I welcome today’s announcement of the new £2.9 billion Infrastructure Delivery Partnership at Sellafield. 

This long-term investment will secure and protect skilled jobs here in West Cumbria while ensuring the site has the modern, reliable infrastructure it needs to deliver its nationally important mission safely and efficiently.

The inclusion of strong commitments to local employment, apprenticeships, and community benefit is particularly important. Sellafield’s success has always been tied to the people and communities that host it, and this new partnership shows how social value investment can go hand-in-hand with world-class engineering and economic opportunity.

I have already met with Morgan Sindall to discuss the potential of their social value investment and I will be meeting the other contractors in due course to discuss how they can contribute most effectively to the local community.

This is good news for workers, local businesses, and for the future of our community.

St Mary’s Church in Westfield, Workington, welcomed local Member of Parliament Josh MacAlister this week as he joined residents and volunteers at the church’s weekly Warm Welcome Breakfast.

The Warm Welcome Breakfast, held every Wednesday morning at St Mary’s, offers a free or donation-based hot breakfast for anyone in the local community. The initiative, led by Reverend Sharon Murphy and a team of dedicated volunteers, provides not just food but also a space for companionship and support.

During his visit, Josh sat down with residents to hear directly about local concerns, as well as to share in the friendly and welcoming atmosphere that has made the breakfast a valued fixture in the community. He also met with Reverend Murphy and volunteers to thank them for their commitment and hard work.

Speaking after the visit, Josh said:

“It was a privilege to join the Warm Welcome Breakfast at St Mary’s and to see first-hand the kindness, generosity, and community spirit here in Westfield. The volunteers and Reverend Sharon are doing vital work in bringing people together and offering support, and it’s clear how much this means to local residents.”

Reverend Sharon Murphy added:

“We’re delighted that Josh could join us and spend time with our community. The Warm Welcome Breakfast is about more than food – it’s about making sure everyone feels they belong and are cared for. It’s encouraging to know that the work of our volunteers and supporters is recognised and appreciated.”

The Warm Welcome Breakfast runs every Wednesday from 9am to 11am at St Mary’s Church, Westfield, and is open to all. Breakfast is offered free of charge, with donations welcomed from those who are able to contribute.

West Cumbrian MP Josh MacAlister has praised the volunteers and staff behind the new Macmillan Support Pod at West Cumberland Hospital, calling it “a lifeline” for people living with cancer and their families.

Josh visited the pod this week, where he met with Macmillan volunteers running the service. The pod, located in the hospital’s old main entrance, offers free drop-in advice and one-to-one appointments to anyone affected by cancer.

He said:

“Cancer touches so many families in our community, and I know the fear and uncertainty that comes with a diagnosis. This new Support Pod will make a real difference – giving people not just information, but compassion, time and understanding when they need it most. The volunteers here are remarkable and I want to thank each of them for the hope and kindness they are offering.”

Josh also highlighted the work being done nationally to improve cancer services:

“The Labour Government has made reducing cancer waiting times a top priority. We are expanding the NHS workforce, investing in new scanners and diagnostic tools, and streamlining how quickly people can get results and start treatment. Every week saved makes a difference – it saves lives.”

The Support Pod is run by Macmillan volunteers alongside specialist NHS staff. Drop-in sessions run every Thursday from 10am to 1pm, with one-to-one appointments available Monday to Friday by e-mailing cancerinformation@ncic.nhs.uk or calling 01228 81428.

Last week the government set out a bold new ambition for skills in our country. Instead of the outdated target that 50% of young people should go to university, this government has raised its sights higher – for two-thirds of young people to go on to university, further education, or take up a gold standard apprenticeship.

The old target never reflected our reality in West Cumbria. Here, many more young people proudly choose apprenticeships and further education. Our local economy has long depended on that tradition. Sellafield, local engineering and construction firms and our NHS all rely on young people gaining high-quality technical education.

By replacing the old target, the government is saying clearly that technical qualifications and apprenticeships deserve the same respect as university degrees. This is about celebrating and investing in the colleges and training providers we have here in West Cumbria. These institutions are vital, and with new backing they can equip more local young people with the skills that match job opportunities for years to come.

But ambition alone is not enough if people can’t afford to study. University should be accessible to all, but for too many young people and families in West Cumbria the cost of rent, food and travel has put higher education out of reach. Students here have faced an impossible choice between earning or learning, working long hours in term time and cutting back on study.

That’s why I welcome the government’s second announcement last week: the return of targeted maintenance grants. For the first time in over a decade, students from low-income households will again get the financial support of a grant. These grants will be focused on courses that support our national priorities. That means backing people who are preparing for the jobs our country most needs: in healthcare, where the NHS relies on a new generation of nurses and doctors; in clean energy, where Cumbria has the potential to lead the way in offshore wind, new nuclear and hydrogen; and in advanced engineering and manufacturing, where our young people are already making a difference through world-class apprenticeships.

This matters hugely for our area. It means a young person in Whitehaven or Workington, Egremont, Cleator Moor, Flimby or any of the surrounding villages who wants to be the first in their family to go on to higher study, no longer has to rule it out because of money worries. 

As your MP, my priority is making sure every young person in West Cumbria has real choices. This government is committed to making working people better off, driving up skills, and ensuring our young people can get good, secure jobs. For our community, it is a chance to build on our proud traditions and open the door to a brighter future.

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister has called on local schools to apply to become part of the next wave of new or expanded nurseries directly on primary school grounds, to make life easier for working parents, cutting down the school run and giving children a seamless start to their education.

It comes as Labour confirmed that over 4,000 extra school-based nursery places were made available across England last month as a result of the government’s initial £37 million investment, including at expanded nurseries here in West Cumbria at Thornhill Primary School and Eaglesfied Paddle Primary School.

School-based nurseries offer children the opportunity to grow up and learn in a consistent environment all the way up to age 11, so they can continue to thrive in an environment they trust.

Amid the ongoing success of the first phase, Labour is going further and faster to tackle childcare cold spots to offer more choice for parents in West Cumbria.

To assist Labour’s drive to give every child the best start in life, local MP Josh MacAlister has invited local primary schools to bid for up to £150,000 funding from a £45 million pot to create a further 300 new or expanded best start school-based nurseries – offering up to 7,000 more places – from September 2026.

Labour’s second phase will prioritise quality bids from schools serving areas with childcare cold spots in some of the most disadvantaged communities, delivering thousands of new places for families who need them most.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:

“School-based nurseries offer a nurturing and stable environment for children that carries through into primary and helping hand for working parents tackling dual drop off.

“Delivering more of these – under our Best Start umbrella – means more choice and convenience for parents, and more opportunities to fill the childcare cold spots impacting families most in need of that little extra support.”

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“I know from speaking with families across West Cumbria how childcare can put pressure on household finances.

“That’s why Labour’s offer of 30 government-funded hours of childcare has already begun to make a massive difference to local parents – saving them up to £7,500 a year and giving children the best start.

“I’m so glad to see Labour doubling down and I’m inviting schools to join us in making high-quality early years education more accessible and affordable, boosting parents’ work choices and children’s life chances.”

Josh MacAlister MP has visited the University of Lancashire’s Westlakes campus to meet with nursing students currently training to become the next generation of healthcare professionals in West Cumbria.

During the visit, Josh spoke with students and staff about the importance of training nurses locally and the need to encourage more people from West Cumbria to consider nursing as a career. The University is currently seeking to recruit more candidates on to its nursing degree programmes, which offer local students an invaluable opportunity to study and train close to home.

Students training at Westlakes are supported with an NHS bursary of £5,000 per year of study, helping to make nursing an accessible and rewarding choice for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Speaking after the visit, Josh said:

“It was fantastic to meet with the University of Lancashire’s nursing students at Westlakes and hear about their experiences on the course. Nurses play a vital role in our health service, and people in West Cumbria can take up this career right here, at Westlakes. With financial support available and world-class training on the doorstep, I would encourage anyone thinking about their next steps to seriously consider becoming a nurse.”

Graduates from the University of Lancashire’s nursing degree go on to work in a wide range of areas including acute hospital care, mental health services, primary care and community health settings, ensuring that their skills make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of people across West Cumbria and beyond.

University of Lancashire are holding an open evening next week which is open to all those interested in a career in nursing. The event will be held at the Westlakes campus from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday 16th October.

Aarron Butterworth, Operations Manager at University of Lancashire’s Westlakes campus, added:

“We know how important it is to train and retain nurses in West Cumbria. Our Westlakes campus provides local students with the chance to learn close to home and build rewarding careers here in Cumbria. 

“Our nursing courses are open to all, whether you are leaving school, returning to education or considering a career change. Anyone with an interest in healthcare should come along to our Westlakes Nursing Event on 16th October. You can explore the campus, meet students and staff, and explore the opportunities nursing can offer.”

For more information about nursing courses at University of Lancashire Westlakes or to register to attend the open evening, click here

I had a piece of casework recently from someone who had been trying to start a new job in our NHS but the right-to-work checks were taking months.

Many of us face the nightmare of endless forms and identity checks when trying to access services. Whether it’s starting a new job, renting a home, claiming childcare hours, or opening a bank account, the same documents are asked for time and again. Digging through paperwork, taking photos of ID and council tax bills, e-mailing them off to people who then need to verify and store them.

For too many people – including the one in ten adults without a photo ID – these hurdles are a regular frustration and mean real barriers to opportunity.

That is why I am supporting the government’s plan to introduce a free Digital ID (not an ID card!) for everyone in the UK. This is about making everyday life simpler, more secure, and more inclusive for people here in West Cumbria.

Digital ID will allow people to prove who they are quickly and securely, without carrying piles of paperwork. It will be free for everyone and built with privacy and safety at its core.

At first, Digital ID will make right-to-work checks easier. Employers in our area tell me that the current system is time-consuming and costly. With a Digital ID, these checks will be faster, cheaper, and more robust – tackling fraud and exploitation while helping honest businesses. This will help to make the UK less attractive to people wanting to come and work here illegally.

But based on the success of digital ID in other countries, the potential goes much further. Parents could use it to apply for free childcare hours without wrestling with multiple logins. Renters could verify their identity with a landlord in just a few clicks. Students applying to universities or jobs could pull through verified education records instantly, cutting delays and frustration. Over time, this could even make tasks like doing your tax return or proving your age at the supermarket quicker and easier.

We know this can work because it is already working elsewhere. In Denmark, people now use their Digital ID for everything from banking to healthcare, saving time and reducing hassle. Estonia’s system has cut bureaucracy so much that it has boosted the country’s economy by up to 2% of GDP. In Australia, more than 90% of users say they’ve had a positive experience.

Crucially, this is also about inclusion. For those in our community who cannot afford a passport or driving licence, Digital ID will finally provide a free, secure way to prove who they are. It will even let people share only the information needed – for example, proving they’re over 18 without disclosing their full date of birth.

This is a common-sense change that will make life fairer, safer, and easier. By embracing Digital ID, we can cut red tape, give people more control, and make sure no one in our community is left behind. 

Whitehaven MP Josh MacAlister and Cllr Emma Williamson have secured £20 million of long-term investment for Whitehaven’s neighbourhoods of Kells, Woodhouse, Greenbank, Sandwith and Mirehouse through Labour’s Pride in Place programme.

The funding will deliver £2 million every year for the next ten years, supporting local jobs, improving community facilities, enhancing green spaces, and making the area safer.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“When I was elected, I promised to fight for our community – and I am proud to have delivered. £20 million of long-term investment will transform the neighbourhoods of south Whitehaven over the next decade. Neighbourhoods which for too long have been overlooked when funding was dished out by Whitehall.

“The most important thing is that local people get to decide how it’s spent, not civil servants in London. Emma Williamson and I have already been out asking residents for their views, and together we’ll make sure every penny reflects our community’s priorities.”

Cllr Emma Williamson, who has been campaigning alongside Josh to secure funding for her community, said:

“This is a huge win for south Whitehaven. Local people have been calling for better facilities, safer streets, and stronger support for young people. I’ve been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Josh to secure this investment, and now we’ll work with residents to turn it into real change in Kells, Woodhouse, Greenbank, Sandwith and Mirehouse.”

Josh and Emma have already launched a neighbourhood survey to give residents the chance to shape how the funding is used. Hundreds of responses have already come in, highlighting the need for more opportunities for young people, youth facilities, playgrounds and indoor sports spaces, better public transport links, investment in community spaces and measures to address crime and anti-social behaviour.

Josh added:

“This investment is a once in a generation opportunity. But to get it right, we need to hear from as many people as possible. If you haven’t yet completed our neighbourhood survey, please do take a few minutes – your views will help shape how this £20 million is spent.”

A Neighbourhood Delivery Board, led by leaders of the community, alongside Josh and Emma, will now be set up to decide how the funding should be spent and oversee delivery.

Residents can share their views at: joshmacalister.uk/neighbourhood-survey

I hope parents and grandparents have now recovered from the summer holidays!

For too many local families, the long break can be a real struggle. Childcare is hard to find and often too expensive, routines are disrupted, and the cost of keeping children fed and entertained every day quickly adds up. That’s why I’m so pleased the Labour government has confirmed over £600 million to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years.

These Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) clubs have been a lifeline here in West Cumbria. They offer children healthy meals alongside sports, games, and creative activities. I’ve seen first-hand the difference they make: kids discovering new hobbies, making friends, and enjoying the kind of carefree summer every child deserves. Parents tell me how much the clubs ease the pressure too, saving around £300 a year on food and childcare costs.

Until now, funding for HAF was only confirmed year by year, leaving parents and providers uncertain about the future. By putting the programme on a three-year footing, we’re giving families and local organisations the certainty they’ve long needed. It means clubs can plan ahead, expand what they offer, and reach even more children who benefit most.

This investment is part of Labour’s wider Best Start package – our plan to ease pressure on families and give every child the strongest possible foundation. That includes free breakfast clubs in every primary school, expanded access to free school meals, new family hubs in communities, and 30 hours of funded childcare for working parents. Taken together, these reforms are about building a system that works all year round, not just during term time.

I also want to pay tribute to the team from Cumberland Council, who have done a fantastic job delivering the Holiday Activities and Food programme locally. Their hard work means hundreds of children across West Cumbria have had access to healthy meals and fun, enriching activities right through the school holidays. The council has also shown real commitment to tackling child poverty by expanding access to free school meals through auto enrolment, ensuring that no child misses out on good food during term time either. And Family Hubs are providing vital support to local children and young people and their families.  Their dedication is making a real difference for families here in West Cumbria.

For me, this is about fairness. In the past, too often how well a child did depended on how well off their family was. We are changing that. By investing in HAF and the wider Best Start offer, we’re supporting parents, tackling child poverty, and ensuring children in West Cumbria grow up healthy, happy, and ready to thrive.

With this funding secured, families here can look ahead to the holidays with confidence, not anxiety. And that, I believe, is a change worth celebrating.

Workington MP Josh MacAlister paid a visit to McMenon Engineering this week to meet staff and see how a proud local manufacturer is making a global impact while continuing to invest in West Cumbria.

From its headquarters in the town, McMenon designs and makes precision instruments that measure flow and temperature – vital tools used in industries as varied as energy, water, food, and pharmaceuticals. Each year, more than 10,000 products are built in Workington and shipped to over 60 countries around the world.

But while McMenon’s reach is international, its roots are firmly local. The company employs skilled workers from across West Cumbria and is passionate about supporting apprenticeships, giving young people the chance to train for rewarding careers in engineering.

During his visit, Josh toured the workshops, spoke with apprentices, and heard directly from the team about their pride in producing high-quality British engineering.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“It was brilliant to see the incredible work happening at McMenon right here in Workington. The skill, dedication and innovation on display are inspiring – and it’s clear this company is not only flying the flag for British manufacturing across the world but also providing fantastic opportunities for local people.”

McMenon CEO Anand Puthran added:

“We were delighted to welcome Josh and show him around. While most of what we make is exported, our heart is in West Cumbria. Our team is proud to contribute to the local economy and to help nurture the next generation of engineers from our community.”

With more than 75 years of local manufacturing heritage, McMenon remains a shining example of how a West Cumbrian business can succeed globally while keeping community at its core.