Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited Knaresborough banking hub on Friday.

Ms Reeves joined shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and shadow Economic Secretary Tulip Siddiq at Kirkgate.

Reeves hailed the hub, which opened on November 17, as an example of what the Labour Party would like to see across the country if it wins the next general election, which is expected to take place in 2024.

Labour has committed to setting up at least 350 banking hubs following a 64 per cent drop in the number of banks in Yorkshire since 2015.

Ms Reeves said:

“There’s now 20 banking hubs around the country.

“Banking hubs are there to replace bank branches because Knaresborough was without a bank for three years.

“[There’s] not a single bank branch in this town and banking hubs are an alternative to banks.

“When there are no banks left in the town the idea is that the banks come together to open a hub that you can use whichever bank you’re with, but there’s only 20 of them and we know that there are many more high streets in towns and villages that don’t have banks at all.

“Labour is making a commitment today that in the first term of a Labour government, we would open at least 350 banking hubs so that more people have access to banking facilities and to cash, which is something that unfortunately today too many people don’t have access to.”

Ms Siddiq added:

“When a local community no longer has access to a bank branch, we know it is the poorest in society along with high street businesses who lose out the most from the loss of vital in-person services.”

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Knaresborough photographer Charlotte Gale came to get cash from the banking hub and speak to the three members of Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cabinet about why she needs cash for her business.

Ms Gale said:

“I always run out of 5ps.

“That’s the way my stuff is priced – it’s 95p.

“There’s always a struggle to get a 5p.”

Alongside its plans to bring back banking to communities, Labour also pledged to give councils the power to tackle shuttered-up shops, tackle antisocial behaviour and shoplifting through dedicated police patrols, replace business rates with a fairer system and end late payments to support small businesses.

Mr Reynolds said:

“Under the Conservatives, our high streets have been allowed to fall into decline, with more and more high street anchors like banks closing.

“Labour will put an end to boarded-up premises and ghost high streets with our plan to bring banks back to the high street, fix business rates, tackle empty properties and get police back on the beat on your high street.”

In Yorkshire and the Humber 464 banks – or 64 per cent – have closed since 2015 and just 264 remain open.

This is the second biggest percentage of bank closures in the country, with 66 per cent of banks being closed in the south-west.

In the whole of England, there are 3,208 bank branches.

The chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce has said the government’s economic credentials are in tatters after today’s emergency statement.

David Simister cautiously welcomed last month’s mini-budget for containing measures to stimulate growth.

He said at the time scrapping the rise in national insurance and reversing the increase in corporation tax was “good news for businesses large and small”.

But Mr Simister was less complimentary about today’s statement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, which reversed almost all tax cuts besides national insurance.

Mr Simister said:

“This is a massive U-turn, and the government’s economic credentials are in tatters.

“In the Kwarteng mini-budget there were some real positives for business, cutting corporation tax, reducing national insurance, and reforming off-payroll (IR35) rules. Only the NI reduction has stayed.

“If Mrs Truss goes, and I really can’t see her staying the course, I wonder if there will be a third mini budget in as many months?”

The chamber, which was founded in 1896, supports local businesses and lobbies on their behalf.

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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss breezed into Harrogate today as part of her campaign to be the next Prime Minister.

Local Conservative Party members paid £10 to take part in an Ask Liz event at a private house on the Duchy estate. Attendees didn’t receive the address until this morning.

Those who arrived early made the most of the sunshine by sitting on a wall in front of the property, many dressed in their finest attire.

One woman said Ms Truss had “come across very well” at a recent hustings in Leeds, another said she was there to “see what she’s got to say”.

And there were mutterings that there was no support from MPs in the district, including Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and Skipton and Ripon MP  Julian Smith. Both are backing rival leadership candidate Rishi Sunak, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Instead Alec Shelbrooke, MP for Elmet and Rothwell, hosted Ms Truss’s visit. He could be seen with other prominent members of the party waiting at the large black metal gates to greet Ms Truss.

Graham Swift thanks people for attending.

Harrogate Borough Council deputy leader Graham Swift, who the house is believed to belong to, was also spotted at the event.

Read more:

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Stickers and signs emblazoned with the words ‘In Liz we Truss’ and ‘Liz for Leader’ were given out to visitors, as they were directed to a garden at the back of the house.

The press weren’t invited to attend, however the Stray Ferret captured a video of Ms Truss arriving in a black Range Rover, before she was whisked into the property by security, which included the Metropolitan Police.

Although the event was billed for 90 minutes, Ms Truss left after about 30 minutes and then made a fleeting visit to Harrogate town centre.

Liz Truss leaving the venue with her security entourage.

After a walk up Montpellier Parade, she was shown the sights of the Stray and the town’s war memorial, which was surrounded by people enjoying the 25 degree heat.

From there, the leadership hopeful headed into Bettys Tea Rooms armed with her entourage, before swiftly leaving to head down Parliament Street.

Passing the queue at Bettys. Pic: The Stray Ferret

With that she was gone on to the next leg of her campaign to defeat Sunak when party members vote to choose the next leader.

The result of the race to replace Boris Johnson will be announced on September 5.

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

This month our MPs gave their thoughts on the partygate scandal as well as on Rishi Sunak’s wife’s tax affairs.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found out on Mr Jones:

• On April 6, Mr Jones added his voice to the widespread disappointment that the area has not been awarded any money from the government’s Bus Back Better scheme.
• This month, the government launched controversial plans to send ‘illegal’ asylum seekers to Rwanda. On April 20, Mr Jones voted for an ammendment to the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill to enshrine this power in law.
• Mr Jones visited Harrogate’s job centre on April 13, where he posed for a photo with Aldi and Warner Hotels employees who were recruiting.
• On April 19 in Parliament, Mr Jones asked for more information about the controversial asylum seekers processing centre in Linton-on-Ouse. He asked: “When might it open? what is its capacity? and how many local jobs will be created?”
• Speaking in the Commons on April 21, Mr Jones backed an investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over “partygate”.
• Mr Jones has not updated his official website since January.
• During a Commons debate on April 26, Mr Jones responded to calls from some Labour MPs to bring trains into public ownership. Mr Jones said Labour “haven’t got a clue” and that rail travel has thrived since privatisation.
• On April 26, Mr Jones said it was ‘deeply disappointing’ that the Taliban in Afghanistan had suspended secondary school classes for girls.
• On April 27, Mr Jones voted in favour of the government’s Elections Bill, which aims to tackle election fraud.

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Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

• On April 8, Mr Smith defended Chancellor and fellow North Yorkshire MP Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy after she volunteered to pay more tax. He tweeted: “Not required in law but this is right decision. Both Rishi Sunak and Ashkata Murty have shown dedication to North Yorkshire & the United Kingdom over many years. Diversity of origin, background & roots is to be celebrated as is a v successful woman as well as a v successful man.”
• Mr Smith congratulated journalist and Grassington man Chris Mason on his appointment as the new BBC political editor. “Great news! Ermysted’s Grammar School old boys smashes it again!”
• Mr Smith voted in favour of a clause in the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill that commits the UK to receiving 10,000 refugees a year through official resettlement schemes.
• Mr Smith also voted to send ‘illegal’ asylum seekers abroad.
• On April 27, Mr Smith also voted in favour of the government’s Elections Bill.
• On April 28, the Ripon MP visited the city’s cathedral for a preview of an event that celebrates its founding in 1350. He said: “Flowers, light, sound – it has it all. Get along this weekend if you can.”

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

• On April 9, the MP announced he would be standing down at the next general election. He told the BBC he wanted to spend time on other interests after more than a decade in parliament.
• Mr Adams called criticism by Keir Starmer towards Rishi Sunak’s wife over her tax affairs “distasteful and desperate”.
• On April 12, the MP posted on his website that he welcomed a government ‘crackdown’ on fly tipping.
• On the same day, the MP praised Boris Johnson for his trip to Ukraine to meet president Zelensky. “Outstanding leadership from both men”, he tweeted.
• The MP hailed the government’s controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda in Africa. He tweeted: “This plan will deter and prevent thousands of dangerous channel crossings organised by people smugglers who care not if their clients drown or not. If you think that is ‘inhumane and horrific’ there’s not much more I can add.”
• On April 12, Mr Adams said it was time to let Boris Johnson ‘get on with the job’ after being fined by the police for breaking lockdown rules.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget has received a lukewarm reception from Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

Chief executive David Simister said there were “a number of positives”, such as the increase in employment allowance and the continuation of the rates reduction, adding:

“However, there was no relief in terms of VAT for the hospitality industry, which will go up to 20 per cent from April 1.

“And with the current cost of petrol and diesel, the cut in fuel duty is miniscule. National Insurance is in effect an income tax, and cutting this along with income tax should be the priority.

“Mr Sunak is gambling that business will grow and he can reduce taxes later, but corporate tax will still rise.

“In short, creativity is certainly geared towards delivering good news in election year, but in the here-and-now there’s little relief, and it’s orientated towards larger business.”

Masham brewery launches new beer for summer

Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery has launched a brand new beer ahead of the summer.

Called Refresh, the cask beer comes as part of the brewery’s seasonal range and will be made available in April.

Described as a fresh take on the classic British blonde ale, Refresher offers a light, fruity pint with layers of pulsating hop character.

Jack Scott Paul, brand and communications manager at Black Sheep Brewery, said:

“We’re really excited to launch Refresher, just in time for the spring season. Refresher is our own, fresh take on the classic British blonde ale, and we know this one will be popular with both cask beer lovers and those looking to try a new kind of pint.”

“As the name suggests, it’s sure to offer perfect refreshment and judging by the recent weather, there’s no better time of year to launch this new beer.”