James Wharton MP

On the way down from Edinburgh I stopped at the BBC in Newcastle to record the North East Sunday Politics show about benefits and wind farms. In the evening I was delighted to attend the launch of the Kirklevington Village plan at Kirklevington Village Hall. Well over 100 people from the village and surrounding communities attended for a wide ranging discussion about the plan and local deveopments proposed in Yarm and Eaglescliffe. The Morely Carr Farm Action Group reminded everyone that, as that application has been delayed, Stockton Council will still accept comments from the public so if you have not commented already please do!

Well done to the Kirklevington Village Plan committee who worked so hard on such an important and impressive document!

Last night I attended a dinner in Edinburgh to raise funds for the campaign to keep Scotland in the Union. The guest speaker was Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, and I was able to take the opportunity to raise a number of local school issues with him over the evening.

A busy day of surgeries at my constituency office, including meetings with the FSB and Digital City. In the evening I attended a performance of Gease at Yarm School in their new auditorium. It was an extremely impressive event, with a huge amount of work being put in by both staff and pupils, well done Yarm School!

Today the sad news that John Morgan, Head Teacher at Conyers School in Yarm, has passed away. John will be much missed by the local and school communities and was a significant figure in education both locally and nationally.

Today I attended a public meeting in Eaglescliffe for a few hours in the afternoon followed by speaking at the Durham University Conservatives end of term dinner.