SINCE my last column, it’s been a busy month – and I’ve been settling into life as a dad to two little boys!
Thank you again for all the kind messages I’ve received about our new arrival into the Charters family.
The 1st of August was, of course, Yorkshire Day, a great opportunity to celebrate all that we have in God’s own county, from Yorkshire Tea to the rolling Yorkshire Dales.
We really are very lucky! Since I was elected, I’ve mentioned Yorkshire nearly 20 times when speaking in the Chamber, and I’ll never stop banging the drum for our wonderful region.
The 1st of August also happened to be International Beer Day, something we’re certainly well-stocked for here in York.
From Brew York’s Juice Forsyth to a pint of Mittel from Elvington Brewery, we’re home to many a fantastic pint!
In sport, the Lionesses claimed victory again just a couple of weeks ago, making history and doing our country incredibly proud.
It was also great to be back at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday for the first game of the season and to take my stepdad, Kev along. It wasn’t quite the start we’d all hoped for, but onwards and upwards, and despite the score, you can’t beat the YCFC atmosphere.
It was an honour to help celebrate Ken Cooke’s 100th birthday earlier this month, a milestone that the whole of York came together to mark. As York’s last surviving Normandy veteran, Ken represents the very best of us. It was fantastic to see so many people wishing Ken a Happy Birthday and acknowledging his service.
We also had a welcome announcement from the Labour Government for St Leonard’s Hospice this month: funding of over £420,000 for building upgrades and capital projects. I know first-hand just how invaluable St Leonard’s is to our community, offering vital support to people and their loved ones. They cared for my uncle with extraordinary compassion during his final weeks, for which I will always be grateful.
This Government funding will make a real difference in maintaining and improving such a special place. Since becoming MP, I’ve had the privilege of visiting their facilities and meeting the dedicated team who serve families across York so well. A huge thank you to the staff, who always go above and beyond, we are incredibly fortunate to have the hospice here in York.
Just this week, we also saw a welcome announcement that, as part of Labour’s Consumer Charter for Armed Forces Housing, thousands of our armed forces will benefit from new freedoms to keep pets, personalise their homes, and have more opportunities to run businesses from home. This is part of Labour’s wider commitment to improving forces housing – something that’s much needed.
Having visited Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Strensall and met our armed forces and their furry friends, I know how much of a difference this will make. These measures will transform the 200+ military homes in York Outer, allowing our armed forces to create the homes they truly deserve.
They also mark a key milestone in delivering Labour’s new Consumer Charter, which is beginning to turn around 14 years of neglect of military accommodation under the last government. I’m so pleased to see this action, alongside the Defence Secretary’s commitment to raising standards for those who keep us safe day in, day out.
On Haxby Post Office, a key issue for so many constituents, my team and I are continuing to work relentlessly behind the scenes. Alongside the Post Office and Haxby Town Council, we are committed to finding a long-term solution for the community in Haxby and Wigginton. I opened my first bank account here, so I know how important these services are for communities like ours. I remain hopeful that we will secure the solution that residents desperately need.
There are many other issues I’ll keep pushing on, including road safety, which I know is so important to communities across York Outer.
My monthly advice surgery went ahead as usual this month, with my team working to support the constituents who came along. My next in-person surgery will take place after I return from paternity leave. If you’d like a slot, please get in touch with my team and they will arrange it.
Helping constituents and making a real difference for them is one of the very best parts of this job. From sorting out patient transport to getting a noisy drain fixed, the variety of ways my team and I can help is huge, so please do reach out if we can support you. You can contact me on luke.charters.mp@parliament.uk, 01904 463 444, or PO Box 894, York, YO31 6HP.
I’ll end this month’s column by wishing everyone a lovely remainder of the summer. It’s an especially exciting one for York, with the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming right here to the city – a fantastic opportunity to show the world just how brilliant York is. As I phase back into work at the end of August, I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into a new parliamentary term and continuing to deliver for York Outer.
