It’s the end of the Parliamentary session, and Rachel has called on the coalition government for immediate action to help small and medium sized businesses. In an article for Left Foot Forward, Rachel has criticised the government’s lack of action to ensure that banks lend to smaller businesses to enable growth and development.

The Yorkshire Evening Post and the Guardian Leeds both featured Rachel’s campaign to save the Kirkstall Forge railway station yesterday.

Rachel has also written a blog for Progress magazine explaining her decision to back Ed Miliband for Labour Party leader - who alongside other candidates was in Leeds at a hustings for members last weekend.

Have you heard about my campaign to make sure that Kirkstall gets a railway station?

Kirkstall Forge closed in 2002, and has since become one of the most exciting development projects in the city. With 1,000 houses, a hotel shops and offices, the mixed use development promises jobs and housing for our area.

Developers CEG have pledged £4m to support the construction of a railway station as part of the project - something that is crucial to making the scheme become a reality.

I am campaigning to make sure that the Department for Transport does not cut the station during the budget cut backs - because I think it has the potential to improve public transport for Leeds West and bring economic opportunity to our area.

Where do you fit in?

You can write to the Transport Secretary, Phillip Hammond, at Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DR, outlining your support for the scheme, or sign my petition by emailing rreevesmp@gmail.com with 'Kirkstall Forge' in the subject header.

Read more about the Kirkstall Forge at www.kirkstallward.net or www.kirkstallforge.com

Responding to the first meeting of the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee, Rachel has attacked the government for having 'no coherent strategy for growth and no sensible evidence-based process for deciding where the cuts must fall.' 

In this article for Labour Uncut, Rachel argues that 'we still have no understanding of how this government thinks sustainable growth will be ensured.'

Rachel brought up the issue of Sheffield Forgemasters at the Business Innovation and Skills select committee this week, continuing to press the government on protecting vital jobs in our region. The Forgemasters loan would have seen £80m provided to the Sheffield company to support it in producing new generation technology for nuclear power plants.

Jack Straw today pressed Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg on the withdrawal of support at Prime Minister's Question time.

Rachel will be attending a debate in the House on the subject this evening, and is keen to protect jobs and industry across Yorkshire.