Barrie joined the Labour Party in a vain bid to sweep them to election victory in May. On the evidence of his ‘success’ you may be better not inviting him to back your cause. Look what’s happened to the party since they lost in spectacular style. But don’t get him started on the performance of the Tory government ……

We both joined the Refugees Welcome Here march through York in protest at the derisory response of our government to the plight of people fleeing Syria. Since then, Restore has been asked about being involved in providing a house to welcome a Syrian family to York. Early stages yet.

As the year came to an end York’s MP, Rachael Maskell, held a public meeting and consultation ahead of the parliamentary debate about extending military action into Syria. After mixed feelings about the right course of action Barrie left convinced that the complex situation would not be sorted out by a few extra bombs and missiles from Britain. Sadly the vote in Westminster went the other way. Time will tell if he was right.