It's Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning today and Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) will be popping in to a number of events in the constituency.

"This is such a good cause and I am delighted to be able to support local fund-raising efforts." said Phil Willis.

"Many of my constituents have been grateful for the work of the Macmillan nurses and this is a fantastic way for the community to say thank you and raise much needed funds at the same time."

“This is welcome news” commented Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) on the announcement that the new vetting system for people working with children would be reviewed.

“Whilst we must do all we can to ensure the safety of children this scheme had been so heavily criticised by so many people and organisations it was clear that some review was necessary” he added.

“Congratulations on 70 years of helping the community” commented Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) marking Harrogate Citizens Advice Bureau’s 70th Anniversary.

“There are very many people in this district who have cause to be grateful to the work of the CAB. I know that during the years that I have been MP staff at the CAB have been invaluable in providing advice and help to my constituents.

“The expertise of not only the paid members of staff but also the team of volunteers is second to none be it benefits, debt advice, housing or a wide range of subjects.

“I am delighted that this new Convention is being held in Harrogate” commented Phil Willis on the news that a major new international convention on enterprise promotion will be staged in the Harrogate International Centre on 15-17 November 2009.

The International Convention on Enterprise Promotion will showcase best practice and innovation in the creation and support of small businesses world-wide. It is being organised on a low-cost not-for-profit basis so that as many SME specialists and support organisations as possible can attend from both the UK and overseas.

Liberal Democrat Janet Law stormed home to a sensational victory in the Starbeck Ward by-election for Harrogate District last night.

Janet polled over 3 times as many votes as the second placed Conservative candidate winning nearly two thirds of the votes in this hotly contested four way fight.

The by-election had been caused by the death of popular local councillor Granville Ward but Janet Law, who had been a leading member of the campaign to save Starbeck Baths, struck a chord with the local electorate.

“This Labour government has let Yorkshire down again.” said Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough), commenting after Network Rail announced plans for a £34 billion high-speed London to Scotland rail line, via the North West.

"It is very disappointing that the Government and Network Rail have decided to ignore the claims of Yorkshire and the north east of England and run the new high-speed rail line up the West Coast Main Line," he added.

Phil Willis MP has pledged his support for International Plastic Bag Free Day on Friday 12th September.

“I was astounded to learn that worldwide we use 500,000,000,000 plastic bags a year, almost 1 million every minute” explained Phil Willis. “We cannot go on using up our precious resources like this. Nor can we afford the plastic pollution that this causes.

“The quantity of plastic litter is not only unsightly but is also very dangerous to wildlife. Many of us will have recently returned from holiday, perhaps by the sea. It is here that a lot of the damage is done.