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 new phase.
I hosted a roundtable earlier in the summer with universities and nuclear institutions to explore how West Cumbria could benefit from investment in research so it is especially encouraging to see funding for research partnerships with our universities and the creation of a new academic hub. Developing world-class expertise here in West Cumbria will not only strengthen the UK’s capability to deal with hazardous materials but also inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
What matters most is that local people benefit from these investments. I will continue to press the NDA and government to make sure the programme supports high-quality jobs, apprenticeships, and training opportunities for young people in West Cumbria, so that the skills and prosperity generated by this programme remain in our community for years to come.
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 the Conservatives, water companies dumped record levels of sewage into our rivers and seas. Families across West Cumbria and the country watched in disbelief as bills rose, beaches closed, and no one was held to account.
No more. Labour was elected to deliver change, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
The new water regulator will bring together functions currently split across Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. For too long, a fragmented system meant no one had clear responsibility – and the result was murky, polluted waterways, leaking pipes, and sky-high bills.
Now, there will be one body whose sole job is to protect our rivers, lakes, and seas – and to protect you, the consumer.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed has also announced a new water ombudsman. This consumer champion will have legal powers to act on behalf of customers – resolving disputes, clawing money back when you’ve been overcharged, and making sure water companies are held to basic standards. No more passing the buck when there’s a leak, an error in your bill, or your water supply fails.
The Independent Water Commission’s final report called for root-and-branch reform. So we’re launching the biggest overhaul of the water sector since privatisation. And we’re backing it with one of the largest infrastructure investments in our history – £104 billion to rebuild crumbling sewage systems, upgrade treatment plants, and a bold commitment to cut sewage pollution in half by 2030.
Under Labour, our rivers, lakes and seas will be the cleanest since records began, meaning families across West Cumbria will benefit from cleaner beaches, lakes and rivers. We’ll hold water companies to account for the clean up with the biggest investment ever in water monitoring and regulation. And we’ll make companies cover the cost of prosecutions and successful investigations into pollution incidents, enabling the regulator to hire more staff and pursue further enforcement activity.
In our part of the country, clean water isn’t a luxury – it’s part of who we are. Families swim in our lakes and sea, walkers traverse our becks and rivers, and generations of farmers have looked after these landscapes. They deserve better than the mess left by 14 years of neglect.
Thanks to Labour’s plan, bills are now ringfenced to force investment into upgrades – not bonuses. And over £100 million in fines are being spent on local clean-up projects.
This is what a serious government looks like. Not slogans. Not excuses. But instead hard work to sort out knotty problems.We have a long way to go. But with this plan, we’re turning the tide.
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 for the biggest expansion of the local bus network in a generation.
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said:
“Poor public transport is holding West Cumbria back. Thanks to a Labour Government and a Labour Council, we are finally investing to change that with a £3.5 million boost for new bus services.
“But this investment will only succeed if bus operators step up. That’s why Cumberland’s Labour MPs have written directly to major national and local bus companies urging them to bid for these routes. These services have been designed with our residents, who have been clear about how desperately they are needed.
“If operators don’t bid, they are the ones who will be letting down our communities. We want to work with bus companies to make these routes a success – and with multi-year funding settlements coming this autumn, there is real certainty for the long term. This is a chance to build a better bus network for Cumberland, and we expect operators to play their part.”
The letter, signed by Josh MacAlister, Julie Minns, Markus Campbell-Savours and Michelle Scrogham, makes clear that the new services are vital to the area’s future and that operators must seize this opportunity to deliver them.
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 by CNTW. It finds:
CNTW failed to meaningfully involve patients and the public at an early stage, raising serious doubts about whether legal duties to involve were properly discharged.
The options appraisal was incomplete and one-sided: CNTW did not fully consider or present alternative ways of keeping mental health beds in West Cumbria.
Engagement was carried out too late and created a perception that decisions were already predetermined, undermining trust in the process.
No comprehensive travel impact assessment was undertaken, despite the closure meaning patients and families would have to travel 40 miles to Carlisle – a move that risks worsening health inequalities.
There was a lack of clarity with the local Health Scrutiny Committee, raising concerns over whether statutory consultation duties were met.
The review recommends that the process must be rerun in full, with proper consideration of all options, meaningful involvement of patients and families, a comprehensive travel impact assessment, and clear agreement with local democratic scrutiny.
The ICB will meet with Cumberland Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee in the coming weeks to seek their view on the recommendations before deciding how to proceed.
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“This review confirms what people here in West Cumbria have feared all along – the process was unfair, rushed, and one-sided. Patients, families and elected representatives weren’t genuinely involved. Alternatives weren’t properly explored. The impact on those who can least afford it – carers, families, people in crisis – wasn’t fully considered..
“Closing Yewdale Ward on the back of such a flawed process is unacceptable.
“The ICB must now step in and get CNTW to rerun this process. West Cumbria deserves mental health services that are safe, accessible, and shaped with local people – not decisions handed down from above.
“I hope councillors will agree with me and urge the ICB to implement the report’s recommendations in full.”
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 in West Cumbria and across the country by 30% by 2030. Delivering on the Strategic Defence Review, this would see over 50,000 more cadets across the UK.
Under the expansion, young people will have the chance to gain more qualifications, improve their confidence, and learn about the military.
Josh visited Workington Detachment of the Army Cadets recently to see firsthand the work they do with local young people. He said:
“”It was inspiring to meet local cadets here in West Cumbria and see first-hand the confidence, skills and friendships that the cadet experience gives young people.
“This £70 million investment and the Government’s ambition to grow cadet numbers by 30% by 2030 will mean even more opportunities for young people across our community.
“Expanding the cadets will open doors, raise aspirations, and ensure that every young person in West Cumbria – no matter their background – has the chance to discover their potential and thrive.”
To support the ‘30 by 30’ campaign, the Labour Government will deliver a package of measures to boost cadet forces, including:
New joint Army and Air Cadet Centres: adding to the five already opened and 12 under construction since this Government came into office.
Increasing adult volunteers: streamlining the process for becoming an adult Cadet volunteer and a new fast-track opportunity for veterans to become volunteers.
A National Cadet Champion: Hunt launched today for a new appointment to support and endorse the Cadet Forces.
Boosting STEM skills: new opportunities to develop STEM skills and try new technologies through the cadets, including Civilian Aviation Authority approval for RAF cadets to deliver a CAA-endorsed qualification in drone piloting. This offers cadet and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers an industry recognised qualification.
Improving regular and reservist support for Cadets: greater opportunities for our UK military personnel – both regulars and reserves – to support the Cadet Forces.
The investment will also supercharge further opportunities in developing STEM skills and cutting edge cyber skills training and hands-on experience with the latest drone and submersible technology – the same innovations reshaping Britain’s defence and economic landscape.
Independent research proves the cadet experience works. Participants show dramatically improved school attendance, better behaviour, and significantly higher rates of progression to university or employment.
For young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, the impact is even more pronounced – providing structure, challenge and achievement that changes life trajectories permanently.
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 from the Government to deliver the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. When in post this autumn, these extra officers will nearly double the size of West Cumbria’s neighbourhood policing team, meaning more bobbies on the beat in our towns and villages.
We’re not just waiting for those new officers to start. We’re using existing resources better to address the key priorities raised by residents and businesses.
An extra £1 million secured from the government is funding increased patrols in the centre of Cleator Moor, Whitehaven and Workington – top anti-social behaviour hotspots in West Cumbria. This high visibility police presence has had a significant impact, with reported anti-social behaviour down by over 40% on average compared to last year. Responsiveness to residents’ concerns has also improved with recent complaints about anti-social behaviour in Egremont seeing more police activity there too. We’ll continue working with councillors and the community to address these issues.
This summer, the police are carrying out a Safer Streets blitz in town centres across the county to tackle anti-social behaviour, illegal use of e-bikes and shoplifting, in partnership with the council and businesses.
A major road safety campaign was launched earlier this month, which will run through to November and target roads where we’ve had the highest number of reports of speeding and dangerous driving to take action against those treating our highways like a race track. Please report any hotspots and we’ll feed these into the plan.
The Commissioner’s office has provided additional funding to Cumbria’s Rural Crime Team for it to continue, working with farmers and rural communities to tackle issues like machinery theft. This work has halved theft of quad bikes in the last year alone! Investment in drones and new powers granted by the government mean that the police can crack down on illegal off road bikes, catching those using them and seizing and crushing the vehicles to put them out of use.
Drug use and drug dealing are significant challenges in our community and the Commissioner’s office has used money seized from criminal activity to fund a series of high profile drug raids to arrest major dealers and take them off our streets. Additionally, some of that money is being re-invested into community groups and charities that help our young people. We know a lot more needs to be done on this but community intelligence is vital and we urge residents to report any concerns that could assist the police.
And we’re acting on concerns about illegal working, with recent raids carried out by the Regional Organised Crime Unit on commercial premises across West Cumbria suspected of employing illegal workers. This is a key element of addressing the pull factors bringing people across the Channel in small boats and we’ll continue to take action against individuals and businesses flouting our immigration laws.
There is lots more to do, but we’re committed to making our streets safer at the end of this Parliament than they were at the beginning.
Josh MacAlister MP and David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner
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 medical thermometers into a global exporter of over 2,000 high-precision instruments – including pressure gauges, catering tools, and scientific devices.
During the visit, Josh met with the Brannan team, toured the factory floor, and heard how the fourth-generation family business has built a world-class reputation for quality and innovation. With exports to over 130 countries and a significant footprint in sectors from healthcare to oil and gas, Brannan is a shining example of manufacturing resilience and ingenuity in West Cumbria, employing over 40 local people.
Reflecting on the visit, Josh said:
“It was brilliant to visit Brannan – a company that’s been checking temperatures long before it was fashionable. Their story is one of adaptation, family legacy, and global reach, all from the heart of Cleator Moor. They’re a vital part of our local economy and a proud ambassador for British manufacturing abroad.”
Brannan Managing Director Andrew Brannan added:
“We were delighted to welcome Josh to our site and share our history and ambitions. As a company with deep roots in Cleator Moor, we’re proud of our heritage and even more excited about our future – growing exports, expanding online, and continuing to invest in innovation and people.”
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 Whip said they should “hang [their] heads in shame.”
I agree – but the difference under Labour is that we’re not standing by. We’re taking action.
Since entering government, Labour has restructured the Department for Education to put SEND at its heart and brought in experts to guide long-overdue reform. We’ve invested £1 billion to support children with the most complex learning needs and £740 million to expand specialist provision in mainstream schools.
Locally, Cumberland’s Labour-led council is playing its part too. They’re expanding specialist school places – including 8 new places I helped secure at Hensingham Primary, with 200 more planned by 2026, including 19 at Mayfield this September.
But we know investment alone isn’t enough. I’ve spoken to families across West Cumbria who are battling long waits for assessments, only to find little meaningful support on the other side. I’ve also heard from headteachers and health professionals about their concerns – not just about under-resourcing, but also about the growing pressure to seek a diagnosis.
Across England, autism diagnoses have nearly doubled in five years, with teenage ADHD rates also sharply rising. Some variation reflects greater awareness – a positive step. But there are valid questions about fairness, consistency, and whether children and parents should be battling for a diagnosis in order to get support. For lots of these children it would be better to just provide support as and when needs are identified.
I do not agree with Nigel Farage that diagnosing children with additional needs is ‘creating a class of victims’, or the Chair of Reform UK that children with SEND are just ‘naughty children’. But a growing number of clinicians are warning that many everyday struggles – sadness, shyness, restlessness – risk being treated as disorders. While diagnosis can be life-changing for some, it may limit others unnecessarily. Perhaps it would be better in some situations to have greater support available for children without needing a diagnosis.
That’s why we need a system that puts children’s needs first – not one where parents must fight for a label just to unlock basic support.
To help shape that system, I’m holding a coffee morning for local parents with direct experience of the SEND system. It will be held 10am-12pm on Tuesday 26th August. If you’d like to join, please contact my office. I’ll be feeding your views directly to the Education Secretary ahead of the reforms expected this autumn.
Labour won’t offer token fixes – but we will work with families, not against them, to build a system where every child in West Cumbria can thrive.
Josh with the Chair and CEO of Hospice at Home West Cumbria on a recent visit following the announcement
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 receive a share of the funding – the largest cash injection ever – to ensure patients receive the highest quality end-of-life care. Over £275,000 was also awarded to Eden Valley and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice in Carlisle, which also support patients from West Cumbria.
Visiting Hospice at Home West Cumbria’s Workington office recently following the announcement, Josh said:
“I’m so pleased that this Labour Government has allocated such important funding to our hospice services.
“Hospice at Home West Cumbria, Eden Valley and Jigsaw provides such invaluable support in our community for people with life-limiting conditions and their loved ones and this government funding will make such a real difference.
“It has been my pleasure to visit Eden Valley and Jigsaw and to meet regularly with the Hospice at Home West Cumbria team and support their efforts.”
Minister for Care Stephen Kinnock said:
“Hospices play a vital role in our society by providing invaluable care and support when people need it most.
“At this most difficult time, people deserve to receive the best care in the best possible environment with dignity.
“I have seen first-hand how our funding is already making a real difference to improving facilities for patients and families. This additional funding will deliver further upgrades, relieving pressure on day-to-day spending.
“End-of-life care is crucial to our 10 Year Health Plan and our fundamental shift of moving more care out of hospital and into the community. We will continue to support hospices so they can deliver their vital work.”
Josh visiting Eden Valley and Jigsaw Children’s Hospice in Carlisle earlier this year
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, trains will run from Carlisle to Whitehaven instead of terminating at Workington, after I asked Network Rail to explore this. They’re also looking at whether they can run as far as Corkickle in the south, although there is no decision on that yet. From that day the early morning rail replacement bus will start from Seascale after I raised concerns with Northern that the timetable meant those in the south of the constituency trying to get to Carlisle for work or study weren’t able to arrive before 9am.
While the closure is extremely frustrating, the Bransty tunnel upgrade work is long overdue. But it comes only after years of delay under the previous government and months of lobbying by me and others last year to finally get it booked in. In truth both this and a wider upgrade of the Cumbrian Coast Line should have been done years ago.
The case for an upgrade was made over a decade ago by local leaders but it fell on deaf ears under the previous government until an unfunded pre-election promise was made at the last minute without the detailed plan in place. We had to start almost from scratch last year as the initial business case went out of date while gathering dust on a shelf under the Tories. For the last year I’ve been working locally and nationally to bring it back from the dead.
Following two meetings with the Rail Minister and multiple meetings at official level the updated business case is now progressing through the system.
Given the importance of the railway to the delivery of the civil and defence nuclear work at Sellafield and Barrow, a cross-departmental working group has been established to look at funding to deliver the final business case and the full upgrade, which is expected to cost up to half a billion pounds.
The working group has now met and several actions are underway prior to my next meeting with the Rail Minister in October to discuss the next steps. My hope is that with contributions from Transport, Energy and Defence departments we can finally bring our railway out of the 19th century and into the 21st.
While we hope the tunnel upgrade will improve Whitehaven Harbour, that is not its purpose. A study I secured reports back in September with the next steps for finally returning the beautiful harbour to its natural state.
Josh MacAlister MP 