Contact details
Chairperson: Janet Seymour Kirk.
Secretary: John Blevins
Tel: 01609-770728
5 High Trace, Northallerton, North Yorkshire. DL6 1BG.
E-mail: Richmond (York`s) CLP

 • North Yorkshire Labour Group

 • Member Paul in Uganda
      follow his journey

 • www.childtrustfund.gov.uk

 • CLP Meeting Tuesday 23th June 2009,
Venue: E.Drivers House: For directions
ring Eileen on 01642-711390
Start 7:30pm

At a crowded Labour Party Supper in Stokesley Town Hall, Eileen Driver, ( Labour Spokesperson for Richmond Constituency) introduced the Secretary of State for DEFRA, Hilary Benn. The successful Open Evening was organised by Stokesley & Great Ayton Labour Party, attracting a large audience who was gave a standing ovation to the Minister at the end of his speech, in which he vigorously endorsed Gordon Brownıs political skills as Prime Minister and reminded the audience of Labourıs many achievements such as the NHS, which has never been more successful, yet is taken for granted. He reminded the gathering of how often, when campaigners are in conversation about Labourıs policies, the public recognise the ways in which peopleıs lives have been improved by the present government.
Hilary Benn answered probing questions about education, pensions and child poverty, emphasising the need for communities to be more involved in production of their own energy.
Among his many serious and incisive explanations of Labour policies, he entertained the audience with several stories about his father, Tony Benn. The supper was preceded by Hilary meeting with a group of local farmers to discuss a wide range of issues, from problems for tenant farmers; processes for approving pesticides; supermarket pricing of milk and drifting of crop-spraying. Hilary stressed the need for partnership between DEFRA and farmers while reassuring the meeting of the Governmentıs keenness to reduce the bureaucratic burden for farmers as much as possible.
His energy and enthusiasm created a lively evening of strong political discussion, particularly relevant on a day which began with a Cabinet reshuffle in which, luckily for the British public, such a generous and capable politician was retained as Secretary of State for DEFRA.