NORTH Yorkshire Councillors have paid a visit to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week.

Conservative Cllr George Jabbour, who represents Helmsley and Sinnington, was among four Councillors from across North and East Yorkshire who attended a summer reception at Number 10 Downing Street in acknowledgement of their contribution to the local community.

Cllr Jabbour said that during his visit, he had expressed the community’s desire to see the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill passed into law.

“I also communicated the positive outcome that the successful £2 bus fare cap initiative has delivered on the ground in rural areas such as ours,” he said.

He was joined by Seamer’s North Yorkshire representative Cllr Heather Phillips, Whitby’s Cllr Phil Trumper and Cllr Andy Paraskos, a divisional representative in Harrogate, for the visit.

Cllr Phillips said that it had been “such a privilege to attend the reception” and to be recognised for the hard work in the community, with Cllr Trumper having a personal conversation with the Prime Minister himself.

“I was delighted to have had the opportunity to speak directly with our Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, during the event at No.10. It was a great experience,” he said.

Cllr Paraskos also spoke directly with the Prime Minister, who said that he had been presented with the opportunity to raise some of the issues affecting residents in Harrogate.

He said: “It was clear to me that the Prime Minister deeply cares about the concerns of our community.”