RACHAEL Maskell, MP for York Central, has called for a meeting with the Business Secretary, Greg Clarke and this will take place in September.

The meeting is to highlight the importance of investing in York’s economy. Investing in good secure jobs with decent wages is vital to support people across the city, where average wages are lower than the national and Yorkshire average.

Since she was first elected in 2015 the MP has made investment in York one of her key priorities as she is tired of Government promises that continually fail to deliver.

Ms Maskell has joined the Industry and Parliament Trust Fellowship Programme to spend time with the digital creative sector earmarked as an area for growth in the city.

She will be spending time in the sector so that she fully understands what is needed to help the digital economy grow in York.

Ms. Maskell has also written to theNorthern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry, to urge him not to delay in delivering a devolution deal for Yorkshire.

She also pressed the minister to better understand York’s economy and understand why the wider Yorkshire deal is better for the city.

The minister is now coming to York to learn for himself how the city has been failed by the Conservative Government and why there is a need to end warm words and bring about some action. This is long overdue and whilst the Government and the Conservative Council are dithering, businesses in York are suffering. Every week more business closures in York are announced and if the Government and the Council do not make some changes swiftly, the situation will get worse.

Ms Maskell said: "I have a high aspiration for York, and to see everyone having the opportunity to get skills ready for our future economy and to usher in new businesses into the city. We need the Government to pave the way for a deal to ensure that Yorkshire has the economies of scale to transform the region’s infrastructure and investment."

Ms. Maskell is also working with small businesses to see a fairer system to replace the broken business rate system which is forcing independent businesses out of the high street onto the internet.