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.”
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Boris Johnson urged to support Harrogate Town’s Wembley campaign
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones today urged the Prime Minister to support Harrogate Town’s bid to rearrange the date of its trip to Wembley so fans can attend.
The Football Association has said last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between Harrogate and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3, just two weeks before fans can return to stadiums.
It means Town fans will be cruelly denied a trip to the home of English football for the second time in 12 months.
Speaking today at Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative MP Mr Jones described a Wembley cup final as the “holy grail” for supporters of smaller clubs. He said all four MPs of affected clubs backed the campaign to move the date and asked:
“Will the Prime Minister join us in encouraging those scheduling the matches to do all they can to move the date so that fans can attend?”
Boris Johnson replied:
“I hope very much that the Football Association will listen to carefully to what my honourable friend has to say and that they do what they can.”
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The FA previously said the game would be rearranged when fans can return. Town fan Rob Nixon told the Stray Ferret supporters should be rewarded for their patience.
“After missing out on Wembley last year, we had a lot of good faith in the FA after they suggested a final we could attend this season. I think it’s only fair they honour this and reward the fans for our patience.”
A petition set up by a Harrogate Town fan to move the fixture now has over 1,100 signatures.