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21
Dec
Tories and Lib Dems in political spat over Harrogate Convention Centre
Liberal Democrat MP Tom Gordon has accused senior Tories on North Yorkshire Council of making “snide comments” during a debate about the future of Harrogate Convention Centre.
The council’s Conservative executive this week approved plans to spend £7 million on creating break-out rooms in a studio at the conferences and events venue to attract more bookings. You can read more here.
During the debate, two executive members aimed barbed comments at Mr Gordon, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Deputy leader Cllr Gareth Dadds, who represents Thirsk, said:
I have seen certain local media outlets carry the comments of the local MP there. I suppose the message is the local MP might want to put his shoulder behind the wheel, join us and get that funding in the months and years to come. That might be a bit more productive use of his time by working with us.
Cllr Simon Myers, who represents Mid Craven, then said some councillors including himself had known Harrogate “possibly longer than some of the people who now represent Harrogate”.
The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Dadd which comments of Mr Gordon he was referring to but has not had a response.
Tom Gordon (centre) with Paula Lorimer and HCC sales account manager Darren Peters.
In November, Mr Gordon called for investment in the convention centre, which will host next year’s Liberal Democrat spring conference, after meeting centre director Paula Lorimer.
He said he was “committed to working with Harrogate Convention Centre, local businesses, and the council to ensure that a thriving future for our convention centre is secured” but added he would “not look to the previous Conservative government’s approach to levelling up and piecemeal funding pots as a particularly good way of identifying and funding opportunities”.
We asked Mr Gordon, who ended Conservative Andrew Jones’ 14-year stint as MP in July, if he wished to respond to the comments made at the executive meeting.
He said he would continue to campaign for investment in the area before the election, adding:
It is disappointing that Conservative executive members spend their time making snide remarks, when they have dithered and delayed on investing in our town for far too long.
That’s why at the general election, both in Harrogate and Knaresborough and across the country, the electorate voted them out in their worst ever election results.
I will continue to work constructively with key stakeholders, as I already have been doing so.
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