Dear Thirsk and Malton Constituents My name is Luke Brownlee.

Full statement

I am running in the upcoming General Election for the Yorkshire Party in our constituency.

I grew up in Thirsk, attending Thirsk School and Ashville College, before gaining a degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham. I have spent three years teaching Economics in the South of England, and am moving home to Thirsk to teach Maths at Thirsk School, with the intention of studying an MA in Social and Public Policy at York University.

I, like many young people my age have become disillusioned with politics. PMQs is comparable to a schoolground shouting match. Most politicians robotically parrot the party line. It is no secret that politicians from both sides of the political spectrum have sold themselves to the highest bidder.

My vision for a more prosperous Yorkshire is based upon reforming education, supporting local farmers, building more houses, championing independent business, and - the biggie - a Devolved Yorkshire Parliament. This would give the people of Yorkshire devolved power over taxes and policymaking. At the moment, Westminster makes political decisions based too much on corporate interest and a general London centric perspective (let's build a high-speed rail line to make sure the northern commuters can get to London faster). A Yorkshire Parliament would allow decisions over how taxes are spent be made via Yorkshire based politicians.

Regardless of whether you are on the left, the right, in the middle, on the fence, questioning your sanity, if you are a resident on Yorkshire, this is in your best interest. The parliament would have proportional representation, which would lead to more cooperation between parties, and an increased sense of continuity between parties. The parliament would also limit donations by any individual to £25,000, and ban donations from corporations. Imagine that?! A parliament that couldn't be bought by the highest bidder.

As a recent school pupil, university student and now teacher, I have some experience of education. It needs to change. GCSEs are unfit for purpose. We live in a world where people have instant access to facts at their fingertips. We don't need to learn more facts. What do young people need to be able to do? Communicate, think independently, problem solve and apply knowledge to the real world. This requires examinations, and coursework, which puts an emphasis on independent research, student debate and presentation, and giving students real world problems, and them working together to create solutions. Students should also be given more of their own time in school to develop their ability to read for pleasure. I would like to get more children at 14 years old into work experience placements and doing technical qualifications. We have skills shortage in engineers, let's give students hands on experience in trades earlier, particularly those who struggle in conventional education.

Instead of National Service at 18 to foster a sense of selflessness (a bit extreme Rishi), lets devote an afternoon a week for young people to go out and volunteer in the local community. This could be speaking to the elderly, litter picking, gardening, you name it. Young people are facing a mental health crisis, and the key to improving one's wellbeing is service to community. Finally, all students should receive education on personal finance, and business finance, to help them better navigate their finances, and have the confidence to start businesses. These changes would lead to a generation of students who were a little more ready to face the challenges that adult life will throw at them.

Farmers have been let down by government. I would look to support local farmers, by introducing schemes which encouraged people to buy directly from local farmers, rather than via supermarkets, who have held farmers hostage and forced them to sell at low prices. I would work directly with farms to see how farms can work collectively to increase the amount of fresh, organic Yorkshire grown food is being eaten in Yorkshire. Not only would this support local farmers and the local economy, but it can also lead to better health outcomes, reducing the strain on the healthcare system.

There is a desperate housing shortage. It is becoming increasingly difficult for young people to buy a house. I would also look to work in conjunction with private sector housebuilding firms to encourage more housebuilding. I would look to work with local residents to see realistic places for new house builds which acknowledges the balance between the desperate need for houses and the importance of preserving the environment. The houses would be aimed at first time buyers getting onto the property ladder. This would make it more attractive for young people to save for and afford a house. This would give young people a clear financial incentive to save.

Local, independent businesses are struggling to compete with the large multinational corporations which have taken over society. I would look to work with banks to see how more private sector funds can be allocated towards helping small and medium sized enterprises to help them grow. I would look to champion projects like Spark in York, which renovated an underutilised space and gave local businesses the opportunity to open their first business premises in an affordable environment. I would push for any new business opened in town centres to be independent, Yorkshire owned companies.

What I have outlined so far are practical changes which can have hugely beneficial effects to local people’s lives, and the Yorkshire economy, with little cost. I don’t have the facilities to provide a fully costed spending and taxation programme for Yorkshire. However, I can outline my philosophy for government, and how this would inform my spending and taxation decisions.

I believe that the role of government is to give people provide exceptional public services to allow the individuals and business to thrive. They should also be concerned with maintaining individual freedom. Freedom comes in many forms. Freedom from excessive government interference in their lives, freedom to swim in rivers without sewage, freedom from poverty, to name a few.

At present, I believe strong in the re-establishment the Ripon train line, connecting Northallerton to Harrogate, via Thirsk. The line opened in 1854 and was closed in 1969. Reopening the line would have a multitude of benefits for the economy in the form of job creation, improving Yorkshire transport links, reducing traffic congestion between Northallerton and Harrogate, increasing the mobility of young people, and supporting footfall for business.

This brings me back to why an establishment of a Yorkshire Parliament is essential. There is cross-party support for this idea in the area, however due to being forgotten by Westminster, there is a lack of political will. London spent double on capital expenditure than Yorkshire in 2023, which was largely due to spending on rail infrastructure. Approximately 90% of your taxation goes towards Westminster, which does not have the capability to introduce infrastructure projects for Yorkshire which can make a real difference to people’s lives and the economy. Devolution of taxation powers through a devolved Yorkshire Parliament would give politicians in Yorkshire the ability to make spending decisions which directly improved people’s lives in Yorkshire.

On the 4th July, a vote for the Yorkshire Party, will give you a commitment to more democratic people centred Yorkshire. A vote for Luke Brownlee will give you a commitment to a better deal for our children, our economy and people’s lives.