James Wharton MP

I attended an excellent reception last night at the Riverside Stadium, organised by Corus and SSI – the likely new owners of the Redcar furnace.  MPs from all three main Parties attended, along with union representatives and the Evening Gazette as well as Corus and SSI employees.  The future of steelmaking on Teesside looks bright.

I attended the Battle of Britain parade and service in Stockton this morning.  In the afternoon I went to a special service at Stockton United Reformed Church following completion of renovation work on their spire.

I went along to the Protect Preston Park picnic day.  The weather was good and the event well attended by local people keen to support this excellent group.

This morning I visited HMP Holme House, including a meeting with the Prison Officers Association.

In the afternoon I held a number of surgeries and meetings with local people.

This morning I attended a meeting with other Teesside MPs and a local company, which raised a number of issues we will be jointly taking to government.  Local MPs should be able to set aside party differences and fight for Teesside and I was pleased the meeting, also attended by Tom Blenkinsop and Alex Cunningham, went so well.

Afterwards I attended a Parliamentary session to ask questions of the Department of Energy and Climate Change and then spoke in the Defence debate.