– in the House of Commons at 9:51 pm on 7 July 2025.
Tom Gordon
Liberal Democrat, Harrogate and Knaresborough
9:51,
7 July 2025
Harrogate Spring Water pays a 0.5% levy on its revenue annually. This used to go to Harrogate borough council for the benefit of the local area, but following local government reorganisation, it now goes to North Yorkshire council. This was a key campaign during the Harrogate town council elections, when the Liberal Democrats won an overwhelming Majority on a platform that this levy should go to the new Harrogate town council. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls on North Yorkshire council to return the money for the use of the citizens of Harrogate, as was always intended.
Following is the full text of the petition:
[The petition of residents of Harrogate,
Declares that the Harrogate Springs Water Levy of 0.5% of profits should be returned for the benefit of the people of Harrogate through the newly created Harrogate Town Council.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons calls on North Yorkshire Council to return the money for the use of the citizens of Harrogate as was always intended.
And the petitioners remain, etc.]
[P003089]
The House of Commons is one of the houses of parliament. Here, elected MPs (elected by the "commons", i.e. the people) debate. In modern times, nearly all power resides in this house. In the commons are 650 MPs, as well as a speaker and three deputy speakers.
The term "majority" is used in two ways in Parliament. Firstly a Government cannot operate effectively unless it can command a majority in the House of Commons - a majority means winning more than 50% of the votes in a division. Should a Government fail to hold the confidence of the House, it has to hold a General Election. Secondly the term can also be used in an election, where it refers to the margin which the candidate with the most votes has over the candidate coming second. To win a seat a candidate need only have a majority of 1.
