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 April, Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill looked set to reach royal ascent, while MPs threw their weight behind their party's candidates in the race to be the first York and North Yorkshire mayor on May 2.

Here’s what we know after analysing their online presence.

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

• Mr Jones made two spoken contributions in the House of Commons this month. One was about the standards of new build housing in his constituency, and the other was during a Health and Disability Reform debate.


• On April 12, Mr Jones opened Disability Action Yorkshire’s new assisted living flats in Harrogate.


• Mr Jones welcomed a new bus service for Wedderburn Road, in Harrogate, on April 22.


• He joined Harrogate Pumping Marvellous, a heart failure group, for its first birthday on April 29.


• Mr Jones also voted in favour of the draft Economic Growth Order, and against the Renters Reform Bill (report stage) amendment 28.

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

• Mr Smith made no spoken contributions in the Houses of Parliament in the month of April.


• On April 16, he voted in favour of the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.


• Mr Smith also voted against the report stage of the Renters Reform Bill amendment 28.


• He also welcomed the news of the new childcare rollout in England, which grants working parents of two-year-olds access to 15 hours of free childcare per week.


• Mr Smith also said he was “really pleased” after North Yorkshire Council was awarded £7.8 million of additional funding to help those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with alternative provisions.

In Selby and Ainsty, which includes parts of south Harrogate, here is what we found on Labour MP Keir Mather:

• Mr Mather was listed among the Sunday Times’ top 25 most inspiring people under 30 in April for overturning a large Tory majority at such a young age.


• He updated his social media several times throughout the month. None of the updates related to areas of his constituency which fall in Harrogate.


• On April 22, Mr Mather spoke in the House of Commons about the upcoming election for the mayor of York and North Yorkshire. He raised concern about one candidate’s spending commitments.


• He voted against the motion to disagree with the lords on amendment 3J of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

Read more:

• MPs Watch: Spring Budget, Kex Gill and Rwanda Bill updates


• MPs Watch: Antisemitism, £380m transport fund and road safety


• MPs Watch: Rwanda bill, Post Office scandal and rough sleeping in Harrogate