AS THE summer draws to an end, children are heading back to school and others will be heading off to college or university.

I have now returned to Parliament after a busy summer working to support residents and businesses across the city.

Some of the biggest global challenges for a generation will be debated in the forthcoming term in Parliament and I will also be focusing my work on the future of our region and the need for investment in the local economy and infrastructure.

Instead of the same rhetoric coming from the Government surrounding the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ we actually need a strategy that plugs into the potential that cities like York has to offer.

There are challenges ahead and I believe to shape a positive future we must work constructively to find solutions to the issues we face.

We must also empower the next generation so they can go on to achieve their potential and bring about positive change.

Education and lifelong learning is essential and the Government has a responsibility to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to develop their skills throughout their lives.

However the Tories have lost sight of what our education system should be about.