Wetherby and Easingwold: John Hall, Yorkshire Party

Boroughbridge, Spofforth and a large part of the Vale of York now fall within the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency. Here, Yorkshire Party candidate John Hall sets out his priorities in the latest of a series of policy statements written by the candidates standing for election in the constituency on July 4. 

What benefits all of Yorkshire will undoubtedly benefit the Wetherby & Easingwold constituency. A more prosperous Yorkshire means a brighter future for our local communities. 

As your Yorkshire Party candidate, I am dedicated to making our region thrive. The Yorkshire Party is the only party with a comprehensive plan for all of Yorkshire.

In 2023, public spending in London and Scotland was £14,500 per person, according to HM Treasury figures. Meanwhile, in Yorkshire, it was just £11,900 per person. This amounts to a shortfall of over £14 billion across Yorkshire, every year.

Worse yet, the money we do receive is often spent poorly and micromanaged by distant ministers and civil servants who lack an understanding of our region's needs.

The solution to this neglect is a Yorkshire regional parliament. This change would make Yorkshire an equal partner in a stronger and fairer UK, ensuring that policies and spending decisions are made locally by people who understand and represent our interests. 

 A Yorkshire parliament is a good investment that would repay itself many times over, delivering a better and fairer Yorkshire than Westminster ever could.

'Outvestment' occurs when funds are diverted from less wealthy areas to more affluent ones. Yorkshire residents contribute taxes towards projects like HS2 and Crossrail but see no direct benefit. This is why London is the most affluent area in NW Europe, while Yorkshire has three of the top ten poorest areas. London-based parties have London-based priorities. Only the Yorkshire Party is focused solely on Yorkshire.

Our councillors have been fighting to defend and improve local health, social care, and dental services. The London Tory government continues to cut local provisions, especially for children’s services, which protect the most vulnerable in our society. The NHS and social care need to work together, best managed by a unified department within a Yorkshire Executive.

We face both a climate emergency and a biodiversity emergency. We want clean water, fresh air, good food, and abundant renewable energy. A Yorkshire Parliament would regulate and toughen environmental protections, ensuring polluters pay and development is sustainable.

Yorkshire’s underperformance in many fields stems from the underfunding of its education system. A better-educated workforce leads to more jobs, investment, and reduced emigration. 

We need a ‘Yorkshire Challenge’ akin to the ‘London Challenge’ to uplift our schools. We are committed to building specialist colleges to fill skills gaps in green technology, digital industries, health, hospitality, and education.

An effective crime and justice system relies on trust and fair treatment. The Yorkshire Party will increase frontline police numbers and technology, improve public accountability, and scrap Police & Crime Commissioners in favour of direct accountability to elected representatives.

Conclusion

As your candidate for Wetherby & Easingwold, I am dedicated to delivering these promises. Together, we can achieve a sustainable future for Yorkshire. Vote for John Hall and the Yorkshire Party – local people delivering for their county, with a vision for a greener, healthier future. 

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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