It’s been a whirlwind day here in Parliament. We have a new PM now the Queen has invited @trussliz to form a government. A cabinet reshuffle is taking place.
My job in Parliament is to promote Doncaster so I have made it my mission to get to know as many MPs as I can. So I’m confident that our City & @DSA_Airport is known to every Cabinet appointee.
This is particularly helpful in times of need. @DSA_Airport is in that category. I have written to our new PM on that front.
I have asked her to meet with or write to @olivercoppard to remind him he has devolved powers and he can and should use them to save DSA
🧵 3/14
I have also asked her to either meet with or write to John Whittaker the Chairman of Peel Holdings to remind him of his corporate responsibility as one of Britains’s largest landowners.
As the local MP I have no devolved powers not the funds that go with them. @olivercoppard has that responsibility. It is my duty to help him to step up to use those powers. I can’t force him. I can only seek to persuade.
.@olivercoppard has now also written to government on Day 57. He reports that he has been very busy. He is seeking confirmation that coastguard and military flights will continue from the airport.
.@olivercoppard reports that @robertcourts the Aviation Minister has a zoom meeting with Peel next week. I have met with Robert and discussed the situation. This is why this Daily Report is late as my meeting was not until this evening itself.
.@SouthYorksMCA have decided to test the market following @olivercoppard’s press release “enough is enough” on 26.08.22 (Day 45). There is market interest in @DSA_Airport . No detail due to confidentiality.
Steer have produced preliminary results of their Economic Impact Assessment. Results not detailed nor attached. This shows “economic impact on Doncaster is much higher than that projected by Peel”. 🧵 #SaveDSA#Doncasterisgreat 12/14
The Steer report also shows it “could undo Doncaster’s predicted growth for the next couple of years”. No further detail provided. What about #Sheffield? #Rotherham? #Barnsley?
This report underlined and confirms what I have been saying since the start. If @DSA_Airport closes it will be a catastrophe for Doncaster, a catastrophe for South Yorkshire and a horrific legacy to remember @olivercoppard by.
Being back in Parliament has been really helpful in our campaign to Keep @DSA_Airport open. This is a long post but one with reason for real hope and optimism.
It’s given me the opportunity to meet again with the Aviation Minister @robertcourts and discuss the situation with him. I’ve been hoping that Robert is not moved in any reshuffle and to date it looks that he will remain in post.
.@robertcourts has been really helpful to date & has really impressed me with his attention to detail and his motivation to work with @olivercoppard to keep @DSA_Airport open.
On Wednesday it was PMQs and I was able to speak in the Chamber.
2 working groups have been set up by @olivercoppard . A 3rd working group has now started, which will next week look at a further way forward. Extremely late in the day but still good.