Cumbria’s new MPs and the leaders of local health and care services met this month at West Cumberland Hospital to discuss the improvements they all want to see to local services.

The meeting, convened by MPs Josh MacAlister, Julie Minns and Markus Campbell-Savours, brought together the leaders of local hospital, mental health, GP, pharmacy, dental and adult social care services for an honest and frank discussion about the challenges local services face after years of financial pressures, workforce challenges and the lack of a joined up approach.

In a joint statement after the meeting, Josh, Julie and Markus said:

“After 14 years of Conservative government our NHS and care services are on their knees.

“One of the missions of the new Labour government is to rebuild our NHS, and as your new MPs we are committed to playing our part to rebuild our local NHS and sort out social care services too.

“We welcomed the discussion with local health and care leaders and we agreed to work together to improve integration of health and care services, address workforce issues to get more doctors, dentists and other health professionals here so we can improve outcomes for patients and help people lead happier, healthier lives.

“We’ll meet every three months to hold services to account for delivering improvements and we will also be working in Parliament to push the government to ensure that north and west Cumbria gets our fair share of resources as Labour’s plan to fix our broken NHS is rolled out.”

A new board set up by Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister to drive forward the regeneration of Whitehaven town centre has met and agreed a plan of action.

The board is made up of two dozen local political, business and community leaders, including Cllr Emma Williamson, Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council; David Allen, Cumbria’s Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner; Marie Dixon of Dixon’s Department Store; Michael Pemberton, CEO of BEC; and Deanne Shallcross, CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners.

Updates were received about ongoing projects that will deliver improvements, such as the Edge and the new digital and gaming hub, the year-round programme of events delivered at the harbour and the fantastic market. The Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner committed to an increased police presence thanks to new funding to address anti-social behaviour hotspots.

Members of the board discussed ways to bring empty properties back into use, attract more independent retail and food-led businesses, the need to review parking arrangements, improve amenities and make the town centre safer.

Sub-groups will focus on tackling the issue of empty shops and exploring models of business-led town centre management that have worked elsewhere.

Cumberland Council agreed to develop a new masterplan and members of the group will be involved in shaping it at every stage of development. It is expected that expert consultants will be appointed early in the autumn to pull together the plan prior to public consultation.

Josh said:

“Whitehaven is a town with great potential and it is full of passionate people with great ideas to lift the town up and deliver a brighter future. I met hundreds of them during the election campaign.

“Too many times in the past ideas have been shared and plans have been developed that have then led nowhere. People are fed up with being let down and I share their frustration. This new board aims to harness the energy, passion and ideas of people across the town, get everyone pulling in the same direction, and then drive forward the delivery of a new plan.

“I am committed to seeing this through and making Whitehaven the even more brilliant town we all want it to be.”

The board was a commitment made by Josh at a public meeting held in Whitehaven before the election which was attended by 150 residents and businesses. A further public meeting will be held later in the year to update residents on progress.

A letter signed by more than 100 political, business and union leaders from across north and west Cumbria is calling for urgent action to resolve land issues at Moorside so that new nuclear power stations can be built. NDA plans for the land are putting West Cumbria’s chances of hosting the first generation of small modular reactors at risk. 

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister wrote the letter, which has been signed by fellow Cumbrian MPs Julie Minns and Markus Campbell-Savours, local members of the House of Lords, Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer, trade union leaders in our nuclear industry and dozens of local business leaders.

Josh says that unless urgent action is taken to resolve issues about land use at Moorside, our area will lose out in a competitive process that is now underway.

A government body, Great British Nuclear (GBN), is in the middle of a process to select sites for the UK’s first small modular reactors. GBN will only select sites that have enough land available and the NDA (who own Sellafield) want to use much of the Moorside site for other decommissioning purposes. This has resulted in an impasse that, if left unresolved, will leave Cumbria behind in the race for new nuclear.

“In my first few weeks as an MP I’ve met with ministers, the NDA, GBN and leading industry figures. It’s become clear that there’s been a conspiracy of silence for years over plans for new nuclear in our area. The last government told our community to wait in line and trust the process. But having looked in detail at the process, we’ve been set up to fail because of competing claims on land at Moorside. 

“The NDA want to use a large chunk of the land at Moorside for potential future decommissioning activity. If all of the land  they want is taken out then there’s not enough land left to build the number of small modular reactors Great British Nuclear wants.

“Today, over 100 local leaders are ringing the alarm on this. Our ask is simple – this is land designated for new nuclear use and it should be prioritised for new nuclear use. The NDA should develop contingency plans for their future land needs and buy alternative land for future decommissioning activity if and when the need arises.

“West Cumbria has the land ready to go, the strong community consent, the skills and the

nuclear infrastructure which make our area the perfect location for new nuclear. We do not

want to miss out on another opportunity.”

The letter calls on Ed Miliband to intervene and direct the NDA and Greater British Nuclear to prioritise the land at Moorside for new nuclear use and ensure as much as is needed for that purpose is made available.

It goes on to say that, “if Moorside is prioritised for new nuclear, and if the NDA have a detailed contingency for additional land, we are confident that the Moorside site will perform well in the GBN assessment”.

Great British Nuclear are set to choose sites to build new nuclear power plants by February 2025 but the process of understanding land availability is already underway.

I was very honoured to give my maiden speech in Parliament speaking of my love of West Cumbria and our people and some of the priorities I’ll be focusing on as your MP.

You can watch it below.

I used my first question in Parliament to call for a debate on the infected blood scandal. You can watch it below.

Welcoming yesterday’s King’s Speech, Labour’s Josh MacAlister said:

“The first King’s Speech of this Labour government will help deliver the change that families and businesses in West Cumbria have been crying out for.

“It’s a plan that will mean more jobs, better transport, new homes and investment in the infrastructure we need – ultimately, it’s an agenda to take the brakes off Britain and get West Cumbria moving again.

“After 14 wasted years, we finally have a real plan to create wealth in every community – including right here in West Cumbria.

“This is a government in the service of working people, and this King’s Speech is a great start to a decade of national renewal.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“This will be a government of service.

“My government will be committed to uniting the country in our shared mission of national renewal. We will serve every person, regardless of how they voted, to fix the foundations of this nation for the long term. The era of politics as performance and self-interest above service is over.

“The fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era. It is only by serving the interests of working people, and delivering real change that transforms lives, that we can begin to restore people’s faith that politics can be a force for good.

“Rebuilding our country will not happen overnight. The challenges we face require determined, patient work and serious solutions, rather than the temptation of the easy answer. The snake oil charm of populism may sound seductive, but it drives us into the dead end of further division and greater disappointment.”

The new Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, had only been in the job for five days when a letter landed on her desk calling for investment in the Cumbrian Coast Line as an urgent priority.

The letter, drafted by Whitehaven and Workington’s new MP, Josh MacAlister, was signed by Cumbria’s four new Labour MPs, Tim Farron, Lib Dem MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale, the leaders of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils and the bosses of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.

More than 200,000 people and 10,000 businesses are located along the route of the Cumbrian Coast Line. It is a key asset for the north and investment could act as a catalyst for significant inward investment and growth in Cumbria. Investment is urgent following a number of recent issues on the line.

A bid was made to the previous Conservative government several years ago to upgrade the line, which was rejected. In the dying days of Rishi Sunak’s government he promised to deliver the scheme, but no funding was allocated in the last government’s Budget earlier this year.

Josh said:

“The Conservatives left the new government with the worst economic inheritance since the Second World War and difficult decisions are going to have to be made. 

“Their promise to invest in our railway with phantom money years from now was a cynical election con they had no intention of delivering, and West Cumbrians saw right through it.

“Labour’s commitment to growth means investing in infrastructure projects that will deliver growth. We’re going to make the strongest case we can that investing in the Cumbrian Coast Line is key to generating growth here in Cumbria.

“This cross-county, cross-party approach will be the new way we will work in a new grown up politics to get things done for the people of Cumbria.”

Josh MacAlister, the new Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, got straight to work this week on his top priority of delivering new nuclear in West Cumbria.

Josh wrote to the boss of Great British Nuclear to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss ways to speed up decision making to get on with delivering new nuclear projects, something new Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed when he spoke to the Whitehaven News last year.

He also wrote to the chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority calling for a meeting to seek clarity on the future of land at Moorside which is designated for new nuclear power generation.

Josh said:

“I wrote these letters on day one as promised, before even getting sworn in as your MP, because delivering new nuclear in West Cumbria is essential for the jobs it will create and the energy it will generate to power the new industries I want to bring here. 

“I want to understand current processes and timetables and any roadblocks that are getting in the way of building new nuclear power plants and work with local stakeholders, potential private sector investors and the new Labour government to break down barriers, speed up decisions and get on with the job.”

Speaking to the Whitehaven News last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “We need to be tough on the decisions that get in the way of building projects, so to make sure this happens fast and at pace.”

It was the greatest honour and privilege of my life to be elected as your first Labour MP for the new constituency of Whitehaven and Workington in the early hours of Friday morning.

Not only did we win the seat but we secured the largest majority in the history of the former constituency of Copeland from which the majority of the new seat is formed, and the highest percentage share of the vote of any seat which Labour gained across the UK.

This gives me a strong mandate to deliver the plan I laid out to the people of West Cumbria ahead of the election – to back new nuclear and industry, fix our broken NHS, bring down bills, get more police on our streets and push forward regeneration of our towns.

Here’s my acceptance speech from the count, which you can also watch on Facebook here.

I’d like to start by thanking the returning officer, our counters, and the police who have overseen a smooth and successful polling day. For your sake I’ll keep these remarks short!

I’d like to pay tribute to my fellow candidates – our democracy rests on people putting themselves into the arena. It can be demanding for candidates and their families. I’d also like to thank Trudy Harrison, the outgoing MP who has served the community since 2017.

To my campaign manager, agent, volunteer team and Labour party staff – I owe an enormous debt for the dedication and support you’ve provided to me since we launched our campaign a year ago. This result validates your tremendous efforts.

And to my friends and family – and especially to my husband. Thank you for supporting me through a campaign that asks a lot of your loved ones!

The most important thanks goes to those who voted. Thank you for placing your trust in me and in the Labour party.

Since 2019, Labour listened, we changed and in turn we have been given the chance to serve.

As the first MP for the new constituency of Whitehaven and Workington, I will work tirelessly to serve you in our parliament. Labour’s task is to serve the country, in return for the trust you have placed in us.

There are no quick fixes or easy answers to the problems our country faces. Big problems necessitate bigger politics, that meet the moment. We can get our country back on its feet with practical answers, determination and humility.

We can now turn the page on 14 years of decline and rebuild our country together.

Thank you.

Manifesto ahead of General Election outlines plan for pipeline of projects for nuclear-driven net zero, energy security, economic growth and jobs

The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) has today launched its 2024 industry manifesto setting out five key actions for MPs elected on July 4 to support during the next Parliament to ensure the momentum within the nuclear sector is sustained so it can deliver more reliable clean power, bolster energy security, create green jobs and grow the economy.

The key points in the industry’s manifesto for the next Parliament are:

• Progressing Sizewell C to a Final Investment Decision by autumn 2024 and extending the life of our current power stations.
  
• Building a fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) across the country and a third large-scale station at Wylfa on Anglesey to help rebuild industrial Britain.
  
• Making the UK the best place to develop and deploy advanced nuclear reactors.
  
• Maximising the UK’s fuel manufacturing capability to meet increased demand from allies for current and advanced nuclear fuels.
  
• Selecting a suitable site in a supportive and willing community for a Geological Disposal Facility, a long-term solution for waste.

The manifesto calls on the UK to use a major nuclear construction programme to increase the nuclear skills base and rebuild and sustain strategic industrial capabilities to ensure the sector is best placed to deliver for net zero, energy security and communities across the country.

Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said:

“Big decisions on new nuclear projects are needed as a matter of urgency during the next Parliament to ensure we deliver clean power for net zero, energy security and jobs for the future.

“Delivering new nuclear projects from Sizewell C and Wylfa to SMRs and nuclear fuel, will bring huge investment to communities and reliable, clean energy for a very long time. Members of the next Parliament will have some crucial decisions to take to ensure that the massive economic, environmental and energy security opportunities for the UK are realised.”

Josh MacAlister, Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, said:

“As the Labour parliamentary candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, I am proud to support this manifesto. Nuclear energy is not just about reliable and clean power—it’s about energy security from hostile states, creating highly-skilled unionised jobs, and unlocking the energy needed to fuel new industry.

“Cumbria has a rich and proud history at the frontier of nuclear development. West Cumbria needs to be at the forefront of our nation’s nuclear comeback. As a country, we must accelerate the deployment of new nuclear power stations, take the long term decisions on a geological disposal facility and make the UK a home for advanced technology. This manifesto aligns with our goals for prosperity and energy security, ensuring long-term benefits for our children and grandchildren. The time to act is now.”