t: 01904 784847 e: julian.sturdy.mp@parliament.uk
Julian Sturdy - Strong Voice for York Outer

Julian Sturdy

Member of Parliament for York Outer

Latest News & Campaigns

Julian joins Lobular Moon Shot Project

Julian joins Lobular Moon Shot Project

Julian has joined over one-hundred Members of Parliament backing the Lobular Moon Shot Project to improve research funding into lobular breast cancer. Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer (ILC) is the 2nd most common type of breast cancer. 3.75 million people will be diagnosed with this cancer in the next 10 years, yet ILC currently has no specific treatment and behaves

Julian unites with Cancer Research UK

Julian marked World Cancer Day at a special Cancer Research UK event at Westminster...

Julian supports deposit return scheme to keep York tidy

Julian attended a parliamentary drop-in session to discuss hosted by “Reloop” and “Keep Britain...

Julian writes to FCA urging better protection for village banking services

Julian joined 56 other Members of Parliament in penning a letter to the Chief...

Julian Joins 84 Conservative MPs Writing to the Chancellor to Request Further Support for the Leisure and Hospitality Industry

May 2, 2020

Along with 84 Conservative MPs, Julian has written to the Chancellor of the Exhequer, Rishi Sunak MP, calling for the introduction of measures specifically tailored to support the tourism and hospitality sectors. Both these sectors are vital to York’s economy and Julian believes it essential that the Government unveils measures to support businesses until they are able to reopen, recover and hopefully thrive in the future.

On top of the extensive financial assistance schemes already available to local businesses, Julian is asking the Government to extend the business rates relief threshold to £150,000, provide a VAT rebate for payments made in 2019 or 2018, cut VAT for the leisure sector to 5% and to adapt the Job Retention Scheme to allow businesses to ‘flexi-furlough’ staff to ensure that necessary maintenance can take place while premises are closed. Julian is also asking for confirmation that the Job Retention Scheme and moratorium on evictions will be extended beyond June to allow businesses to plan cash flow and draw up accurate business plans.

Julian has spoken to a number of business owners since lockdown began to learn firsthand how Government policies are impacting business owners and to assess how effective these schemes are for the unique selection of businesses within York. Last week, Julian took part in a video conference with representatives from Web Adventure Park, Energi Trampoline Park and York Maze to discuss gaps in support for larger visitor attractions and he will be bringing their concerns to the attention of the Chancellor to ensure our favourite local tourist assets have the necessary support to make it through this crisis.

On signing the letter, Julian said:

“So far, the Government have unveiled an unprecedented number of support schemes for businesses to help them address the effects

of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Job Rentention Scheme is providing wages for nearly 6 million workers (24% of the UK workforce) and over £12.5 billion worth of grant funds have been announced but more still has to be done for businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector that were the first to be affected by the outbreak and will be the last to fully recover.

Tourism and hospitality jobs are the backbone of the York economy and while the charm of our amazing city will forever draw visitors from across the world, it is obvious that the numbers, and the cash spend that comes with them, that we are used to will not be seen for some while.

I am calling for the Government to embrace the bold agenda that my colleagues and I are proposing to ensure that hard-working, tax paying businesses are fully supported to allow them to emerge from this crisis ready to welcome tourists back to York.”