From Keighley News, February 20th, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

KEIGHLEY and Ilkley MP John Grogan has voiced concern after a surge by about a half in unemployment levels within the constituency. He spoke out after figures revealed there were 1,575 claimants last month, compared to 1,050 in January last year.

From BBC News, February 12th, 2019

A single devolution deal for Yorkshire has been rejected by the government. The proposal would have seen some powers given to the county by central government under the control of an elected mayor. A "One Yorkshire" plan was backed by 18 out of the region's 20 local councils, with Sheffield and Rotherham opting for a separate South Yorkshire solution. Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said the plan did "not meet our devolution criteria". The bid called on the government to devolve responsibility and funding for matters including transport budgets, franchised bus services and adult skills funding, and create a Yorkshire Combined Authority.

From Keighley News, February 4th, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

A MAKE-or-break meeting in London on Thursday (Feb 7) is set to decide the fate of a tiny school. A delegation from Oldfield Primary, which is fighting Government moves to impose academy status, will be in the capital to plead its case with Education Minister Lord Theodore Agnew. Keighley MP John Grogan has arranged the meeting, at the Department for Education, and will accompany the contingent. He said he was “hopeful” of a positive outcome.

From Keighley News, January 26th, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

KEIGHLEY now has the "real prospect" of direct trains to Manchester by 2025, says the town's MP. John Grogan was speaking after an announcement that an initial study had found it would be "technically possible" to reopen the rail link between Skipton and Colne. Campaigners have long been pressing for the restoration of the 12-mile route, which closed in 1970. Government Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said a second study would now take place to determine if demand for freight traffic on the line would make the project commercially viable.

From Keighley News, January 26th, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

A TAKEOVER of Keighley Cougars which has seen the return of the 'old guard' from a golden period for the club has been praised in Parliament. Mick O'Neill, who chaired the rugby league club in the 1990s during the height of 'Cougarmania', is back at the helm of the Lawkholme outfit. The new consortium also includes a co-director from that time, Mike Smith. They have stepped-in after months of turmoil at Cougar Park, which saw the club placed in special measures by the Rugby Football League.

From Telegraph & Argus, January 23rd, 2019

DURING a parliamentary debate on David Cameron’s idea to renegotiate our membership with the EU in 2011, arch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “We could have two referendums. As it happens, it might make more sense to have the second referendum after the renegotiation is completed.” When challenged on this last month, Rees-Mogg argued that the context was different. But the principle is just the same. We had a referendum on whether to start the Brexit process and we are now in a negotiation over our future relationship with the EU.

From Keighley News, January 14th, 2019
Written by Alistair Shand

A SHADOW minister has given his backing to a tiny primary school which is fighting Government moves to make it an academy. Mike Kane, the Shadow Minister for Schools, visited Oldfield Primary to pledge his support. He was accompanied by Keighley MP John Grogan, who has raised the issue in Parliament. The school – which has fewer than 50 pupils – was slapped with an academy order by the Department for Education after a damning Ofsted report last year, in which it was rated ‘inadequate’ and placed in special measures.