Author Archives: joshmacmp

Read the government’s announcement here I welcome this significant investment and the commitment to creating new jobs and opportunities here in West Cumbria. For decades, our community has shouldered the responsibility of managing the UK’s nuclear legacy. This announcement ensures that we will benefit for decades to come as the decommissioning mission enters this newContinue reading “Statement: Investment in Plutonium disposition”

Last month, the Labour Government made a major announcement: the abolition of Ofwat and the creation of a new, single, powerful regulator to clean up our water system. Let me be clear – this isn’t just reshuffling bureaucracy. It’s a long-overdue reset for a sector that has been allowed to spiral into crisis. Under theContinue reading “Weekly Column – 27.08.2025 – Clean water, clear priorities”

Cumberland’s Labour MPs have today written to England’s major bus companies and local operators across Cumbria urging them to bid for new routes in a £3.5 million procurement exercise launched by Cumberland Council. The move comes as Cumberland Council, backed by a big boost in bus funding from the Labour Government, brings forward plans forContinue reading “MP: “Time for bus operators to step up and deliver for West Cumbria””

Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven & Workington, has slammed the handling of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Trust’s decision to close Yewdale Ward after an independent review exposed major failings. The review, commissioned by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), delivers a damning verdict on the process followed byContinue reading “MP: “Flawed process on Yewdale Ward closure must be rerun””

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister has backed a major expansion of the cadets in West Cumbria as the Government launches a new cadets campaign backed with £70 million new funding. Under a new ‘30 by 30’ campaign, Labour will expand cadet opportunities for a new generation of young people – boosting cadet forces inContinue reading “MP backs government boost for cadets in West Cumbria”

We were both elected last year on a promise to drive up police numbers, bring back visible neighbourhood policing and drive down crime and anti-social behaviour in West Cumbria. One year in, we’re making good progress. New police officers, PCSOs and special constables are now in training, thanks to £1.7 million funding we secured fromContinue reading “Weekly Column – 20.08.2025 – Working together to make West Cumbria’s streets safer”

Josh MacAlister, Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington, visited the Brannan factory in Cleator Moor recently – and couldn’t resist checking the temperature of one of West Cumbria’s oldest and proudest businesses. Founded in 1913 and relocated to Cleator Moor after the Second World War, Brannan has grown from a small-scale manufacturer of medicalContinue reading “MP checks the temperature on local industry with visit to Brannan in Cleator Moor”

The current system to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has lost the confidence of too many families in West Cumbria. Don’t just take my word for it. The last Conservative Education Secretary described the system she left behind as “lose, lose, lose” – and even the Tories’ own Deputy Chief WhipContinue reading “Weekly Column – 13.08.2025 – Listening to families and building a better special needs system”

After advocating hard for more investment in end-of-life care, local MP Josh MacAlister welcomed the announcement that families will see further improvements as the Labour government releases £75 million for hospices, including £100,000 for Hospice at Home West Cumbria. Hospice at Home West Cumbria is one of 170 hospice organisations across England that will receiveContinue reading “MP welcomes funding boost for hospices to transform end-of-life care”

Last week we had the news that surprised no one; that our Victorian railway line is in worse condition than suspected and services will be suspended between Whitehaven and Sellafield ‘until further notice’. I believe it will likely be November or later before service resumes. I can report to residents that from the 11th August,Continue reading “Weekly Column – 06.08.2025 – Rail chaos highlights urgency of major upgrade”