In an interview at Labour’s annual party conference in Liverpool, Alison Hume MP said she was ‘spreading the word’ about Scarborough and Whitby.
Alison Hume, the constituency’s first Labour MP since 2005, told the LDRS she was using the annual conference – the party’s first in Government for 14 years – to spread the word about the constituency.
She said:
“I’m talking all the time about Scarborough and Whitby – we’ve got so much opportunity on the coast and as you know, one of my absolute pledges has been to break down the barriers to opportunity, particularly when it comes to the creative industries, the green energy and digital skills.
“I want to ensure that young people in Scarborough and Whitby have access to the training that leads to success and I’m using this conference as an opportunity to speak to people about that.”
Ms Hume, one of the hundreds of first-time MPs, also spoke about the challenges of setting up a local office and staff with “no handover from the previous MP” while dealing with thousands of queries.
She said she was “in negotiations for a constituency office in Scarborough because people need to be able to come and see me” but highlighted that she had also held several surgeries with residents across the area.
She added that she was “nearly at the end of hiring all my staff”.
“People are very glad to be meeting me and even when they’ve come in and they’ve been quite angry about, say, something like the winter fuel payment, we’ve had a good, respectful conversation,” the MP told the LDRS.
The controversial vote on cuts to the winter fuel payment for pensioners has resulted in criticism locally due to a high number of pensioners in the constituency.
On a national level, the issue has also overshadowed the party conference in Liverpool.
Asked what she would say to residents disappointed by her vote in support of the cut, Ms Hume said:
“No government wants to come in and announce something like that.
Rachel Reeves didn’t want to, none of us backbenchers wanted to hear it, and I certainly didn’t want to hear it.
But the chancellor came in and there was a £22bn hole in the economy in this year’s figures.”
The MP added that she had also written to the chancellor before the vote expressing concern about the “low cut-off level for pension credit”.
Ms Hume added:
“I completely sympathize with how residents are feeling, however, it’s a means-tested benefit, and we are absolutely committed as a Government to make sure the money goes to the people who most need it.”
She also encouraged locals to “reach out to me and I can put them in touch with people who can make sure that they are claiming everything they are entitled to”.
A64 CLOSED Due To Serious Accident Near Malton
Scarborough MP Says Town Needs Accessible Play Area
Majority of North Yorkshire Families Secure First Choice Secondary School
East Riding Families Receive Secondary School Place Offers
North Yorkshire Council: Cross Party Support For Citizen's Advice Funding
Van Sign Vandalism Impacts Scarborough Motorhome Parking Trial
Scarborough Church to Host Covid Reflection Service
Whitby Serves Up a Culinary Showcase as Restaurant Week Returns
Whitby Town Council Invites Traders to Join 2026 Christmas Festival Line-Up
Prostate Cancer Engagement Event Coming to Scarborough and Bridlington
North Yorkshire To Front Yorkshire Day 2029
Ten-Man Scarborough Athletic Twice Lead But Held By Giantkiller Rivals
Comments
Add a comment