Strayside Sunday is our weekly political column written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party:

This week has seen a flurry of proposals from local leaders to reinvigorate Harrogate and its economy as we begin to emerge from lockdown: North Yorkshire County Council has set up an in-house taskforce; Independent Harrogate has published a 1700-word mission statement with its proposals for Harrogate town centre; and we have even heard from Harrogate’s Lib Dems (remember them?) with their idea of creating multiple, Coronavirus Recovery Teams.  It’s reassuring to know that there is no lack of appetite, dearth of ideas or offers of industry to make Harrogate thrive.

My suggestion in last week’s Strayside Sunday that Harrogate lacked the magic ingredient – that of leadership – to harness this obvious and abundant energy seemed to touch a nerve and elicited lively correspondence, for which thank you.

In addition to innate qualities of vision and energy, leadership needs both a platform and method to flourish.  Around the world, imaginative governments, whether national or local, have used a technique called Citizen’s Assemblies to bring together often vehemently opposing groups to discuss and reach a negotiated settlement on highly contentious issues. This method, in which professionals facilitate a group of between 100 and 160 socio-demographically representative people for an intense period of what is called deliberative consultation, is well proven.  Among other successes, it led to a change to the Irish Constitution to allow gay marriage, to a new proportional voting system in British Columbia, Canada and to the creation of the NHS Constitution here at home.

If it can achieve those potentially contentious things, a Citizens Assembly here in Harrogate could certainly bring together Independent Harrogate and Zero Carbon Harrogate to work our way through the car versus bike, parking versus cycle lane debate.  So come on Mr Jones and Mr Cooper, grab your chance to lead and create a nation-leading model for unifying people and interests in the name of covid recovery.  You’ll find no shortage of willing and qualified participants, you’ll energise the town, and you’ll make a name for yourselves nationally. Think big, be big.

Talking of making a name for yourself, Dominic Cummings has been the national news story of the week. Dominic is a formidable political strategist, but, in common with many intellectually gifted people, he doesn’t suffer fools, nor is he in any way reticent with his views.  In my experience he holds the political classes in contempt, whether they be politician, civil servant or party apparatchik.  He is self-consciously out of step with the accepted norms of political behaviour.

Boris Johnson knows that without Cummings, the government will lose its’ policy conscience, lose the driving force behind the “levelling up” agenda, and still the beating heart of the Conservative’s stated objective for this parliament, coronavirus or no, to bring jobs and socio-economic progress to the Red Wall seats here in the North.  No wonder Boris is loath to let him go.  But let him go he must, or the Prime Minister risks fatally undermining his own position of trust with the Great British Public.

Harrogate MP Andrew Jones was quick to condemn him. It’s good to see our MP getting involved in a heated public debate for a change, even though in political terms going after Mr. Cummings is a freebie, with little or no personal political risk.  Andrew Jones is a remainer though (albeit one who voted for every iteration of the Brexit deal) who’s unable to find ministerial preferment in BoJo’s heavily Brexiteer team.  Nonetheless, more of this ‘sharp-elbowed’ engagement please Mr. Jones.

Finally, the town’s cyclists taught me a new word this week, namely Todesrinne.  This, translated from the German, means “death gutter” and is used to describe the narrow cycle lanes which are painted on the periphery of existing road surfaces.  The German’s have a knack for capturing the essence of a thing in their language and in this case its instructive. Not all cycle lanes are created equal and, when we do get them, as we must, they need to be properly planned and integrated, rather than painted on as a symbolic afterthought.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

Got a view on my views? You can get in touch with me on paul@thestrayferret.co.uk 

A majority of residents in the Harrogate district have said they are “appalled” and “furious” at the behaviour of the Prime Minister’s chief adviser who made a 500 mile round trip to County Durham during lockdown to isolate.

Across social media and e-mails to The Stray Ferret, people have been reacting to the news. Though most objected to the adviser’s behaviour, some have defended Dominic Cummings’ actions and said those who want him to resign are doing so for political reasons.

Mr Cummings found himself in the middle of a political storm over the Bank Holiday Weekend over his decision, but he said he believed he acted reasonably and did not regret it.

Harrogate MP, Andrew Jones, has reportedly joined other backbenchers and called for Mr Cummings to resign, but there is still no word on whether Ripon MP, Julian Smith, has joined the call.

Neither MP has responded to The Stray Ferret’s request for a comment.

Harrogate MP, Andrew Jones, has reportedly called for Mr Cummings to step down. But Julian Smith, MP for Ripon, has yet to comment.

On social media, the majority of comments from the district’s residents revealed they were unimpressed with Mr Cummings and some have e-mailed their local MP to voice their concerns.

Racheal Bowen said on Facebook: “I am furious and emailed Andrew Jones yesterday to voice my opinion. Stay home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives. Unless you are Dominic Cummings and then just do what you want and the NHS will pick up the pieces. Disgraceful behaviour from Cummings and all those in government who are supporting him.”

Susan Halliday said: “I am appalled at his arrogance. I have not seen my seven grandchildren for eight weeks and have followed the rules to the letter but now I’m not sure if I’ll pop and see them all and not feel guilty. I’m thinking the rest of the country may feel the same.”

No doubt Cummings should go. Don’t care if he resigns or is sacked, just as long as he goes.

— Marc Smith (@marcxsmith) May 25, 2020

But some have criticised the response to the story and said those who want Mr Cummings to step down are politically motivated.

Sue Stott said on Facebook: “I find it hard to comprehend the levels of hate that so-called respectable people are showing for this man & his family. What is this country turning into when all we can do is criticise and harass others.”

Cheryl Allan said: “I couldn’t care less. There are loads of people who have been out meeting other people and no one gives a damn. But if you’re in the public eye everyone goes mad about it.”

Most people wanting Cummings to be sacked are doing it for political reasons. #Gameplay

— Harrogate Stuff (@harrogate_stuff) May 25, 2020

Leaders from across the Harrogate district have sent their best wishes and prayers to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is in intensive care.

Medical staff at St Thomas’ Hospital in London took the decision to move Mr Johnson on Monday after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

Harrogate mayor Stuart Martin told the Stray Ferret:

“I would like to send Boris Johnson best wishes for a speedy recovery from myself and on behalf of my wife April who has been in Harrogate hospital with coronavirus. We need Boris’ leadership right now.”

Ripon mayor Eamon Parkin said:

“If I could send Boris Johnson a message directly I would tell him that his country needs him back. I have just found out this morning that a close friend has lost their life to coronavirus. It really can affect everyone.”

Pateley Bridge mayor Chris Skaife added:

“We would like to send our best wishes to the Prime Minister and to his wife. This virus has had a massive impact on everyone’s lives. I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone to listen to the advice to stay at home to save lives.”

Boroughbridge mayor Geoff Haldenby said:

“I would very much like for Boris to get better to return to his family and to his job. I think that he is the only person in this country that can lead us right now. He very much resembles Winston Churchill and this is another war that we are going through.”

Both Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, and Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, have tweeted their support for the Prime Minister.

All thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery for @BorisJohnson & to his medical team. @GSTTnhs is a very special place with the best possible care

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) April 6, 2020

Shocking news about the Prime Minister. I wish him, and all those suffering symptoms of COVID-19, a swift and full recovery. Please #stayathome, protect the NHS and save lives.

— Andrew Jones MP (@AJonesMP) April 7, 2020