Dear Friend,
It’s been another busy month with so much happening in our community and down in Westminster. With VE celebrations across the country, new local businesses to celebrate and try, money from the government to help our NHS with energy bills, finally fairness and justice with water companies being made accountable for their actions and I’m proud that we have a government that listens.
We have listened to you and because we are growing our economy, we are increasing the number of pensioners receiving winter fuel allowance. This is alongside the continuation of the Warm Homes Grant and the £200 Household Support Fund.
Another significant moment this month was the important debate on assisted dying. I want to thank everyone who contacted me about this deeply personal and sensitive issue. I’ve shared my thoughts in more detail later in this newsletter.
We also had the mayoral election. Following the results, I joined Diana Johnson MP and Karl Turner MP in congratulating Luke Campbell on becoming the first Mayor of Hull and East Riding. We’ve offered to work across the political divide to help unlock up to £15 billion in private investment for green energy and Net Zero projects—such as carbon capture, hydrogen, and renewables. These initiatives will bring jobs, prosperity, and vital transport improvements to our area and must not be jeopardised by party politics.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to talk to me during the campaign, I will continue to do everything I can to deliver the positive change you need and get the opportunities, money, fairness and justice that our community needs and deserves.
As always, if you know people who might be interested in receiving my newsletter please ask them to sign up on my website here (scroll to the bottom and enter email).
VE Day 80th Anniversary commemorations
I was so proud of the way Hull West and Haltemprice showed up for the VE Day celebrations. So many fantastic events and so well attended. A huge thank you to everyone who organised an event and everyone who took part. I wish I could have attended them all!
I had a great time at West Hull Rugby Club; the whole place was decorated in red, white and blue, union flag bunting and balloons on every table. There was food for everyone, along with entertainment and dancing. It was lovely to chat to so many people and everyone had a story to tell. A lot of people had dressed up for the occasion, and I loved the two Land Girls!
In the evening, I was at the event on Hessle foreshore. It was a moving event which saw Humber Rescue lay a wreath in the Humber and the Beacon lit as the sun went down.
Elsewhere, Hull 4 Heroes held an event on bottom floor of Princes Quay following a service at the Cenotaph, the Royal British Legion held a service at the Willerby war memorial, and HU4 Hub had an afternoon of poppy-making for a display to mark Remembrance Day at Hull Station.
I also visited the exhibition Hull Minster were running through the week which allowed people to record their family stories around WWII. It was both fascinating and moving.
Businesses of the Month – Celebrating Local Gems
More of our fantastic small businesses in Hull West and Haltemprice run by enterprising local people and providing services and support for our community.
Little Leo’s
Little Leo’s is owned by Julie and Martin, who used to be the chef at Leonardo’s. It’s a lovely restaurant opposite the water at Princes Quay and they have gorgeous outdoor seating area which is wonderful during the summer.
The food is great, especially the homemade puddings. If you’re in town and fancy a bite to eat, then definitely pop in!
FeMale Ego
FeMale Ego has been offering style and service to residents around Hessle Road for over 45 years. Their friendly all-female team brings 195 years of combined experience in hair & beauty. Proudly local, always learning, and dedicated to keeping clients looking their best.
P.S for anyone on TikTok, I’d definitely giving them a follow- they have some very funny content.
Deli-licious
Deli-licious is a lovely sandwich shop and deli at the top of Willerby Road, just off Derringham Bank roundabout.
They do wonderful hot and cold sandwiches, pastries and gorgeous sweet treats. It’s definitely a favourite lunch spot for me and my team when we’re in the area!
Water Companies face the music
For far too long water companies have been allowed to get away scot-free with filling our waterways with sewage. The Secretary of State for DEFRA Steve Reed, and myself as Minister for Water and Flooding, promised to hold water companies to account, and we are delivering on that promise.
A record 81 criminal investigations into water companies have been launched in England since the election in July 2024. The Environment Agency are also currently carrying out their largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance at over 2000 sewage treatment works.
New powers in the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 I saw through Parliament mean water executives who cover up or hide illegal sewage spills can now be locked up for up to two years.
The public were calling for action and our rivers desperately needed protection. I am proud to be a part of the change we promised.
Green Energy Investment for our public buildings
As part of a major national investment of £634 million in improving energy efficiency in public buildings, the Hull History Centre, the Wilson Centre, and the Guildhall will get £2,671,799 to install solar panels, LED lighting and building energy management system upgrades.
NHS Humber Health Partnership is receiving £8.5 million to install new solar panels across their estate – where Castle Hill Hospital has been leading the way with its own solar farm that powers much of the hospital’s operations, saving £200,000 a month in bills.
This money will allow improvements at Castle Hill and installation at Hull Royal infirmary.
Solar power and increased energy efficiency in our publicly owned buildings means reduced running costs and lower carbon emissions – a win-win for the tax-payer and the environment.
Showcasing our maritime heritage
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Maritime Museum to see how its renovation is taking shape, and it’s looking amazing!
The building’s interior has been beautifully and carefully restored, showcasing the period architecture, and they are now curating the collection to get it ready for us all to enjoy. They will start moving things back in soon, with some old favourites set to return including the polar bear and the whale skeleton.
Previously inaccessible areas are being opened up, including a “below decks” area which will be interactive and aimed at children (adults still allowed though!). They’ve also focussed on ensuring it’s much more accessible.
Maritime history is a huge part of our city’s heritage, and I can’t wait for everyone to be able to enjoy this when it’s ready to open next year.
Bouleveard Academy winners in Parliament!
I was absolutely delighted to welcome students from The Boulevard Academy to Parliament. They had a tour of the estate then spent some time asking me interesting questions about being their MP and my job as a Minister.
The students came to London after competing in Reckitt Climate Changemakers programme with six secondary schools across Hull. The programme supports young people to take ownership of the solutions to the climate crisis, tackle climate anxiety and deliver real change in the local community.
A huge well done to all students involved and I hope they enjoyed their day – they certainly picked a good one and we got some lovely photographs out on the Terrace.
Three new Trade Agreements
Labour have sealed three important trade agreements within its first year of government with the USA, India and the EU. These concrete achievements are steps forward on the road of growing the economy, backing British jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets, as we promised last July.
The new EU agreement will reverse some of the damage done by Boris Johnson’s “oven-ready deal,” which resulted in a 21% drop in exports and 7% drop in imports, food rotting in lorries stuck in 16-hour queues, and businesses like Bridlington’s biggest lobster exporter shutting up shop.
It has been widely welcomed by business organisations, including the Confederation of British Industry, the Food and Drink Federation and UK Hospitality and is expected to bring down food and energy prices.
As well as making trade easier for farmers and fishers, it will save jobs in steel and energy and encourage investment in jobs across food and drink, defence, and in the North Sea.
British holidaymakers will be able to use more eGates in Europe, ending the queues at border control. At the same time, the agreement strengthens border partnership work cracking down on immigration visa abuse and on preventing Channel Crossings.
There has been no reduction in UK fishers’ rights and no increase in the amount of fish EU vessels can catch in British waters. Avoiding yearly renegotiations from 2026 onwards will give fishers stability and certainty. The new deal on food exports means that exporting shellfish to the EU becomes profitable again for many fishers.
The UK retains our own independent free trade policy, allowing us to continue to forge new deals like those recently agreed with India and the United States.
Assisted Dying Bill
I have decided to vote against the assisted dying bill. This is not a decision I have taken lightly, and I am truly grateful to everyone who has taken the time to contact me about this subject.
I reached my decision after much reflection, and consultation with constituents, medical professionals, and palliative care experts. As you know, I recorded an “active” abstention during the bill’s second reading to allow for more debate, but have finally concluded that even with the amendments, the proposed legislation poses too many ethical and practical challenges to support.
I am particularly concerned over the risk of vulnerable individuals—especially those with disabilities, mental health conditions, or socioeconomic disadvantages—feeling coerced into ending their lives prematurely. The bill would also allow doctors to raise assisted dying as an option, even if the patient hasn’t.
There are practical aspects of the bill which have not been addressed, such as the difficulty in accurately predicting life expectancy, the lack of safeguards for informing families, and the challenges faced by patients physically unable to self-administer life-ending medication.
I do not believe that the conversation about end-of-life rights and the care we provide will or should end here. Most especially I wish to see more investment in the provision of hospice and palliative care so that everyone can face the end of their lives knowing their final days can be spent with dignity and without undue suffering.
My statement in full is on my website- https://www.emmahardy.org.uk/2025/05/16/my-statement-on-terminally-ill-adults-end-of-life-bill/
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.
Best wishes,
Emma Hardy MP
Hull West and Haltemprice
P.S. I’m always on the look-out for local businesses to feature in ‘Business of the Week’. If there are any you think deserve the spotlight, let me know!