Tom Gordon calls for restoring freedom of movement to help tourism industry in Harrogate and Knaresborough

Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has joined calls for the restoration of Freedom of Movement with the European Union, to help the tourism industry in Britain, including in Harrogate and Knaresborough, both of which have large tourism industries. 

The intervention by Tom came in a debate on UK-EU relations, which was brought to Parliament following an e-petition calling for the UK to rejoin the EU, that was signed by more than 130,000 people. There were also many signatories to the petition in Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Tom received many requests from constituents to attend the debate. 

 Tom spoke on the importance of restoring freedom of movement between the UK and EU, to help the suffering tourism industry in the UK. Both Harrogate and Knaresborough have strong tourism industries, that bring lots of investment and money into the towns. Tom spoke of how, in the aftermath of Brexit, businesses have struggled to recruit enough staff to keep running resulting in some having to shut up shop entirely, or close early. This has in turn cost jobs. 

He called for Freedom of Movement to be restored, to help the UK economy. Tom has previously called for a UK-EU youth mobility scheme, which would allow young people to travel around Europe, to gain valuable experience, learning and working, and improve links with our neighbours. 

Commenting, Tom said: 

“Restoring Freedom of Movement with our closest neighbours is vital for Harrogate and Knaresborough’s tourism industry. It’s absurd that businesses are having to close or downsize purely because they can’t get the staff. 

“This change would also help the Chancellor to get the economic growth she claims to want to see. To continue to hold back from Freedom of Movement with the EU on the basis of ideology is utter foolishness, and is only throttling our economy. Common sense must win, and that means working with our neighbours. 

“We need a fundamental reset of our relationship with the EU, and this petition shows that the public want exactly that. People know Brexit isn’t all it was claimed to be, and its high time that the Government recognise that.”

ENDS