Ongoing campaigns supported by Jason McCartney:
The Northern Rail Hub
Jason is a keen supporter of the £560m ‘Northern Hub’ rail project, which could add up to 30,000 new jobs and be worth £4.2Bn to the northern economy. He secured a well-attended debate on the Northern Rail Hub on 18th January 2012 in Westminster Hall, contributions to which may be read here.
For more information about the project, please visit www.northernhub.co.uk.
-
Empty Homes Campaign
Channel 4′s programme “The Great British Property Scandal” featured Jason’s involvement in the campaign to tackle the problem of thousands of properties being left empty at a time when so many families are struggling to find suitable accommodation.
Facts and Figures:
- The two George Clarke programmes (broadcast Mon Dec 5th and 6th at 9pm) achieved high audiences of 2m and 1.9m respectively, showing that people who watched the first programme thoroughly engaged with the campaign.
- The online campaign reached 100,000 signatures within a week and the online petition now has 112,048 signatures.
- There is a reporting tool and app allowing people to report empties in their local area to the council – 6,124 empty properties have been reported so far and over 20 of these houses have already been brought back into use (or are about to be) since they were reported. They’ve also received several hundred emails and letters offering help, support, volunteer services and ideas.
Jason led an Adjournment Debate on Empty Homes on 29th November 2011:
-
Metal Thefts
Jason has become involved with the widespread issue of metal thefts. He visited J B Schofield and Sons in Linthwaite to hear the views of a local scrap metal merchant and also raised the matter the Prime Minister during PMQs on 2nd November 2012:
It is his view that the criminals must be punished, not reputable businesses.
-
Save Yorkshire’s Children’s Heart Surgery Unit
Jason has joined the SOS Save Our Surgery Campaign to keep the Children’s Heart Surgery Unit at Leeds General Infirmary open. He helped campaigners to hand a record petition of 500,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street.
For more information about the campaign, please visit www.chsf.org.uk.
-
Holmfirth Adult Education Centre
Kirklees College have announced they are closing the Adult Education Centre in Holmfirth. Jason believes that the centre is a wonderful community facility and he is working with many others to try and keep the courses going.
