I opened Glen Gardens Allotments Christmas Fair today in support of their allotments project for disadvantaged children.   The fair took place in Heworth Church Hall, Melrosegate.  The allotments project supports disadvantaged children of up to sixteen years of age, … More…

  My constituent Lesley Schatzberger has won the TalkTalk Digital Hero Award for Yorkshire and Humberside for her work using digital technology to help others.   Lesley is a music tutor who founded York based charity, Jessie’s Fund, in memory … More…

Following Royal Mail’s announcement that not only would all mail sorting be transferred from York to Leeds, but all mail posted in York would bear a Leeds postmark, I wrote to and met with Royal Mail managers to discuss the … More…

I visited York District Hospital today to meet management and staff to learn what the hospital is doing to encourage staff and visitors to cycle there.   I met Brian Golding, Director of Estates and Facilities, and members of staff … More…

I visited Ali G’s Pizza House in Tower Street, York today.  It is re-opening in early December, after being badly damaged by the flood water in September.  I was accompanied by Councillor James Alexander, Leader of City of York Council. … More…

MPs from NATO’s 28 member states last week elected me as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.   The Assembly is an inter-parliamentary organisation made up of 250 parliamentarians from NATO’s 28 member countries.  Parliamentarians from NATO’s partnership countries also … More…

I hosted a public meeting in York today with Council Leader, James Alexander, and representatives from the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water, so that people affected by flooding in the past few weeks could put questions to the Council and … More…

Today York Outer MP Julian Sturdy laid a wreath in York on behalf of him and me to mark Remembrance Sunday.   I am in Prague representing Britain at the Annual Meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.  I went with … More…

In the House of Commons today, I spoke out against the Government’s plans to introduce regional pay for NHS workers.   I warned that abandonment of national pay schemes would lead to pay inflation and greatly increase the number of … More…

Today I met Caleb Ellwood, Manager of the York Foodbank which is opening at the Gateway Centre in Acomb next month.   The Food bank is designed to help families who are struggling to cope in the current economic climate.  … More…