GE2019: Q&A with the candidates for the Harrogate and Knaresborough seat

Kieron George (Yorkshire Party)

1) What are three local issues facing your constituency, and how would you address them?

• Reinvigorate Yorkshire’s economic growth to help local businesses
• Build missing houses and systems that can address homelessness
• Speak up for the people of Yorkshire to protect our green spaces

2) Leave remain or second referendum - what is your stance on Brexit, and why?

Whether it’s Brussels or Westminster, we cannot trust them to have Yorkshire’s needs at heart, like we can trust a party composed of people who live Yorkshire, love Yorkshire, and trust Yorkshire.

Euroscepticism has snowballed since the early ’90s, and the current Brexit-dominated politics was inevitable. The conservatives flounder at the inevitable, and the liberals resist the inevitable; only the Yorkshire Party can embrace and leverage it for a Good Deal for Yorkshire.

3) Should people be prepared to pay additional tax to fund improvements in public services, like the NHS?

The main issue is the distribution of funds. Yorkshire is already paying its fair share, but there's an imbalance when it comes to funding. Yorkshire could see an dramatic increase in funding to its public services by addressing the imbalance without paying any additional taxation.

4) High streets are struggling – what would you do to rescue them?

The high streets are struggling because they are in competition with Internet businesses that aren't burdened with the same taxes. Tax reform is needed. Business rates have never been a good idea. I would replace them and other over taxation with a Land Value Tax, which is a much fairer system that wouldn't burden local businesses. The emergence on-demand food delivery apps show that the internet can be a boon to local businesses, they just need a level playing field to compete on. A Land Value Tax would guarantee no shop front goes unused and would clean up brownfield sites, as landlords could no longer afford to idle on land, treating it like an investment rather than a part of the local area.

5) What does the Northern Powerhouse need to make it work?

MPs that actually care about the North and are willing to spend their full political capital on doing right by the North, rather than the token effort that's been made since the Conservative-LibDem coalition government put forth the proposal.

Andrew Jones (Conservative)

1) What are three local issues facing your constituency, and how would you address them?

Housing is expensive. People who work here can’t afford to live here and therefore commute meaning congestion and pollution. First-time buyers can’t afford to live near their families. We need a local plan building the right houses in the right places. The train service is currently not reliable enough. We need to address the timetabling issues to take advantage of upgraded rolling stock on the Harrogate line and the new Azuma services direct to London. We need to protect our environment. I led the successful political campaign to stop a new road alongside the picturesque Nidd Gorge. I will continue to campaign to protect our area.

2) Leave remain or second referendum - what is your stance on Brexit, and why?

Leave – with the deal. The Revoke stance of the Liberal Democrats is a recipe for continuing mayhem. We cannot simply stick our heads in the sand and pretend the 2016 referendum didn’t happen. There are plenty who voted Remain, as I did, who respect the democratic process and see this suggestion as fundamentally undemocratic. We must move on and end this uncertainty.

3) Should people be prepared to pay additional tax to fund improvements in public services, like the NHS?

Getting more cash in to public services happens in two main ways. You can do things more efficiently, maybe using more modern technology, making every pound go further. You can also use taxation. Using both of these methods the NHS is seeing record amounts being invested but a strong NHS depends on a strong economy. Having that strong economy means yet more can be invested in our public services.

4) High streets are struggling – what would you do to rescue them?

Internet shopping is changing retail and high streets are bearing the brunt. We should look at using the planning process to bring residential living back to our town centres. We should look at a business rates system that is fairer between the high street and solely online retailers – I have written to the Chancellor about this. We need attractions in our town centres that bring people in. We need to advertise free parking areas better and make it easier for visitors to get into town without having to use their cars too. There isn’t a silver bullet – success will depend on many factors.

5) What does the Northern Powerhouse need to make it work?

The Northern Powerhouse is working as we are seeing a rebalancing of investment towards the North. But there is more to do. We need to keep the pressure up for delivery of the investment – that means transport and digital infrastructure. There have been various moves to progress devolution and I think more local powers will really help the Northern Powerhouse so I want to see that come to fruition.

Judith Rogerson (Liberal Democrats)

1) What are three local issues facing your constituency, and how would you address them?

1. Poor rail service: I’ll press for improvements such as electrification and upgrades to tracks so there are no longer any single-track parts of the line between Leeds and York.

2. Underfunded public services: Lib Dems are committed to an urgent injection of cash for schools and a properly costed plan to fund health and social care.

3. Housing: the perception that too many developments are being built without the infrastructure to support them. I will work with local decision makers to ensure that local voices are heard and will use the influence we have as MPs in Westminster to form policy making at a national level.

2) Leave remain or second referendum - what is your stance on Brexit, and why?

Remain. Liberal Democrats have been consistent in wanting to remain in the EU. It is overwhelmingly in the best interests of the country to do so. We have carefully analysed the evidence and found that if we stop Brexit the country will have a ‘remain bonus’ of £50bn over the next five years that can be spent on public services. If the country democratically elects a majority Liberal Democrat government that would give us a democratic mandate to stop Brexit. In all other circumstances we will continue to campaign for the people to have the final say in a referendum.

3) Should people be prepared to pay additional tax to fund improvements in public services, like the NHS?

The Liberal Democrats would increase income tax by 1p to raise £7bn a year which would be used specifically to fund the NHS and social care.

4) High streets are struggling – what would you do to rescue them?

We need a clear vision for the future of towns like Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge. We need to adapt to the changing economy and find new ways to keep our town centres vibrant and places to visit. Different groups, representing local businesses, residents and visitors contribute a different perspective so we need to listen and work together. Liberal Democrats are committed to reforms that would benefit our high streets including scrapping the current system of business rates. We would replace this with a Commercial Landowner Levy that would lead to a reduction in costs for the vast majority of business owners.

5) What does the Northern Powerhouse need to make it work?

A good start would be to improve links between our great northern towns and cities with a modern, reliable and affordable rail network. We need to attract global companies to the north of England and make this an attractive place for companies to invest. The Lib Dems would introduce a Regional Rebalancing Programme for spending on infrastructure across the regions of the UK. We would devolve revenue raising powers away from Westminster and give greater power to the regions on issue such as transport, energy, housing and skills.

Mark Sewards (Labour)

1) What are three local issues facing your constituency, and how would you address them?

Tory austerity has had a damaging effect on our local schools and health services. Labour will give our NHS the funding and resources it needs and will ensure that every child in our area has the best start in life. Another concern is protecting our beloved green spaces including the Nidd Gorge. We must adopt a brownfield first approach so that housing and businesses are built in the right places. Finally, we must address the dreadful service on the Harrogate Line. Labour will bring our railways back into public ownership and invest in local rail improvements.

2) Leave remain or second referendum - what is your stance on Brexit, and why?

I’ll back a public vote on the final deal and I’ll campaign passionately for Remain. The next Labour government will get Brexit sorted within six months by giving the British people, the final say. This time the choice will be between leaving with a sensible deal or, remaining in the European Union. Labour we will immediately carry out the decision so that our country can move past Brexit.

3) Should people be prepared to pay additional tax to fund improvements in public services, like the NHS?

The NHS is in dire need of investment. Labour will reverse Tory cuts to the NHS and vital public services which will be funded by higher income tax rates for the top 5% of earners. Higher taxpayers should be prepared to contribute to the vital health services which benefit everyone. However, for the vast majority of people in Harrogate & Knaresborough, income tax rates, national insurance and VAT will not increase under Labour.

4) High streets are struggling – what would you do to rescue them?

I’ll work with our fantastic local businesses to help revitalise our high streets. I’m proud that Labour has promised to reform the business rates system to make life easier for those running small businesses. I also support the idea of flexible rents to bring much needed relief to existing businesses within Harrogate & Knaresborough.

5) What does the Northern Powerhouse need to make it work?

For too long, northern towns and cities have been met with empty promises and economic neglect by Westminster politicians. Labour will unleash the economic potential of the north through investing in rail connectivity between northern towns and cities, re-establishing regional Government Offices, and rolling out a Green Industrial Revolution which will create good green jobs in every region of the UK.