From sourdough to pastries: check out these five independent bakeries in YorkshireSunak taunted about living under North Yorkshire mayor

Rishi Sunak was taunted about living under a Labour mayor in his North Yorkshire constituency at Prime Minster’s Questions yesterday.

Harrogate-born David Skaith was elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire on May 2 last week. He took up the role yesterday.

Mr Skaith was photographed with Labour leader Keir Starmer at Northallerton Football Club a couple of hours after he was declared mayor on Friday.

Mr Starmer told the House of Commons that Mr Sunak now had “great Labour councillors” in Downing Street and Southampton, where he grew up, and a Labour mayor in London.

He added:

“At his mansion in Richmond, he can enjoy a brand new Labour mayor of North Yorkshire.”

Mr Sunak was quick to reply:

“I was of course surprised to see the honourable gentleman in North Yorkshire. Although probably not as surprised as he was when he realised he couldn’t take the tube there.

“I can tell him the people of North Yorkshire believe in hard work, secure borders, lower taxes and straight talking common sense.

“They are not going to get any of that from a virtue signalling lawyer from North London.”

Mr Starmer said:

“It was great to be in Northallerton where they had just voted to reject the Prime Minister’s proposition.

“No matter where he calls home, all his neighbours are backing this changed Labour Party.”

Read more:

5 things to do in Harrogate and the district this weekend

Above: Ripley Decorative Home and Salvage Show

Go to the Decorative Home and Salvage Show

Shop for charming and unique pieces for your home and garden, with a wide range of designs coming from country-wide traders and home buyers at the Decorative Home and Salvage Show at Ripley Castle.  

There is food and refreshments to buy onsite so that you can make a day of it. Dogs are also welcome. 

£15 per person on Friday, £10 per person on Saturday and Sunday. Free for accompanied under 16-year-olds. 12-5pm May 10, 10am-5pm May 11 and 12. Ripley Castle, Ripley, HG3 3AY. 

Go to Jo Caulfield’s stand-up comedy

Laugh along with Jo Caulfield at her Here Comes Trouble performance at Masham Town Hall.  

Having showcased two extremely popular Edinburgh festival performances in 2022 and 2023, attendees will get to experience her bold attitude and greatest one-liners. 

With appearances on Mock the Week and The John Bishop Show, she is sure to fill your weekend with priceless wit. 

From £15 per person, 7.30pm, May 10, Masham Town Hall, Little Market Place, HG4 4DY. 

READ MORE:

Shoot your shot at Harrogate’s National Shooting Show 

At Harrogate’s National Shooting Show, the aim of the game is to have fun. Enjoy the day with activities such as archery, bushcraft, and a shooting range to name a few.  

There will also be food, and a chance to speak with licensed representatives and the UKPSA, United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association, if you wish to learn more about the sport.  

Tickets in advance cost £24.70 per adult, £5 for children aged six to 15, and free for children five and under. Weekend tickets in advance are £32 per adult, £10 for children aged six to 15 and free to children five and under. 8.30am to 5.30pm May 11, 9am to 4pm May 12. Great Yorkshire Showground, HG2 8NZ. Book tickets here.

Attend The Dales String Quartet and Ensemble 

Fill your evening with stunning music played by The Dales Ensemble, performing an arrangement of J. S Bach’s Goldberg Variations which is certain to bring a harmonious end to your week.  

The Ensemble is being played in memory of dramatist Ian Curteis who lived at the property and helped to reinstate the historic Great Hall into a beautiful library.   

From £20, 7.30pm on May 11 at Markenfield Hall, Ripon, HG4 3AD.  

Unwind at May Gong Relaxation Session 

If you’re looking for a way to treat yourself after a busy week, the May Gong Relaxation Session at Killinghall Methodist Church offers a relaxing afternoon; an opportunity to recover from stress and claim back your energy. 

With soothing background sounds, it can be a beneficial way to improve both your physical and mental wellbeing. 

£20 per person. 4pm, May 12. Killinghall Methodist Church, Ripon Road, Killinghall, HG3 2DF. 

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop an email to francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

READ MORE:

 

Tense day ends in clear victory for Labour’s Harrogate-born mayor

Labour’s David Skaith emerged as the clear winner today in the race to become York and North Yorkshire’s first directly elected mayor.

Mr Skaith beat Conservative rival Keane Duncan by almost 15,000 votes, in a result announced at Harrogate Convention Centre at about 2.30pm this afternoon.

The margin of victory was wider than many people expected at the count, where tension was high.

Conservative Ben Houchen’s mayoral victory in Tees Valley raised hopes that Mr Duncan could pull off a similar victory. But it was not to be.

Mr Duncan narrowly won the vote in North Yorkshire by 44,794 votes to Mr Skaith’s 41,122 but the Labour man’s strong York base saw him cruise home.

Liberal Democrat Felicity Cunliffe- Lister was a distant third, ahead of Green Kevin Foster,

Independents Keith Tordoff and Paul Haslam trailed home but both passed 10,000 votes.

Harrogate-born Mr Skaith, who runs a business in York, will now oversee the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which has devolved powers from Westminster and an annual budget of about £18 million.

It means there are now Labour mayors in North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

You can relive our live blog from the convention centre here.

FINAL RESULT

Read more:

Political leaders say North Yorkshire mayor vote ‘too close to call’

Political leaders in North Yorkshire and York have said the region’s first mayoral election was “too close to call” as voters went to the polls.

Ahead of the result of the vote being declared at Harrogate Convention Centre at around lunchtime on Friday (May 3), bookmakers had Labour’s David Skaith as favourite to win the mayoralty, with Labrokes offering odds of 2/5 on him and 15/8 on Conservative Keane Duncan.

At the same time another national bookmaker, William Hill, also had Mr Skaith as the most likely winner, with odds of 4/9 on him and 7/4 for Mr Duncan.

Both bookmakers were offering 25/1 on Liberal Democrat Felicity Cunliffe Lister and 33/1 on Green Party candidate Kevin Foster.

Neither bookmaker were displaying odds for the Independent candidates Paul Haslam and  Keith Tordoff.

As voting got underway at 668 polling stations across York and North Yorkshire, local politicians agreed a Labour victory in the traditionally Tory-dominated area which features some of the safest Conservative constituencies in the country, would represent a remarkable result.

Some leading Labour Party figures in the area said with the fine weather and leading more of the 640,006 electorate turn out to vote they were quite confident in their candidate would beat Mr Duncan, albeit by a fairly narrow margin.

Speaking privately, senior Tories said the result was “too close to call”, despite the Labour needing a significant shift towards the party from the most recent local government elections.

Two years ago in North Yorkshire the Conservative share of the vote fell from 53.3 per cent in 2017 to 41.2 per cent, while Labour secured 17.3 per cent, Liberal and Liberal Democrats 17.1 per cent, Independents 13.4 per cent and the Green Party 9.8 per cent.

In York, the 2023 elections saw Labour gain 42.4 per cent of the vote, the Liberal Democrats 31.1 per cent, Conservatives 13.8 per cent and the Green Party 11.1 per cent.

Standing beside Harrogate’s cenotaph with placards painted by his wife Kath, Independent candidate Mr Haslam said he had already spent hours “reminding people to vote” by the town’s busy Prince of Wales and Empress roundabouts.

It is understood while the majority of postal votes are usually returned only about 50 per cent of the postal votes had been returned before the polls opened, with a significantly lower rate of return in North Yorkshire than York.

Mr Haslam said:

“It suggests to me that traditional Conservative voters are staying home as many of the postal voters are Tories.”

Elsewhere, staff at polling stations in the Thirsk and Northallerton area reported a “steady trickle” of residents turning out to vote.

After voting at Thirsk and Sowerby Town Hall, an elderly couple who asked not to be named said they had voted as they felt it their “duty to do so”, despite not fully understanding the role and responsibilities of the mayor.

They added:

“As far as we can tell the mayor will be some sort of figurehead to get more government funding for the area, so it’s got to be a good thing.”

Read more:

Bookies name favourite in North Yorkshire mayoral election

Labour’s David Skaith is leading the race to be named mayor of York and North Yorkshire, according to Oddschecker.

The betting company said in a press release today Mr Skaith had a 63% chance of victory in today’s poll.

Conservative Keane Duncan is second in the betting, with a 30% chance,

Liberal Democrat Felicity Cunliffe-Lister is a distant third at 4% and Green candidate Kevin Foster’s odds are put at 3%.

Neither of the independent candidates, Keith Tordoff and Paul Haslam, registered a percentage.

The calculations are based the amount of on money placed on candidates by bookmakers.

A spokesperson for the betting firm said

“Skaith has seen his odds improved by bookies from 8/11 to 4/9 over the past 24 hours, representing an increase in implied probability from 58% to 63%.

“His rival, Keane Duncan, has seen his position in the betting market weaken from 6/5 to 2/1.”

A total of 59% of total bets through Oddschecker have been for Mr Skaith.

Oddschecker’s odds

Oddschecker’s Leon Blackman said:

“David Skaith continues to gain momentum in the betting markets, as bookmakers further solidified his position as favourite on Thursday morning.

“Previously priced at 8/11, Skaith is now 4/9 to become the first mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

“Meanwhile, his Conservative rival, Keane Duncan, has drifted to odds of 2/1.”

Read more:

How to vote in today’s mayoral election

Polling stations across Harrogate and Craven open at 7am today for residents to choose the first-ever mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Here is everything you need to know about the election.

What will the mayor do?

The mayor will lead a new public body called the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority which will receive £750 million in funding from central government over 30 years.

It means the new mayor will have £18 million a year to spend and will take charge of the combined authority, which will include two councillors each from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.

There will be new powers to improve public transport although services will still be delivered by the local authorities.

More money will also be available to support the building of new homes on brownfield land.

The mayor will also be key in developing skills across the region and attracting investment from businesses.

The mayor will be paid £81,300 a year.

Who is standing?

Conservatives: Keane Duncan – A former journalist who is a Malton councillor and is in charge of transport on the council’s decision-making executive.

Labour: David Skaith – A Harrogate-born shopkeeper who is chair of the York High Street Forum.

Liberal Democrats: Felicity Cunliffe-Lister – A Masham councillor and owner of the Swinton Park Hotel.

Green Party: Kevin Foster – A Richmond councillor and former soldier who worked as a civil servant for 30 years.

Independent: Keith Tordoff – A former police officer in West Yorkshire and former owner of The Oldest Sweet Shop In The World in Pateley Bridge.

Independent: Paul Haslam – A Harrogate councillor and business consultant who quit the Conservatives to stand as an independent.

Where can I vote?

If you’re on the electoral register you should have received a polling card in the post that says which polling station you should attend.

For a full list of polling stations in the Harrogate/Craven area visit here.

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.

You do not need to bring your polling card to vote but you do need ID. The following forms of ID will be accepted:

When will the winner be announced?

Unlike general elections, the count will not take place overnight, so it means you’ll have to wait until Friday before the winner is announced.

This will take place at Harrogate Convention Centre with counting underway from 9am. A winner could be announced by 12pm.

Read more:

North Yorkshire Council increases library fines for first time in a decade

North Yorkshire Council has increased the fine for an overdue book at its libraries from 30p to 35p per day.

The council said it was the first increase in almost a decade and was being made “in the light of increased pressures on finances”.

The changes will only apply to adult library members and not children.

The price to print an A4 piece of black and white paper at the library has also increased from 10p to 20p. It remains 50p to print a page of colour.

In an email sent to members yesterday, the council said income from fines and other charges goes into the library budget and contributes to ongoing service delivery costs.

The maximum fine for one book is £8.

The email added:

“Charges incurred at our community libraries goes directly back to the groups managing those libraries and makes up a valuable part of the income needed to meet their running costs.

“To mitigate the increase and to help customers keep track of items on loan we will be introducing reminders about when books are due back.”

For details of all library charges visit the council’s website.

Last year, Harrogate Library was the most popular in the county with 177,629 visits.

Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area were Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.

In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.

In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.

The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.

Read more:

5 things to do in Harrogate and the district this weekend

Above: Darren Taylor.

Go to photographer Darren Taylor’s exhibition

Showcasing his photography work that he has taken in and around Harrogate, Darren Taylor is putting on an exhibition at Harrogate Library.

Expect to see work from Harrogate town, aerial and vintage-style photography, as well as ICM photography; the art of moving a camera to create beautiful blur.

Free, various times, from May 3, Harrogate Library, Victoria Avenue, HG1 1EG.

Kick off the bank holiday weekend with live music at The West Park Hotel

The West Park Hotel in Harrogate is hosting its Courtyard Sessions with soundtracks to start the bank holiday weekend in style.

Proceedings begin at 5pm on Friday and 2pm on Saturday with an array of DJs, and both evenings will be seen out with a saxophonist.

And if the weather takes a turn for the worse, fret not, as the area is covered with blankets and heaters.

Free, call 01423 524471 to book, from 5pm on May 3 and 2pm on May 4, The West Park Hotel, 19 West Park, HG1 1BJ.

Admire the tulips at Constable Burton Hall & Gardens

The beauty of spring flowers blooming is always a sight to behold thanks to it signalling the start of a new season, and this year it seems particularly fitting as we keep hoping for warmer climes to be on their way.

See them in all of their glory at Constable Burton Hall & Gardens, Leyburn where it is showcasing more than 6,000 tulips planted throughout its formal and woodland gardens. Its lawn marquee will also host a display of cut blooms and there will also be expert advice on hand on how to care for your own garden arrangements.

Tickets in advance cost £5 for children aged three to 16 years old and £10 for adults, 10am-4pm, 4-6 May, Constable Burton Hall & Gardens, Leyburn, DL8 5LJ.

Read more: 

Go to Henshaws Beer Festival

The annual Henshaws Beer Festival is back for 2024.

Visitors will get to enjoy live music across two stages, street food and family-friendly activities, along with a carefully curated selection of beers, wine, gins, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks all crafted in Yorkshire.

There will also be an adult only evening session on the Saturday night.

Tickets in advance cost £5 for children aged three to 17 years old, £15 for adults. 12-5pm on Saturday daytime (family friendly), 6-11pm on Saturday evening (adults only), 12-6pm on Sunday (family friendly), May 4-5, Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, 50 Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AL. 

Visit Sports Cars in the Park at Newby Hall

There will be many different models of sports cars at this event that returns this spring to Newby Hall on its 20th anniversary. It currently expects to see more than 1,350 display cars in attendance.

Not only can you admire the motors, but the ticket price also includes access to Newby Hall’s gardens, restaurant, adventure playground, dolls house and teddy bear exhibitions.

Under 4s free, tickets in advance cost £15 for children aged four to 15 years old, £18 for adults, 10am-3pm, May 5, Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon, HG4 5AE.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

Read more:

 

How will North Yorkshire’s mayor help the economy?

Investment, attracting business and growing the economy – that has been the mantra for most of the candidates vying to become the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

For all the six people contesting the position, each of them has sought to push their credentials for how they would help to grow the county’s economy and attract enterprise.

Some have emphasised their business background, while others have opted for ambitious pledges to regenerate parts of North Yorkshire.

However, the powers afforded to the mayor to directly support enterprise appear limited and much of their influence may come from “championing” the region to attract investment.

The Stray Ferret has covered the mayoral race extensively. In this article, we look at how a mayor can support the local economy and what they can do to boost investment.

The economic future of North Yorkshire

When the devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire was announced, politicians described it as a “watershed” moment for the region.

Much of the emphasis on the deal, which included the introduction of a combined authority, was about investment. Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council, described it in August 2022 as an opportunity to drive “future prosperity and much better opportunities”.

The devolution agreement included a £540 million mayoral investment fund over 30 years – which the mayor themselves can use to help stimulate business, should they wish to.

James Farrar.

James Farrar.

When the Stray Ferret interviewed James Farrar, director of economy and interim head of paid service at York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, last month, he said the mayor would invest “a huge amount of money in the economic future” of the region.

He said:

“These are investments in transport, skills, housing and business which will have an impact on the future lives of residents across York and North Yorkshire.

“It’s the first time we have had one of these economic mayors. They have a huge amount of money to invest and a huge amount of responsibilities.”

Economic powers

So, how could the mayor boost the economy and attract investment?

The role comes with powers over transport, adult education and skills, as well as the ability to set up a mayoral development corporation to regenerate specific areas in North Yorkshire.

But, much of the power to attract investment and enterprise appears to rely on the influence associated with the mayor. In other words, the responsibility for “banging the drum” for the county.

Read more:

Dr Richard Hayton, associate professor of politics at the University of Leeds, told the Stray Ferret that the powers afforded to the mayor would have a “limited capacity” for them to directly help the economy.

However, he added that they would have the ability to help co-ordinate other sectors to drive further investment.

Dr Hayton said:

“On their own the mayor will only have a limited capacity to directly boost the economy. 

“However, hopefully a key role for the mayor will be to act as a champion for the region who can attract investment for example by co-ordinating different parts of the public and private sector to work together towards key objectives.”

Perhaps the closest and most recent example of this is the new £26.5 million railway station at the White Rose Centre in Leeds.

While the scheme is not directly funded by Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, it is a scheme led by West Yorkshire Combined Authority – which Ms Brabin chairs – and includes private developers Munroe K and Spencer Group.

Ms Brabin has been seen championing the project by backing the scheme in public statements and visiting the site, which aligns with the idea that metro mayors are seen as a “figurehead” for their region.

Tracy Brabin pictured at the construction site of the White Rose station. Picture: West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Tracy Brabin pictured at the construction site of the White Rose station. Picture: West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Dr Andrew Mycock, chief policy fellow at the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network, told the Stray Ferret that the regional champion role of the mayor was important.

He said Ms Brabin in particular does “a lot of advocacy work” and has a public image which people in turn associate with the region.

Dr Mycock said:

“It is something that has been positive. You look at Tracy Brabin, she has a strong public role.

“A lot of her role is about advocacy.”

He added that, economically, whoever is elected mayor of North Yorkshire will also be expected to work closely with West Yorkshire.

Dr Mycock pointed to the government’s devolution deal for North Yorkshire, which emphasises that the combined authority should “explore opportunities for further collaboration” with authorities such as West Yorkshire.

He said:

“The challenge for candidates is that the economy is more diverse than most. You have got York, but you also have rural and coastal communities.

“One area [for the mayor] will be that they will have to work closely with the West Yorkshire mayor. The government has included strong conventions in the deal that they have to work with West Yorkshire.”

The election campaign to be North Yorkshire first mayor has been filled with pledges to boost the economy.

Some have promised High Street funds, others want to buy hotels and many believe they are the right person to attract private investment and business.

While the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire may not be able to directly affect how the economy performs, they will have responsibility for ensuring that those who do have that power invest in the county.