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Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister marked the 45th anniversary of the Kielland disaster by calling on the Government to support bereaved families in their quest for answers. The Kielland oil rig disaster took the lives of 123 men off the coast of Norway on 27th March 1980. Five men from Cleator Moor were killedContinue reading “MP seeks answers for Kielland families on 45th anniversary of disaster”

It was an honour last week to launch a new cross-party group to champion volunteer-led search and rescue services across the country in our nation’s Parliament.  I’m delighted not only that we were joined by Mountain Rescue England and Wales, RNLI, the National Independent Lifeboat Association, Lowland Rescue, Cave Rescue and HM Coastguard, but thatContinue reading “Weekly Column – 26.03.2025 – Championing volunteer search and rescue services”

Last week I was very proud to support the passage of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Commons. This landmark legislation provides the biggest boost to workers rights in this country in a generation. It introduces new rights and stronger protections for thousands of working people in West Cumbria and fulfils a keyContinue reading “Weekly Column – 19.03.2025 – A boost for workers in West Cumbria”

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister kicked off English Tourism Week over the weekend with visits to Wild Ennerdale in the Lake District National Park and the Beacon Museum in Whitehaven, West Cumbria’s civic museum. English Tourism Week runs from 14th to 23rd March and celebrates our country’s vibrant tourism offer. Josh is using theContinue reading “MP urges residents and tourists to visit local gems during English Tourism Week”

Six months ago I launched my Safer Phones Bill, with the aim of tackling the harms to children and young people caused by excessive smartphone and social media use. On Friday I led a debate at the second reading of my Bill in the House of Commons and was delighted that the campaign has ledContinue reading “Weekly Column – 12.03.2025 – First step to safer phones for children”

Cumbria’s four Labour MPs called electricity, telecoms and mobile network providers into Parliament to demand further action from them to improve the resilience of the network following weaknesses exposed during recent storms. The meeting, convened by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister, was led by MPs Julie Minns, Markus Campbell-Savours and Michelle Scrogham and CumberlandContinue reading “Cumbrian MPs demand action from phone companies to improve connectivity”

A Bill put forward by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister to tackle the harms caused to children and young people by excessive smartphone and social media use shifted the Government’s position in Parliament this week. Josh MacAlister’s ‘Safer Phones Bill’ had its second reading in Parliament on Friday. It was the first time theContinue reading “Cumbrian MP’s landmark Bill shifts Government position”

In his recent letter, the former Conservative candidate for Penrith and Solway, Mark Jenkinson, complained that he’s not getting credit for investment in the Port of Workington.  I’ve no doubt that Mark tried his best to secure funding for the town before deciding he had a better chance of getting elected up the road andContinue reading “My letter to the Times & Star – 05.03.2025”

Last week marked the third anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. I was reflecting on my conversations with Ukrainian women and children displaced here to West Cumbria to escape the war. Many have sons and husbands serving on the front line. They don’t know if they’ll ever see their loved ones again. Nigel FarageContinue reading “Weekly Column – 05.03.2025 – Secure at home, strong abroad”

New reforms to make farming more profitable were announced this week by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed. Speaking to farmers at the NFU conference in Westminster, Steve Reed revealed new plans to deliver a profitable farming sector, while reaffirming Government’s cast iron commitment to food production, and unlockingContinue reading “Government announces raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers in West Cumbria”