"Angel of Wakefield Cathedral" takes letter to Number 10

Wakefield MP Mary Creagh welcomed 7 year old Sophie Clucas and her family to Westminster on 14 May.  Sophie, who is from Horbury in Wakefield, wrote a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron asking him to reverse the Budget’s proposed 20 per cent VAT on listed buildings alterations.  She went to Downing Street with her parents, grandma, and Mary Creagh to deliver the letter personally to the Prime Minister.

In advance of the visit, Mary said “On Monday we will be standing up for Wakefield in Parliament against the Government’s short-sightedness.  I’m looking forward to welcoming Sophie and her family and helping them take their protest straight to the Prime Minister.  Over 11,000 people have backed the Cathedral’s petition and I hope David Cameron will take notice and change course so the vital renovation work can continue."

Sophie said: “We have been saving lots of money to make our Cathedral better and now we don’t have enough to finish the work.  It is making us all really sad. I go to the Cathedral every Sunday and I am a server there too.  I enjoy going because I get to learn about Jesus and everyone is kind to me.  I hope Mr Cameron will listen to us and help us out of this mess”

The Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener said he was touched by Sophie’s letter. “This came totally out of the blue and I must admit to be enormously touched by it. It is wonderful that little Sophie recognises how precious the Cathedral is,  not just for her own family and the part it has played in all their lives over the years, but for the people of Wakefield and beyond. I truly hope Sophie’s letter will help see others see sense on this issue”