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 September, Labour voted to cut winter fuel payments and came under fire for accepting thousands of pounds worth of free gifts and donations.

Party conferences also got underway.

Here’s what we know after analysing our MPs’ online presence. 

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat - Harrogate and Knaresborough

What did he do in Parliament?

This month, Mr Gordon voted four times in the House of Commons, and made one spoken contribution.

• On September 3, he voted in favour of amendment 21 of the Passenger Railway Services Bill (public ownership), which was at the committee stage.
• Mr Gordon also voted in favour of amendment two of the motion to the annul the Budget Responsibility Bill and the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations.
• On September 10, Mr Gordon voted in favour of the Opposition Day: Winter Fuel Payment motion.

Mr Gordon contributed to the unpaid carers debate on September 3, where he cited his own experience as a young carer and asked fellow Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain in an adjournment debate on unpaid carers whether she agreed "a national carers strategy should prioritise the identification of carers across all sectors".

Mr Gordon also submitted eight written questions in September.

These included asking the Health Secretary Wes Streeting how many people received NHS treatments for dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder, over the last five years, and which NHS trusts offer the treatment.

He also asked Chancellor Rachel Reeves about plans to support independent breweries through the alcohol duty system. 

What did he do in his constituency?

Throughout September, Mr Gordon visited students at Harrogate charity Horticap, as well as Synergy Car Leasing to discuss the rollout of electric cars.

On September 18, he spent the morning at Bilton Health and Wellbeing Hub, where Parkinson’s UK holds fitness sessions.

He also visited Harrogate Brewing Co to kick of Harrogate Beer Week, attended the Harrogate in Bloom Awards, and met Tony Collins, chief executive of Saint Michael’s Hospice, at Crimple House Hospice. 

Mr Gordon also renewed his appeal for an extension to the £16m government funding provided to rebuild Harrogate College. It is at risk of losing the funding after a judicial review led to a delay.

What else?

Keen runner – and known ‘Swiftie’ – Mr Gordon took part in the Great North Run on September 8. He raised £855 for Saint Michael’s Hospice, and said on social media Taylor Swift’s album 1989 Taylor’s Version got him through the half marathon.

Mr Gordon attended the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Brighton, visited Scotton Lingerfield Primary School on September 27, and told his X followers the nation "must hold Labour to account" on the two-child benefit cap and scrapping winter fuel payments. 

Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative – Wetherby and Easingwold

What did he do in Parliament?

Sir Alec voted in the House of Commons twice in September.

He voted in favour of the motion to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations, as well as the Opposition Day: Winter Fuel Payment motion.

Sir Alec also made one spoken contribution this month during the Ukraine debate on September 10.

He asked John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, if a NATO-led missile intercept system could be something the secretary discusses as the government moves towards a strategic defence review.

Sir Alec submitted one written question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on September, asking:

What did he do in his constituency?

Sir Alec visited Cundall Manor School to discuss Labour’s proposed VAT imposition on private schools.

He asked Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency about issues with existing water networks in Bishop Monkton, and met Boroughbridge Town Council and business leaders in the town to discuss opportunities and issues locally.

Sir Alec also visited several other groups, organisations and areas in his constituency, but they do not fall in the Harrogate district.

What else?

Sir Alec said on X, formerly Twitter, he was “disgusted” by Labour’s choice to cut the winter fuel payment. He urged those that agree to sign a petition.

He told the Yorkshire Post he is backing James Cleverly to become the new Conservative leader.

Sir Alec, who is leader of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, told the Stray Ferret he joined the defence committee in Washington DC to discuss the threat from advanced missile systems combined with “increasingly capable drones on display from Russia, Iran and North Korea”.

He also called David Lammy’s decision to halt some arms sales to Israel “appalling”. 

Sir Julian Smith, Conservative – Skipton and Ripon

What did he do in Parliament?

Sir Julian voted in favour of amendment 17 of the Passenger Railway Services Bill (public ownership), which was at the committee stage.

He also voted in favour of the motion to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations.

Sir Julian, a former Northern Ireland secretary, contributed to a debate on the 1989 murder of Patrick Finucane, a former human rights lawyer who was killed in his Belfast home by loyalist parliamentary group the Ulster Defence Association.

In a separate debate, he also asked Environment Secretary Steve Reed what steps are being taken to promote innovation in the agricultural sector. Sir Julian added:

What did he do in his constituency?

Sir Julian met North Yorkshire Council’s head of education to discuss the demand for special education needs and disabilities services across the county.

He met with veterans at the RAF Club on Kirkgate, in Ripon, to hear about their experiences on September 20 and visited National Trust site Brimham Rocks the day before.

Sir Julian also urged the government to reconsider plans for a huge increase in housebuilding in North Yorkshire. In a letter to deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner, he said the county does not have the “capacity” to deliver Labour’s ambitious plans to build 4,232 homes here.   

What else?

Sir Julian “strongly encouraged” his social media followers to take advantage of free blood pressure checks available in North Yorkshire.

On September 18, he praised North Yorkshire Council and Transdev on plans to introduce £1 bus fares for under 19s.

He also promoted Migraine Awareness Week towards the end of September, adding he was “standing with 1 in 7 people who experience migraines”.

Sir Julian also urged schools in Skipton and Ripon to apply for a £1,000 Kellogg’s Breakfast Club grant, and marked World Milk Day on his social media accounts.