reading of the Finance Bill (number two).

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent details of April engagements.

These included a meeting with developer Avant Homes to “discuss concerns” about its Knaresborough development, as well as meeting North Yorkshire Council’s leaders.

Mr Jones also visited Harrogate District Hospital to view the construction of the new day-case ward and theatres.

He also met Chief Constable Tim Forber and opened the new extension to Crystal Court Care Home in Pannal. 

In Ripon, here is what we found on Conservative Julian Smith:

• Julian Smith did not make any spoken contributions in the House of Commons in May.

• He voted in favour of the third reading of the Finance Bill (number two).

• On May 15, Mr Smith voted against a new clause (91) of the Criminal Justice Bil during the report stage.

• Mr Smith also visited Masham Town Hall. The charity, which operates the town hall, recently applied for a Community Ownership Fund. Mr Smith said he is in “full support” of the application.

Mr Smith also called for business rated to be reduced for businesses affected by the A59 closure at Kex Gill. He said: 

He also visited Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatment works in Dishforth, as well as a farm at Mallard Grange in Ripon.

The Stray Ferret did not receive a response from Mr Smith when we contacted his office for comment. 

Keir Mather was elected Labour MP for Selby and Ainsty, which covers parts of south Harrogate, last year.

However, with the new Wetherby and Easingwold seat set to be contested for the first time this year, Mr Mather's constituency would no longer cover Harrogate if re-elected.

Here is what we found on Mr Mather this month:

• Mr Mather made three spoken contributions in the House of Commons this month. He spoke about SME finance, fuel poverty and mining communities.

• Mr Mather updated his social media several times through May. None of his updates related to the Harrogate areas of his constituency.

• On May 3, he celebrated the news of Labour’s David Skaith’s being elected the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

• He also wrote to councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, expressing concern that no councillors from Selby were part of the executive. Cllr Mark Crane, a Selby councillor, was later elected to the leadership.

Mr Mather also took part in the Great Selby Bike Ride this month.

He also plugged Labour’s plans for reliable public transport, cutting household bills and offering more neighbourhood police.