Over the past three months, I have been working hard on local issues in Thirsk and Malton, as well as continuing my responsibilities as Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Locally, I have been focused on progressing the Filey Bus project, recently meeting with Filey’s mayor and interested constituents to present a trial solution to Ryedale Community Transport. Reliable public transport is essential for our rural communities and I will provide updates as soon as we receive further information.

Anyone who has followed my campaigning since first being elected, a key priority for me is to get the A64 dualled. Of course, it’s difficult no longer being in power, but please be assured I will not give up on this, and for the past 6 months I’ve been continuing to raise this both publicly and privately with colleagues and will ensure I work with the combined authority to ensure this is kept a priority.

The Plough Community Pub in Fadmoor was recently recognised as a winner in PubAid’s Community Pub Hero Awards, a well-deserved accolade that highlights its role in fostering community spirit. I have worked closely with Gerry McMahon, who was also honoured as PubAid's ‘Community Regular Hero’ for England, for a long time and there is no one more deserving of such recognition. His dedication to transforming The Plough Community Pub has been instrumental in bringing people together and creating a real community hub.

I was also pleased to see local businesses gaining national recognition. The Wold Top Brewery, a fantastic business near Hunmanby, recently had its beer featured in Parliament. Another highlight for North Yorkshire businesses was hosting the English Whisky Guild’s annual English Whisky Day event at Westminster, showcasing our very own Filey Bay and Cooper King whiskies from this region. The event, which I was proud to support, brought together nearly 50 MPs and Lords and over 200 guests to celebrate this growing industry. The English Whisky sector is a shining example of innovation and quality and it was fantastic to see such enthusiasm for our local producers.

A major local concern has been the approval of a solar farm at Eden Farm, Old Malton. The decision, made by Minister Matthew Pennycook MP, prioritises energy security over food security, posing a serious threat to British agriculture, local communities and the Sturdy family, who will face significant and lasting hardship. The land in question is highly productive agricultural land, crucial for domestic food production. While renewable energy is important, it should not come at the expense of farming families and national food security. I will continue to push for a fairer, more balanced approach to planning decisions that properly considers the long-term impact on British farmers.

At the time of the ACC, I’ll have also held my farmers meeting with Shadow Farming Minister, Robbie Moore to understand how best we can support the concerns of farmers on this matter and of course, the issue of the farm tax. This follows a meeting in January in Thirsk and a previous meeting in London in November last year, on the Family Farm Tax, joined by other MPs and local councillors. We discussed the challenges faced by family-run farms and explored potential solutions to support their sustainability. Family farms are the backbone of our rural communities and I will continue to push for policies that support them.

I have also been supporting local businesses, including pubs, through the ‘Save Our Local’ campaign, highlighting the vital role these establishments play in our economy and communities. That’s why, at the time of writing, I am preparing to launch the ‘Best Local Pub’ competition, which will celebrate outstanding pubs in our area. I encourage everyone to take part and engage to recognise the best our region has to offer.

In Parliament I have been actively working on crucial policy areas within my Shadow Secretary of State brief including housing, planning, levelling up and local government. I’ve been holding the Government to account across multiple policy areas scrutinising major bills, such as the Renters’ Rights Bill. I fear will have devastating consequences for tenants and small landlords. By reducing rental supply, making it harder to remove disruptive tenants, driving up costs due to lower availability, exacerbating court delays and threatening vital student housing this Bill creates more problems than it solves.

I have also been closely involved in the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill which despite its technical name will directly impact residents and businesses in Thirsk and Malton. It risks forcing 90,000 students from private to state schools adding significant pressure to the education system. Taxing education is fundamentally wrong and I have been clear that this Bill could also drive up costs for businesses particularly in retail, hospitality and leisure by reducing rate relief, a huge concern for North Yorkshire.

Looking ahead the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is another significant piece of legislation coming to the Commons for debate next week (at the time of writing). While I support efforts to accelerate infrastructure projects and increase housing supply, I am concerned that it could weaken local decision-making, erode protections for greenbelt land and impose top-down planning targets that overlook community priorities. Planning reform must drive growth while ensuring local voices are heard and our environment is protected.

I’ll always ensure the levelling up aspect of my brief is central, including recent engagements at the Northern Briefing conference and meeting True North, to discuss a new initiative supporting economic growth across the North of England. I have also stood with thousands of protesters at Royal Mint Court to oppose China's proposed mega-embassy in London. This isn't just a local issue to Londoners and the residents who are at risk of being forced from their homes, but one that has significant national security implications. I will continue to do all I can to push for a stop to these plans.

Finally, a key part of my work as a Shadow Secretary of State is being involved in the new Policy Renewal Programme led by Kemi Badenoch. This is a critical initiative to reshape Conservative policy for the future, aiming to find innovative solutions to the key challenges we face in housing, planning, social care and more. As well as engaging with housing, local government and levelling up issues on a national level, I will be representing the interests of Thirsk and Malton to ensure your voices are heard in the development of these policies. My focus is on ensuring that the policies we shape reflect the needs of local government, businesses and families, driving practical solutions for growth and sustainability across the country. I want to gather ideas from all levels of local government and beyond to make sure the solutions we propose address the most pressing issues in society and would encourage anyone hoping to input to contact my office or visit: https://policy.conservatives.com/