Wetherby and Easingwold: Arnold Warneken, Green Party

Boroughbridge, Spofforth and a large part of the Vale of York now fall within the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency.

Here, Green Party candidate Arnold Warneken sets out his priorities in the final policy statement of a series written by the six candidates standing for election in the constituency on July 4. 

I am currently North Yorkshire Councillor for Ouseburn, which I won in May 2022 with an overwhelming 69%; I am also Chair of Tockwith Parish Council, and have lived for 40 years in Cowthorpe, all within the constituency.

I am an experienced politician, having first been elected in 1991 to Harrogate District Council, where I was dubbed ‘the Council’s conscience’ by the chief executive!

I have stood in Westminster elections three times before, including 2023 in Selby and Ainsty, where I came third of 13 candidates, beaten only by Labour and the Conservatives.

Additionally, Compass (an organisation promoting Proportional Representation) has endorsed me as their recommended candidate, for pledging to champion electoral reform in Parliament.

My priorities for the constituency:

NHS: I support substantial public investment to improve free access to GPs, dentists and adult social care. Schools need trained staff to support children’s mental health, and more district nurses and health visitors to end bed-blocking in hospitals.

Public Transport: Buses need more funding in rural areas to allow cheap, reliable access to work and recreation, particularly for those without cars, including young people and disabled people.

Housing: I currently sit on the North Yorkshire Council Selby and Ainsty Constituency and Planning Committees, and have in-depth knowledge of local planning issues, including the Asphalt Plant and Maltkiln development.

As MP I would press for changes to the National Planning Policy Framework so that infrastructure (including sewerage, schools and health services) is put in place before homes are completed.

More social housing is needed locally, especially for the young and elderly, to maintain community cohesion.

Roads: I actively support campaigns to cut speed limits and improve road safety.

Water Quality: North Yorkshire Council unanimously passed my cross-party motion to protect rivers and coastal waters. The council can now put pressure on water companies and the National Farmers' Union to end sewage and agricultural pollution.

Yorkshire Water must be brought back into public ownership, and proper investment into infrastructure made as a matter of urgency.

Agriculture: Farming payments need switching to nature-friendly systems to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, encourage wildlife, and end factory farming to improve animal welfare.

Finally, because I’m not told how to vote by my Party bosses, I am free to speak up in Westminster for this constituency, and I have a reputation for getting things done.

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The candidates for the Wetherby and Easingwold constituency are:

• John Hall, Yorkshire Party
• Mike Jordan, Reform UK
• James Monaghan, Liberal Democrats
• Ben Pickles, Labour
• Sir Alec Shelbrooke, Conservative
• Arnold Warneken, Green Party

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