News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

York General Election 2024

York live

• Key updates

Refresh for latest updates

Meet the Independent candidate running for York Central

Alasdair Lord

York resident Alasdair Lord is standing as an Independent candidate for York Central.

“I was born and grew up in York, where I attended Tang Hall Nursery, Tang Hall Primary and Tang Hall Junior schools. After I passed my 11+ in 1982 I attended Nunthorpe Grammar School for Boys and then Millthorpe Comprehensive after educational policy changes in North Yorkshire in 1985.

“Then I spent two years at York Sixth Form College followed by one year part time at York College of Arts and Technology (they have both now been replaced by York College).

“Additionally my grandfather, father and daughter have all been educated at York schools. It is fair to say I am York born and bred.”

“As a candidate for York Central UK GE 2024 I present five main policies that I would seek to implement if elected as Member of Parliament to represent the people of York Central.

  1. Pro-peace / Anti-war
  2. Economic Justice
  3. Referendum on the future of the royal family
  4. Evidence-based approach to UK drug laws
  5. Sovereignty of the Individual as a given”

Read his full candidate statement at his website here >>

‘I’m a fresh start’– Labour’s York Outer candidate makes his pitch

Luke Charters and supporters. Photograph: York Labour Party

Labour’s candidate for York Outer has said ‘It’s time for a fresh start.’

Luke Charters is hoping to unseat Julian Sturdy, the Conservative incumbent, at next month’s poll.

In his campaign launch message, Mr Charters said: “I grew up in York, having lived across the constituency in Haxby, Strensall and Osbaldwick. I am proud to be raising my family in York Outer.

“I attended Huntington School which gave me the confidence to apply and go to Oxford University, and to have a career at the Bank of England.

“Indeed, education was one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour government, my education and achievements are testament to that. I’m proud that last week Keir Starmer unveiled his plan to bring in 6,500 new teachers into schools.

“The last Labour government transformed education. We did it once, we’ll do it again – with your help.

“Labour is best-placed to beat the Conservatives in York Outer – the seismic York and North Yorkshire Mayoral victory and independent polling all demonstrate this.

“It’s time for a fresh start in York Outer and I will be that fresh start.”

World-renowned experts meet in York to discuss elections

International speakers will reflect on a year of elections at a special event in York.

The free public event ‘2024: A new world order?’ is organised by the York Festival of Ideas.

Held at the Ron Cooke Hub, University of York, on Sunday 9 June it will examine topics including the implications of the recent Trump criminal conviction, and what a Trump victory would mean for Ukraine and the future of NATO.

And as polling continues to predict a change of government in the UK after the General Election on 4 July, what geopolitical challenges might any new UK government face?

The event is presented in collaboration with the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy. The centre’s Director Matt Matravers said: “In 2024, more than half the world’s population will go to the polls. We’ll be asking what these elections could mean for the world order and global security.

“As we head towards a General Election in the UK, the sessions will offer a chance to reflect on key issues including the potential impacts of existing and emerging technologies on election results.”

You can find out more about the York Festival Of Ideas here.

Green Party name their candidate for Wetherby & Easingwold

Arnold Warneken. Photograph: Green Party

The Green Party has a new candidate in place for the Wetherby & Easingwold constituency.

Arnold Warneken has been selected to replace Anna Jacobs who was the previous candidate, but who has stood down for personal reasons.

He is currently North Yorkshire Councillor for Ouseburn, chair of Tockwith Parish Council, and lives in Cowthorpe, all within the constituency.

Mr Warneken was first elected in 1991 to Harrogate District Council. In May 2022 he was elected to North Yorkshire County Council with 69% of the vote, in the Ouseburn Division.

He has stood in Westminster elections three times before, once in Harrogate, and twice in Selby & Ainsty, where in July 2023 he came third out of 13 candidates, beaten only by Labour and Conservatives.

He runs an organic food distribution business.

“Wetherby & Easingwold is a completely new constituency, bridging two local authorities, and so it will need a competent MP to satisfy the differing needs of the urban and rural communities,” Mr Warneken said.

“For the last two years I have acquired a reputation of getting things done where others give up. I have tackled residents’ problems and achieved many positive results.”

“The issues I have failed to fix are those where government policies are to blame, and that is why I want to be a Green voice at Westminster, to put an end to austerity, and to hold the new government to account, preventing any further U-turns on people- and planet-centred policies.”

“Green policies are made to benefit ordinary people, whilst safeguarding our natural environment which we depend on for our food, clean air, safe housing, jobs, and recreation.”