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I’ve spent my first seven months as your MP banging the drum for West Cumbria in Whitehall to secure the tools and resources we need to deliver new nuclear, retrofit cold homes, invest in our roads and railways, rebuild our towns and improve public services. Imagine if we had the powers and the funding weContinue reading “Weekly Column – 12.02.2025 – It’s time for Cumbria to take back control”

This letter appeared in the Whitehaven News on 29th January 2025: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust’s engagement exercise on the future of Yewdale ward closed last week. I met the chief executive of the trust shortly before it closed and know that a huge number of people responded. From my conversations with residents,Continue reading “The fight to save Yewdale continues”

Storm Eowyn tore through Cumbria over the weekend and left devastation in its wake. Thousands of local premises were without power, in some cases for almost four days. It was a difficult time for our community, but it also showed the best of us. I want to put on record my thanks to the engineersContinue reading “Weekly Column – 29/01/2025 – Lessons to learn from Storm Eowyn”

This country’s first ever independent Armed Forces Commissioner, a voice to champion service personnel and their families, is one step closer to reality this week, as it passed its third reading in the House of Commons.  This change, a vital one for our brave service personnel, can’t come soon enough.  The importance of the BillContinue reading “Labour’s new independent Armed Forces Commissioner will champion brave service personnel and their families”

In September last year, two months into my time as your MP, I was confronted with one of my first major challenges.  Dozens of residents in the Slipway flats in Whitehaven had been issued with eviction notices and given two months to find new homes. Some had lived there for decades. Many struggled to findContinue reading “Weekly Column – 22/01/2025 – Protecting renters in West Cumbria”

Patients in West Cumbria will be able to access more appointments closer to home and get the treatment they need faster under Labour’s plan to tackle hospital backlogs. In the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board area there are 354,743 people on waiting lists at huge cost to their health. 110,532 ofContinue reading “Josh MacAlister MP welcomes Government plan to clear local backlog of 110,532 patients waiting more than 18 weeks for NHS treatment”

I have spent my career supporting vulnerable children. First as a teacher in some very tough schools, then as the founder and leader of a national charity bringing new people into frontline children’s social work to give every child the champion they need, and then as the Chair of the landmark national Independent Review ofContinue reading “Weekly Column – 15/01/2025 – We need action, not words, to tackle child sexual abuse”

I have spent my career supporting vulnerable children. First as a teacher in some very tough schools, then as the founder and leader of a national charity bringing new people into frontline children’s social work to give every child the champion they need, and then as the Chair of the landmark national Independent Review ofContinue reading “STATEMENT: Child sexual abuse and grooming gangs”

It was a delight to see a dozen Cumbrians recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List for their service to communities in Cumbria and beyond. The List recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK. Unsung heroes in every community. The List ensures that people from underrepresented communities and a wideContinue reading “Weekly Column – 08/01/2025 – Honouring local heroes”

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, joined local MP Josh MacAlister on a visit to West Cumberland Hospital this week to meet staff and patients. Wards were off limits due to flu outbreaks, but Josh and Wes met with the hospital leadership and with staff and patients in A&E and theContinue reading “Health Secretary visits West Cumberland Hospital as major social care reforms are announced”