Dear Friend,
I hope this finds you well.
Since I last wrote to you there has been lots of good news on our progress on meeting our manifesto commitments, there’s more help on the way to keep the cost of living down and great news for families this summer.
Net migration has fallen to 171,000 in 2025, down from its 944,000 peak in 2022-23. The use of asylum hotels is also down by a third since its peak. We’ve seen the closure of The Dorchester locally and I have been lobbying the Home Office hard for the closure of The Royal Hotel.
There has been the biggest fall in NHS waiting lists for 17 years, knife crime has been cut by 10%, the economy is the fastest growing in the G7, there has been the biggest sustained rise in defence spending since the cold war, we are set for a £20bn budget deficit reduction, and we have brought in a massive expansion of free childcare.
Lower costs for families this summer
- VAT cut to 5% on children’s meals and tickets for cinemas, theatres and concerts from 25 June to 1 September
- Discounts across attractions including amusement parks, wildlife parks, museums and soft play centres
Free travel for young people
- Free bus travel in England this August for children aged 5–15 with no need to register, just hop on!
Help with everyday costs
- 5p fuel duty cut extended, saving the average driver around £120 this year
- Tariffs to be suspended on over 100 supermarket food items, expected to save consumers £150 million.
- And to make sure these cuts are passed on to the public there are stronger powers for the Competition and Markets Authority and other regulators.
We’ve not forgotten business and industry, with a 12‑month road tax holiday for hauliers, reduced fuel duty for farmers, rail freight and other red diesel users, and 10p per mile increase in tax free mileage rates, backdated to April 2026. There’s also a £350 million support package for strategically important chemical producers and a £120 million support package for ceramics manufacturing sector
I’m proud of how much we’ve done and how far we’ve come in only a little less than two years. You can follow the government’s progress in meeting its commitments here on the Full Fact Government Tracker.
The King’s Speech
Parliament re-opened with all the pomp and pageantry that comes from being the oldest parliamentary democracy on earth. It’s a colourful occasion and an exciting one as the King’s Speech sets out our plans for the next session of Parliament.
In the first session, we passed 50 new pieces of legislation, stabilising key parts of everyday life that had been left hollowed out by years of austerity and neglect and building the foundations of change for working people
This King’s Speech built on those foundations, with a raft of bills and measures which will ensure that the benefits of those laws are more strongly felt in people’s finances, opportunities and daily experiences.
A detailed breakdown can be found in the P.P.S. section at the bottom of the newsletter and the speech in full is here.
Humber Hydrogen
Good jobs and inward investment are vital for the future of our region, and that’s why I’ve been supporting the Humber Hydrogen partnership.
They are bidding for £500m of government backing to link hydrogen production, storage and transport into one joined‑up network across the Humber region. This would support thousands of local jobs and attract new businesses, while helping to cut emissions from the most energy‑intensive industries in the country.
It would also strengthen the UK’s energy security by reducing reliance on imported fuels, chemicals and provide clean, reliable power generation.
I organised a roundtable in Parliament for representatives from industry, Parliament and the unions to discuss the Humber Hydrogen partnership’s proposals and how best to take them forward so that they receive Government backing. It was a very positive event, and the bid is a huge opportunity to secure jobs and investment in the region.
Road safety outside schools
It is really concerning that outside St Andrew’s Primary School in Kirkella it is a 30 mph zone, there are no traffic calming measures and I have been told by East Riding Council there is no funding for a crossing patrol. This just isn’t good enough, and I am supporting the school with their petition to the council for positive action.
I was down at the school gates for a signing event and it was lovely to meet the parents, teachers and children. The petition is also online and you can find it here.
Marina bus service to return
Hull Council bus officers Have informed me that a bus route will return to the Marina at the next timetable change in September.
This is really good news for residents on The Marina and all the local businesses. I know how tough it’s been for everyone in that area with all the roadworks and the refurbishment of the marina side, so the loss of the bus service was a further difficulty.
I have been petitioning the council to return the service and would have liked to have seen something in place sooner, but better late than never.
Hessle Train station stops
Hessle train station is great, because in nine minutes, you can be in Hull city centre. The only problem is we don’t have many of the trains going into Hull or back out again that stop at Hessle.
I’ve already been in discussion with Northern Trains and the Department for Transport about this and I’m pleased to announce that from December there will be an extra train into and out of Hull stopping at Hessle, to and from York. It will also stop at Ferriby.
But I think we need more, particularly at times most people want to travel. If you agree, and you’d like to see more stops at Hessle Train Station, then you can sign the open letter to Northern Trains I’ve written here. My video message from the station is here.
As Great British Railways is rolled out, we can expect a fully integrated network to bring a better service for everyone, and I will continue to push for the maximum benefits for our area.
Businesses of the Week
Crumbs is a lovely cafe in Anlaby Studios on Wilson Street. They serve delicious coffee and light bites and the cakes look gorgeous. It’s completely family friendly with toys and play equipment and open in terms time along with the dance studio.
The team are really friendly and it’s perfect if you want to have a catch up with friends but not worry about making sure the kids or grandkids are entertained.
Beautique Beauty and Aesthetics
Beautique Beauty & Aesthetics is a gorgeous beauty salon on the corner of The Weir and Ferriby Road offering hair, makeup, nails and facials. They’re open 7 days a week, and from the moment you walk in you’re greeted by a friendly, welcoming team. The salon has such a calm, relaxing feel and it’s a bit of a tardis, with far more space inside than you’d expect.
Beautique also offers NVQs up to Level 3 and are keen to take on local students, so if you’re an aspiring hairdresser or beautician, this is a fantastic opportunity. Pop in, have a chat with the team and see what they could offer you.
Pots on Pier Street is a gorgeous pottery painting studio and small café right on the Marina. The space is bright, welcoming and the perfect place to have some fun, get creative and enjoy a bit of mindful time out. There’s a fantastic range of items to paint, with options to suit all budgets, and you don’t need to be an experienced artist to enjoy it. Every couple of weeks they also run late‑night paint sessions, where you can enjoy a drink while you paint, which sounds like such a fun evening out.
Owner Michelle was telling me they also offer private bookings and regularly host baby showers, birthday parties, hen parties and work events, making it a really versatile space for celebrations big and small.
National Fishing Remembrance Day
Hull’s second annual remembrance service for was held on May 10, National Fishing Remembrance Day, and took place Zebedee’s Yard. It was my honour to attend as constituency MP for the Hessle Road and St Andrew’s docks area so closely associated with Hull’s fishing story. Wreaths were laid by local fishing heritage groups and charitable organisations in tribute to those who never came home.
Thanks to everyone involved and who attended the service. They will not be forgotten.
The planting around the memorial on St Andrew’s Quay is looking lovely thanks to the work of Gardham Wold Landscaping.
STAND are holding their second Summer Service at the Memorial on Sunday 5th July at 12 noon. All are welcome to come along and remember lost loved ones and all of Hull’s lost trawlermen at this short informal service.
Pickering Park Pool to reopen
At last! I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written to Hull City Council about this, and I know ward councillor Tracy Dearing, along with local voices like Simon Kelsey and Mally Welburn have kept up the pressure. We now have assurances it will be open for the first day of the summer holidays and rest assured I will be holding them to their promise.
I’m delighted that local residents will finally be able to enjoy this vital free resource.
Andy Burnham standing in Makerfield
Congratulations to Andy Burnham for being selected as the Labour candidate in the Makerfield by-election. I believe the Labour Party is at its strongest when we have all our best people in Parliament, and the job Andy has done as Mayor of Manchester shows he understands the challenges the cities of the North face and how to meet them.
I joined the canvassing effort at the weekend, and the enthusiasm is infectious. Over 700 volunteers have taken part and every door in the constituency has been knocked already! There’s never been a better time to join the Labour Party!
I was very sorry to lose Leanne Fudge as Ward Councillor for St Andrew’s and Dockland. Leanne has done so much work for the community over the years and knows the area and its people inside out. I know she will continue to provide support to residents and I’d like to thank her personally for everything she’s done.
And finally,
As always, I’m here to support you. I do a face-to-face surgery every week so you can always come and see me. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas about how I can help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can email me at emma.hardy.mp@parliament.uk or call my office at 01482 219211. Leave a message if I’m unavailable, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
And, if there’s anyone you think would be interested in reading this newsletter, please feel free to share it. If you’re reading this for the first time you can subscribe at contact@emmahardy.org.uk
Best wishes,
Emma Hardy MP
Hull West and Haltemprice
P.S. My Community Champion Award is back for 2026!
This is our opportunity to thank those who do the most for our community. It could be a local organisation or an individual who goes above and beyond to support local people.
Nominate your community champions here
