Today, I can announce we have secured a full independent grooming gangs inquiry across Keighley and the wider Bradford district. This is a watershed moment and marks a significant turning point in the pursuit of justice, truth and accountability for victims and survivors right across our area. It comes almost two decades after Anne Cryer first had the courage to raise this issue in Parliament. The inquiry will be fully independent of Bradford Council. It will focus on examining failures in local and national safeguarding systems, evidence handling, institutional accountability, and investigate the role of ethnicity, race and culture, and allegations of systematic abuse covered up by authorities. It will have statutory powers to compel witnesses and evidence. And where there is evidence of wrongdoing or cover-ups, it will be able to refer matters to the police. No one will be able to hide. When I first got elected, six and a half years ago, some of the first meetings I had were with local survivors like Fiona Goddard. Listening to their accounts of this crime, I was confronted with horrors that I will never forget. I made a promise to them then that I would do everything in my power to ensure their voices were heard and the truth would come out. Since then, I have consistently campaigned for this inquiry. I want to pay tribute to Fiona Goddard and the many others from across Keighley whom I have met - without them, none of this would be possible. Fiona is one of the bravest individuals I have ever met. Her extraordinary courage in speaking out and becoming a leading voice for survivors nationally should be an inspiration to us all - both locally in Keighley and across the UK. Now, after tireless campaigning and lobbying, their voices are finally being heard. I also want to recognise the work of leading child abuse lawyer David Greenwood, who has helped bring vital cases and evidence forward. He has been crucial to this campaign. Working with him, it has been clear for all to see that the scale of this issue across the Bradford District will dwarf that of the likes of Rotherham, Rochdale and Telford. At times, our calls for a full inquiry were dismissed, or rejected altogether. Yet despite this we refused to give up. For many years, political leaders from across our region, including the previous Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe, the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin and Deputy Mayor for Policing, Alison Lowe repeatedly rejected our calls for an inquiry. It was my firm view that these refusals mirrored the same patterns of denial seen in towns like Rotherham and Telford. There, decades of abuse were hidden in plain sight until independent inquires finally forced the truth into the open. It was deeply frustrating, but nevertheless welcome that it was only once a national inquiry was recommended by Baroness Casey in June 2025, supported by the Home Secretary, that these same local leaders changed their position, and supported our calls. Whilst no inquiry can undo the pain and suffering they have endured, it can help ensure the truth is uncovered and that those who were failed finally receive the answers they have spent years fighting for. And finally. One of the most difficult lessons of this entire process is that survivors have had to become campaigners themselves just to be heard. That should never have been necessary. It speaks to a deep and painful failure in Britain right now, and of the institutions at every level of the British state. Now we owe it to survivors, and to thousands across our area who suffered in silence, to see this through together. This inquiry must seek the truth - however horrific it may be. And bring about justice to those who have been failed for far too long. I will not stop until we achieve this. Robbie

🍰Fantastic to attend the Ilkley & District Good Neighbours annual ‘Over 90s Afternoon Tea Party’. Moments like this highlight the true power of community, and I am ever grateful to all the volunteers who helped bring this weekends event together. It was brilliant to speak to so many people, hear their stories, and have some really good conversations. This event, as well without doubt one of the highlights of the year. Huge thanks to the Clarke Foley Community Hub, our brilliant local air cadets, 1224 (Wharfedale) Squadron, and Ilkley’s Moornotes Community Choir for making the event such a memorable event. Ilkley & District Good Neighbours really are a brilliant volunteer-led organisation who work tirelessly to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The group runs many social support schemes for members and regularly organises some fantastic social events – do take a look at their website at goodneighboursilkley.org.uk to find out more.

Fantastic to sit down with members of Keighley-Made for an open and honest discussion, talking about the current landscape of manufacturing and engineering within the town, and the ongoing challenges and opportunities for our business community. Keighley has an incredibly rich engineering heritage and many businesses which are passionate about driving growth, pushing forward with innovation and creating jobs. We discussed current supply chain pressures, managing rising operational and energy costs, and addressing the persistent engineering skills gap. Current planning challenges, especially linked to many of our businesses which want to expand was also raised. I am ever indebted to our business community who work incredibly hard within our town. We have so many great people and businesses who go above and beyond - they just need policy to work for them, not against them. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation and shared their insights. Collaborative networks like this are exactly how we build a stronger, more resilient future for UK industry. Huge thanks to Keighley College for hosting the session.

What an absolute farce today has been. Yet again, our farmers have been significantly let down by this disastrous Labour government. They clearly don’t give a damn. Huge thanks to all farmers and agents who have contacted me this evening.

Great to catch up with Kevin O’Hare, Clare Fitzgerald and Kelly McAllister from @KeighleyCollege to discuss the great work they are doing to help many of our young people from across Keighley and our wider area gain the skills and knowledge to transition into the work environment. We discussed how their fantastic apprenticeship programs bridge the gap between hands-on work experience, and classroom learning. It’s inspiring to see how they collaborate with over 150 local employers to help students kickstart their careers and support businesses in growing their own skills and talent. If you are a student looking to step into an industry or an employer wanting to bridge skills gaps, please do reach out to Keighley College!

What an absolute farce. Labour have literally orchestrated a bun fight in front of our very eyes, pitching farmers against one another. I am completely incensed at the pure incompetence of this government. Through their choices, Labour Ministers have literally designed a scheme around who can hit the ‘apply’ button first. DEFRA didn't even have the decency to tell farmers the scheme was opening at 10am this morning. And now, just over five hours later, all the budget is gone. It's utterly shameful. No doubt Labour will spin this as a great victory. But it isn’t. Tens of thousands of farmers have missed out, simply because they couldn’t get their application completed fast enough, or they were busy doing other important things - like farming! This is no way to run a hugely important scheme. It is not in the best interests of our farmers, or the environment. I am deeply worried about the further financial and emotional strain this government has chosen to create, especially when many farming families are under so much pressure already. The government was warned by many, but refused to act. Labour clearly don’t give a damn.

I am furious at the incompetence of this Labour administration. Why on earth did they not see this coming. Or is this what they intended all along? No doubt Labour will spin this as a great victory. But it isn’t. Many farmers will be locked out as they are busy doing other important things - like farming! Through their choices, Labour Ministers have literally designed a scheme around who can hit the ‘apply’ button quickest. I suspect as I type, we are minutes away from 100% of the funds being allocated. This is not how important decisions should be made. Labour clearly don’t give a damn.

This is just ridiculous. DEFRA Minsters need to get real. Through their choices, they have literally designed a scheme around who can hit the ‘apply’ button quickest. This is not how important decisions should be made. And it certainly isn’t in the best interests of our farmers or the environment. Labour clearly don’t get it. They were warned about this, and I will be demanding answers.

Tens of thousands of farmers are about to miss out on the second round of the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Those which are successful will get paid much less, to deliver much more. Labour Ministers need to urgently wake up & start working with our farmers, not against them.

🐄🐏🚜 Great to attend the Nidderdale Show in Pateley Bridge today with Julian Smith MP. Fantastic to meet so many farmers and businesses from right across the agricultural sector, including Jameson Feeds, Nidderdale Moorland Group, Ripon Farm Services, I'Anson Bros Ltd, Nidderdale Young Farmers Club and so many more. With farming at its heart - the show was an incredible showcase to all the great positive things Yorkshire has to offer. Huge thanks to all who have been involved in making the show such a success. But there was one loud and clear message from many to this disastrous Labour government. 🛑 Stop hammering rural communities with tax hikes. ❌ Axe the Family Farm and Family Business Tax. ‼️Urgently sort out the absolute debacle with the Sustainable Farming Incentive. 🫵 Leave our countryside alone and stop negatively targeting shooting, country sports and the rural way of life. The Conservatives will back our farmers. We will put food security at the heart of government. We will AXE the family farm and family business tax. And we will support our next generation.

Local businesses are the backbone of our communities and a vital catalyst for driving regional economic growth. Businesses need to know that MPs get their challenges and will fight for them every single day to give them the best chance to grow, thrive and prosper. Great to be invited to speak with business members of the Bradford Breakthrough Group at Bradford Grammar talking about the importance of the private sector and my strong belief that to unlock societal and economic growth, government policy needs to focus on a low taxation agenda, improving technical and vocational based skills, and providing a planning and infrastructure framework which gives businesses the certainty and clarity to expand. It is always great to engage with local businesses and hear their views so we can ensure that Keighley, Ilkley and the wider Bradford District has the best advocacy, opportunities available and freedom to grow.

The government is completely failing to properly protect victims and survivors of the most heinous sexual offences as their perpetrators are released early from prison. Their complete mishandling of the prisoner early release scheme has eroded trust. I have severe concerns that this will impact the National Grooming Gangs Inquiry. Today, I put those points to the Home Secretary.

Our rural communities, our rural values and our rural way of life are under attack right now by a raft of ill-thought through government policies. The countryside is central to Britain’s prosperity, contributing more than £300 billion to the economy and supporting over 4 million jobs. It feeds the nation and provides enjoyment for millions. Yet the voice of the countryside has been ignored by this Labour government. Damaging policies have hit the countryside hard and alienated rural communities. The family farm tax attacked the very hardworking people who put food on our tables. Misguided measures on horseracing are harming the nation’s second most popular spectator sport, while greyhound racing has been banned outright in Wales and Scotland. Trail hunting is set to be abolished and shooting is now under attack as well, despite their major contribution to conservation and the rural economy. All of these measures could be avoided or changed, if only their impact on the countryside was understood. It was great to attend the Countryside Alliance’s Campaign for the Countryside in Westminster to hear the urgent calls from David Blunkett, David Cameron and Minette Batters as they directly appealed to government for a much needed rural reset. If political leaders want to speak for all parts of the country, they have to hear the countryside as well. The Conservatives will do this. But I urge this Labour government to do so as well. Now is the time for a rural reset: ruralreset.org

DALTON MILLS - Residents have now endured repeated fires, including five major fires, watched constant vandalism of the site, and been exposed to prolonged uncertainty, all while living beside a derelict and dangerous building. It has been deeply worrying, stressful and frightening for all involved. Thank you to those residents who have spoken up. I will not stop standing up for our town until we get a solution.