Yvette Cooper

Friarwood Birth Centre was temporarily shut in 2019 on safety grounds due to a midwife shortage.

New consultation expected over closure of Pontefract birth centre

Here in the Five Towns local organisations have worked hard to support families through the holidays.

Yvette Cooper MP: Building a better future for our kids

Max Litchfield of Team Great Britain reacts after competing in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley Heats on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Politically Speaking: Yvette Cooper MP - Going For Gold

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP. Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Home Secretary among 70 to object to caravan park plans at Knottingley pig farm

Hazel Garth Care Home, Knottingley.

Call for answers over Knottingley care home closure

Pontefract Liquorice Festival 2024. (Images HARIBO/JMA Photography)

17 photos from a packed Pontefract as it celebrates HARIBO Liquorice Festival

Allison Lund, of Altofts Community Action Group, with residents' objection letters against Taylor Wimpey's proposals to build houses at Altofts Hall Farm.

Plan to build more than 400 homes in village recommended for approval

Yvette Cooper was re-elected in Pontefract, Castleford, Knottingley and Altofts. Pictured with her team after the election count.

Yvette Cooper MP: After 14 years of chaos, the country has voted for change

Simon Lightwood has been re-elected as the Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell.

Labour wins across all four seats across Wakefield and surrounding districts

Yvette Cooper

Watch Yvette Cooper's Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley victory speech

Yvette Cooper wins the Pontefracrt, Castleford and Knottingley seat in the 2024 general election

Election result announced for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley

The decision to shut Hazel Garth, in Knottingley, led to an outcry after vulnerable residents, including some with dementia, were told they had to leave the home within 24 hours.

Review to be held over Hazel Garth care home closure decision

Wakefield Council and police have promised to clampdown on drivers entering a pedestrianised area in Pontefract.

Action promised over ‘hazard’ caused by faulty town centre traffic bollards

Co-op has announced plans to shut its store in Castleford town centre.

Blow for Castleford regeneration as Co-op plans to shut town centre store

Residents were suddenly moved out of Hazel Garth care home for people with dementia. Picture Scott Merrylees

Care home where residents were suddenly told to leave will reopen

A survey of 11 dentists in Normanton, Knottingley, Pontefract and Castleford found none were taking on new NHS patients.

MP calls for more NHS emergency dentists over reports of ‘DIY surgery’
Dentists across Pontefract and Castleford have stopped accepting NHS patients, according to the MP for the towns.
Tony Gardner

Under the Conservatives school budgets have been squeezed and the school curriculum has become far too narrow so teenagers who are better at technical skills, or sport or music, don’t get the chances they need.

Yvette Cooper MP: Give our young people their future back

Castleford's former Poundstretcher store on Carlton Street.

Offer for sell derelict Poundstretcher store for £500K 'still too high'

Sharon Batty (left), director of income generation and marketing at Prince of Wales Hospice, with Yvette Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford.

Prince of Wales Hospice secures £400K NHS funding uplift after campaign

Work to repair the landslip at Knottingley station

Rail line reopened after landslip caused seven weeks of cancellations

Aerial image of the work being done to repair the damage caused by the landslip.

Network Rail releases image of work done to fix landslip

Services have been out of action at Knottingley station for more than six weeks.

Date set for train route to reopen after landslip

Castleford's former Poundstretcher store on Carlton Street.

Castleford ‘held to ransom’ over £1m price tag for derelict Poundstretcher store

Pickets at Kellingley Colliery.

Forty years on from the miners’ strike and the scars are still felt

The council announced a re-think of its plans for the site last year after they were criticised by local politicians.

New plans to be revealed for £10m revamp of former Kellingley Social Club

Yvette Cooper MP meeting with students from Castleford Academy.

Yvette Cooper MP: Change can’t come soon enough

The town’s MP has told Sport England and government ministers that the area is badly in need of facilities to promote healthy lifestyles.

MP calls for Knottingley to get share of £190m sports fund
Calls have been made for Knottingley to be prioritised for a share of a £190m sports funding pot.
Tony Gardner

The decision to shut Friarwood Birth Centre has been put on hold following objections from councillors.

Pontefract birthing unit closure plan put on hold

Our NHS is too important to be run down and neglected in this way. Photo: AdobeStock

Yvette Cooper MP: Shameful running down of the NHS and maternity services

Health chiefs were told how members of the public affected by the closure of the facility at Pontefract Hospital were “very concerned” at not being able to follow the decision-making process remotely.

Health board criticised for not live-streaming decision to shut birthing unit

Health chiefs have been told they must reconsider plans to close birthing facilities at Pontefract Hospital.

Health chiefs ordered to rethink plan to close Pontefract birthing unit

Yvette Cooper MP says 2023 was a year for local heroes.

A New Year message from Yvette Cooper MP

Across the Five Towns, the festive season is in full swing.

Yvette Cooper MP: The spirit of Christmas

Oliver was presented his prize by Yvette Cooper as his proud family watched from the audience.

Young Oliver designs winning Christmas card in Yvette Cooper's competition

Round here, local groups are working hard to support each other.

Yvette Cooper MP: Not working to live but working to survive

Yvette Cooper

Yvette Cooper MP slams government over Levelling Up funding snub

We have lost a shocking two-thirds of our neighbourhood police since the Conservative government came to power 13 years ago.

Yvette Cooper MP: Bring neighbourhood policing back

Jade Botterill has been selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate to fight for the new seat of Ossett and Denby Dale at the next general election.

Labour selects Jade Botterill to fight for new seat at next general election

Rishi Sunak, jetting around in his private helicopter, doesn’t get it at all. Photo: Getty Images

Yvette Cooper MP: Still paying the price for crashed economy

Normanton Gala 2023. Picture Scott Merrylees

Here’s 18 pictures from a sweltering Normanton Gala 2023

Children from St Giles' C of E school were joined by Yvette Cooper MP to plant spring bulbs at Friarwood Valley Gardens, Pontefract.

Yvette Cooper joins Pontefract pupils in planting royal-themed bulbs at gardens

"Our NHS is 75 years old this year. My aunt remembers the days before our NHS when families had to pay to get the doctor round. We can’t go back to that. We need a proper rescue plan to restore our NHS so it can be our pride and joy in the future again too."

Yvette Cooper MP: Urgent action needed to rescue NHS

In Knottingley the Addy has been supporting hundreds of children each day over the summer holidays.

Column: Politically Speaking with Yvette Cooper MP

Ry Norris has created a "Love Local" scheme to help promote struggling local businesses while getting members of the scheme exclusive discounts

New scheme aimed at boosting Castleford businesses

Year 6s at De Lacy Primary School in Pontefract on their trip to Parliament.

Yvette Cooper MP: Our next generation deserve better

Councillors are to consider plans to build 24 one-bed flats at the junction of Church Lane and King Street.

More than 200 residents oppose plan to build block of flats in Normanton

MPs Yvette Cooper, Simon Lightwood and Jon Trickett.

Knottingley 'put on parliamentary map' in boundary changes

Pontefract WheelFest 2023 took place on Saturday (June 10).

IN PICTURES: Pontefract's incredible Wheelfest motors back into town

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams announced on June 9 that he will stand down with immediate effect - triggering a by-election. Photo: Getty Images

Yvette Cooper MP: We need a General Election – now!

In her letter, Ms Cooper says that as Rob’s constituency MP, she has been privileged to get to know him and his family since he first went public with his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis.

Yvette Cooper backs campain for Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield to get knighthoods

Many people haven’t been able to get check ups since before Covid. Photo: Getty Images

Yvette Cooper MP: Tories cause decay of NHS dentistry

Bupa Dental Care, Pontefract. Picture by Google

Bupa dental surgery set to close down

Local councillors, business owners and residents are hoping they can persuade Marks & Spencer to reverse their decision to close the Castleford store. Picture Scott Merrylees

Last chance to visit Marks & Spencer before its doors close for the final time

There just aren’t enough neighbourhood police officers. Photo: Simon Hulme

Yvette Cooper: We need more police in our town centres

Local councillors, business owners and residents hoped they could persuade Marks & Spencer to reverse their decision to close the Castleford store. Picture Scott Merrylees

Castleford M&S closure confirmed after 90 years