A very interesting thread. @GarethDennis is absolutely right. I’ve been campaigning to 1 - dual the line, 2 - get the York area capacity scheme back on track, 3 - for a rail stop here. It is unlikely that we will get a stop until previous steps are achieved first. Must have raised these issues the best part of a dozen times in my two years in Parliament so far.

I was unimpressed by this article - but we all have things in life that we don’t like. For instance, I imagine Mark doesn’t like a lot of the comments replying to his post. I’d have been happy to chat with him - his suggestion this comes from a place of xenophobia is wrong.

In the last few days I’ve had Russian bots hurling homophobic abuse at me. Others have insisted Russia doesn’t censor Peppa Pig and have been outraged that it supposedly features a same-sex polar bear couple (I doubt they’ll be appearing in any Russian knock-off version). Russian state TV has literally censored rainbows from SpongeBob SquarePants. The hypocrisy is breathtaking, but unsurprising. The UK also needs to get a grip. The letter about Masha asked a number of questions to the Sec of State - it wasn’t just a ban the cartoon now. We need a coherent framework for how we engage with authoritarian regimes across culture, sport and media. It’s naive to pretend these states don’t use every avenue available to advance their agendas and project their values.

Yorkshire Water has now been given a one-star rating by the Environment Agency. As I said in the debate I secured earlier this year, their leadership should “do us a favour and go.” The message is crystal clear. Unlike our rivers.

I have signed MP @tomgordonLD's letter to the UK Secretary of State regarding the russian cartoon Masha and the Bear. In Ukraine, we recognize this series as part of the kremlin's soft-power and propaganda efforts. We hope our partners will carefully assess its impact and take the necessary steps to protect children from content that serves the interests of a state waging a brutal war against Ukraine.

🏃‍♂️ Good morning from the Stray and #raceforlife2026 here in Harrogate. 👏 You can donate to Cancer Research here: fundraise.cancerresearchuk.o…

The Government’s apology for forced adoption was long overdue. But records and support shouldn’t only be online. I asked the PM for a national phone line for victims who are digitally excluded - and he committed to one. A real win in making sure no one is left behind in seeking answers and justice.

Russia wages war not only with missiles, but with narratives. Masha and the Bear is part of the Kremlin's soft power, embedding pro-Kremlin and militaristic messaging in children's entertainment while normalising Russia's aggression and imperial ambitions. The world would never tolerate children's content portraying Nazi symbols positively. Soviet symbols deserve the same moral clarity. For many nations, including Estonia, they represent occupation, mass killings, deportations and crimes against humanity. @netflix

This isn’t just harmless kids’ entertainment. The show has repeatedly leaned into a positive portrayal of Russia, folded in Soviet-era imagery and the occasional military theme, and exported Russian cultural messaging to children worldwide. With Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine still ongoing, it’s worth asking why one of the Russia’s biggest cultural exports continues to reach a global audience of millions.

£3 a trip, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year - that’s the unfair cost disabled people in North Yorkshire face just to get to work before 9am. Disability bus passes shouldn’t have time restrictions on them. Agree with me and Andy Burnham? Sign the petition👇 tomgordon.org.uk/disabled-bu…

RT @JimShannonMP: Proud to lead an important debate yesterday on public toilet provision for people living with stomas. Huge thanks to @A_J…