The potential closure of Huddersfield’s A&E department is to be debated in Parliament on Tuesday, February 2.

And organiser of the debate, Colne Valley Tory MP Jason McCartney, has pledged to raise the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron beforehand.

Mr McCartney will lead the 90-minute debate in which Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff and Batley MP Jo Cox are expected to speak.

And before the debate Mr McCartney has ‘assured’ campaigners that he will be raising the hospital shake-up proposal during a private meeting with the Prime Minister the day before.

Mr McCartney said: “I have a scheduled meeting on Monday with the Prime Minister on other topics but you can be assured I will be raising the issue at A&E at HRI.”

He added: “I am pleased to have secured a Westminster Hall debate.

“Continuing our cross party working there will be opportunity for Barry Sheerman, Paula Sherriff and other interested to local MPs to speak if they wish.

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney

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“It is all on the record in Hansard and a health minister will respond at the end of the debate. Local MPs are also working on getting ministerial meetings.

“This has been a great community campaign. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me and I’ll certainly be using some of the individual experiences of our local A&E and well researched points in my speech next week.”

Mr McCartney also urged campaigners to leave out party politics and said: “I’m aware some of the posts and replies on this thread have become political and commentators are right to say politics is involved.

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“The key thing, though, is that we don’t let petty partisan politics and other issues divide and distract us.

“We must all to continue to work together to keep our A&E at HRI. You can be assured that’s what I’m fully focused on.”

The debate takes place in the Commons at 2.30pm and will streamed live on Paliamentlive.tv.