A record of action

farmers

Delivering a Fairer Deal for Thirsk, Malton & Filey

As your MP, I’ve always fought to make sure our part of North Yorkshire gets its fair share — and while there’s more to do, we’ve made real progress. From saving vital local services to securing major investment in infrastructure, I’ve worked hard to stand up for our towns, villages and rural communities.

Local Wins

  • Linton-on-Ouse Victory
    After months of campaigning alongside dedicated local residents and the Linton Action Group, the Government finally scrapped plans for an asylum processing centre. This outcome was thanks to tireless efforts from North Yorkshire Council, local councillors, North Yorkshire Police and many others who came together to oppose the plans.
  • Better Rail Access
    Thirsk and Malton stations have seen real investment: £1 million for new lifts and a footbridge at Thirsk, and £150,000 for a raised platform at Malton. Thirsk has also been selected for further feasibility work under the Access for All programme.
  • Backing Local Culture
    I’ve helped secure funding for treasured local institutions including the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Castle Howard and the Rural Arts Centre. In 2024, we also secured £50,000 for Malton Museum to establish a permanent home.
  • Lambert Hospital, Thirsk
    After working with Hambleton District Council, we saved Lambert Hospital from sale — it’s now being developed into the Herriot Hospice, bringing vital care back into local hands.
  • New A&E for Scarborough
    We secured £40 million to build a brand-new A&E department at Scarborough Hospital, supporting residents in Filey and beyond.
  • Filey Fishermen Protected
    After pushing back against unviable proposals to limit fishing seasons, we opened the door to a sustainable, long-term future for Filey’s heritage fishing industry.
  • Education and Jobs
    £5.4 million for Easingwold School and a new £2 million sports hall and 4G pitch. At Dalton Industrial Estate, a £4 million investment supported hundreds of jobs.
  • Creating Opportunities for Young People
    I’m working to connect young people directly with local employers and create more routes into work. Alongside my annual Apprenticeships Fair, I’ve campaigned to remove unnecessary barriers to summer jobs so that young people can gain valuable experience, earn money and develop the skills they need for the future.
  • Backing Local Businesses and High Streets
    As a former small business owner, supporting local businesses remains one of my priorities. I regularly visit businesses across Thirsk and Malton to hear directly about the challenges they face and intervene where unnecessary bureaucracy or regulation is holding them back. I’ll continue championing our independent shops, pubs, hospitality businesses and high streets and pressing for a better environment in which they can grow.
  • Restoring Local Dentistry
    After unacceptable delays, Helmsley and Thirsk are once again getting NHS dental services — thanks to relentless local campaigning.
  • Championing Public Services
    Over £80 million a year in new funding has gone into our schools, SEND support, social care and policing. That’s helped deliver 58 more police officers across North Yorkshire.
  • Helped secure £25,000 funding for Ryedale Special Families from Omaze.

Fighting for Local Priorities

  • Standing up for farmers
  • I’ve continued standing up for farmers across Thirsk and Malton at a time when many are facing huge pressures. I regularly meet local farmers and rural businesses to hear directly about the challenges they face and take those concerns back to Westminster.
  • I’ve campaigned against the Family Farm Tax and more recently, I’ve challenged the shambolic handling of SFI26 after hearing directly from local farmers. I’ll keep making sure the voices of North Yorkshire farmers are heard in Westminster and pressing for a farming policy that supports food production, viable farm businesses and our countryside.
  • Rural economy
  • I’ve continued standing up for the industries and businesses that sustain our rural communities. That includes supporting responsible game shooting and managed moorland, which provide jobs and income for gamekeepers, beaters, pubs, hotels, restaurants and other small businesses while also supporting important conservation work. I’m opposing unnecessary additional costs and bureaucracy that risk making these rural businesses unviable.
  • A64 Dualling
    I’ve continued leading the campaign to dual the A64, most recently bringing together a cross-party group of North Yorkshire MPs to press the Prime Minister to make the route a priority for No10 North. I’m calling for a clear route to finally deliver this long-overdue upgrade, improving safety, reducing congestion and unlocking investment and growth across North Yorkshire.
  • Banking Hubs
    With bank closures hitting rural communities hard, I’ve helped secure interim and permanent banking and postal services in Filey, Pickering and Helmsley and Bedale. I’ve continued pressing banks and Government to protect access to essential face-to-face banking services for people and businesses across our rural communities.
  • Water Quality and the Environment
    I’ve worked with the Environment Agency, DEFRA and Yorkshire Water to clean up local rivers and restore pride in our waterways. I’m a founding member of the Conservative Environment Group and continue to lead cross-party efforts to reduce litter and improve environmental standards.
  • Filey Town Bus
    I’m working with local residents and councils to bring back a community transport solution for Filey.
  • Local casework: I regularly intervene when local communities need support, working with councils, public bodies, businesses and Government departments to get problems resolved. Recent work has included pressing for action on anti-social behaviour and housing concerns in Helmsley, fighting to protect Post Office and banking services, supporting better rural broadband and challenging delays and bureaucracy affecting local communities.

Holding Government to Account

Since becoming Conservative Party Chairman, I’ve worked alongside Kemi Badenoch and colleagues to challenge the Government on the decisions affecting families, businesses and communities across the country.

We’ve campaigned against higher taxes on working people and businesses, the Family Farm Tax, cuts to Winter Fuel Payments, higher costs for pubs and hospitality businesses, damaging employment regulation and increases in fuel costs.

We’ve also challenged the Government on border security, welfare reform, defence and national security, while continuing to make the case for lower taxes, cheaper energy, stronger borders and an economy that backs businesses and people who work hard.

That national work goes hand in hand with standing up for Thirsk and Malton — making sure the impact of decisions made in Westminster on our farmers, high streets, pubs, small businesses and rural communities is heard at the very top of Government.

  • The Horizon Scandal
    As a former Business Minister, I introduced the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Act 2024, which fast-tracked compensation for victims. Over £160 million has already been paid to 2,700 sub-postmasters, with £600,000 offered to each person wrongly convicted. I continue to call for prosecutions of those responsible.
  • Tackling Economic Crime
    I led efforts to pass the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, introducing a new offence for failure to prevent fraud and giving Companies House powers to verify data. I also pushed back on SLAPP lawsuits and championed small businesses in financial services.
  • Parent Bereavement and Guardianship Acts
    Two Private Members’ Bills I introduced are now law — offering bereaved parents paid leave and supporting families of missing people through Claudia’s Law.
  • Council Tax Debt Reform
    My work with the APPG on Poverty helped change national guidance on council tax debt enforcement, making collection fairer and more compassionate.
  • Fighting for SMEs
    I co-created the Business Banking Resolution Service, improving access to justice for small businesses mistreated by banks. My campaign with victims of the HBOS Reading fraud also helped improve compensation processes at Lloyds.
  • Universal Credit Reform
    Pushed through changes to reduce waiting times and protect those paid on weekly or four-weekly cycles.
  • Cladding and Fire Safety
    After Grenfell, I worked cross-party to ban combustible materials on new high-rise buildings and helped secure over £10 billion to remediate unsafe existing structures.

A Record of Service

Over the last few years:

  • Held hundreds of constituency surgeries across Thirsk, Malton, Bedale, Filey and the wider constituency.
  • Helped thousands of constituents directly with individual cases
  • Continued to be a strong voice for our area in Parliament
  • Worked with communities, businesses and local organisations across the constituency to get things done

Looking Ahead

I remain committed to:

  • Delivering long-overdue infrastructure like the A64 upgrade
  • Supporting rural industries, our high streets and local jobs
  • Campaigning for better housing, stronger communities and a fairer deal for the North

There’s more to do — and I’ll keep working every day to make sure your voice is heard in Westminster.