Tom Gordon speaks in Parliament for the first time

Tom Gordon, the new Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, made his first intervention in the House of Commons yesterday. It was on the same day that the Conservative-run North Yorkshire Council voted to restrict home-to-school transport in the council area. Liberal Democrat councillors voted against this measure. 

The intervention came in a debate on education and opportunity and sought to highlight the additional educational challenges faced by rural communities. 

He spoke in Parliament, “Today, North Yorkshire council has moved to restrict the services that it offers for home-to-school transport, which will have a disproportionate impact on rural schools and families. The Conservatives have been swept from power in Parliament, but they are still having a damaging impact on local government in areas such as mine in North Yorkshire. Does my hon. Friend agree that we should provide rural families and schools with more support, not less, to tackle the challenges that they face?”

Commenting after the intervention, he said, “I’m delighted to have spoken in Parliament for the first time. I’m even more delighted that I was able to raise such an important issue for so many families here in Harrogate & Knaresborough, but particularly those in rural communities.”