A NORTH Yorkshire MP has highlighted social care reform, energy bills, farming support, and fracking as key developments for residents during an interview at the Labour Party Conference.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in Liverpool, Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, outlined the issues she said will likely have the biggest impact on constituents.
Ms Hume, who became an MP in 2024, also identified areas where she believes the Government should go further.
Social care and Labour’s biggest conference pledge
Asked about the most significant announcement of the week, Ms Hume pointed to Labour’s plans for a national care service.
She said the Prime Minister had “risked his political capital” on the proposal and that delivering care free at the point of use was “music to my ears”.
Pressure from an ageing population on health and care services has been frequently raised in Scarborough, which is expected to see significant growth in its older population over the next decade. Nearly one-third of the town’s residents are projected to be aged 65 or over by 2032.
However, while ministers have set out ambitions for reform, details on funding, staffing and implementation are still to emerge.
Could more help be coming on energy bills?
The MP also suggested further support may be needed for households struggling with energy costs.
Ms Hume said she would be “surprised” if ministers did not provide more targeted help in future and indicated she would support additional assistance for those most affected by rising bills.
Energy costs remain a significant concern for many households despite wider Government plans focused on electricity grid reform and energy security.
While Labour argues investment in infrastructure will help bring down costs in the longer term, opposition parties and consumer campaigners have continued to argue that many households need greater short-term support with bills.
Farming remains a challenge
One of the strongest criticisms made during the interview related to the Government’s handling of the latest £253 million Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme.
Ms Hume acknowledged ministers had made mistakes after funding was allocated within hours of applications opening. She said ministers had “put in more money, but got it wrong” and described the first-come, first-served approach as “just wrong, wrong, wrong”.
The comments reflect wider frustration within the farming community, particularly among smaller farms which argued the first-come, first-served approach favoured larger businesses with professional advisers.
Thirsk and Malton’s Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake recently said he was “deeply concerned and angry” about the way the scheme had been designed and managed, while farming organisations have called for changes before future application rounds open.
Read moreFracking still a hot topic
Ms Hume said one of the messages she had been taking directly to ministers concerns the forthcoming Energy Security Bill.
She said she wants all forms of fracking, including “small-scale fracking”, to be banned.
Europa Oil & Gas has said it will appeal against the refusal of its plan for a temporary exploration wellsite known as Cloughton 2 near Burniston, Scarborough and the North York Moors National Park earlier this year.
The company would use “proppant squeeze” – a technique which has been likened to “small-scale fracking” and which is allowed under current legislation.
Supporters of a ban argue it would provide certainty for communities concerned about environmental impacts and potential effects on nearby settlements. However, supporters of domestic oil and gas production argue greater use of UK energy resources could improve energy security, reduce reliance on imports and support economic growth.
What has changed locally?
Asked what Labour has delivered since entering government, Ms Hume pointed to a number of initiatives already under way in the constituency.
These included Scarborough’s £20m Pride in Place programme, breakfast clubs, free school meals, and the Mission Coastal initiative aimed at improving educational outcomes.
The Government argues such programmes demonstrate investment beginning to reach coastal communities.
However, opposition parties have argued that many households continue to face pressures from living costs and are yet to see significant improvements in their day-to-day finances.