From this week I’ll be writing a new weekly column in the Whitehaven News and the Times & Star. Here’s my first one:

I’m delighted to be starting this new weekly column to keep you up to date with my work with you and on your behalf as your new Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington. I hope you find it useful. Please feel free to contact me with any follow up questions you might have about what I’ve said – my contact details are at the bottom.

I’m writing this at the end of my first week back in Parliament after the summer recess. And it was a very busy week!

I’ve focused a lot this week on my promise to fight to deliver new nuclear in West Cumbria because there are major decisions due to be made imminently which will determine our nuclear future. I have to be frank with you – we’re currently sleepwalking towards another devastating blow to our nuclear ambitions.

For those who haven’t followed this closely, a process was started under the previous government, led by a new government body called Great British Nuclear, to select technologies and sites for the development of new small modular reactors (SMRs) to generate new nuclear power.

We were told by the Tories locally and nationally to trust this process. That the Moorside side adjacent to Sellafield would come out of it with new nuclear. 

I’m afraid this was a lie.

As soon as I was elected as your MP I set about meeting with government officials and ministers and key figures from across the nuclear sector – Great British Nuclear, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield and businesses from across the nuclear supply chain.

What became clear to me very quickly was that there were major roadblocks getting in the way of Moorside’s viability to be selected as a new nuclear site in the Great British Nuclear (GBN) process. Roadblocks I heard a little bit about before the election – which is why I started my New Nuclear Now campaign – but which had been kept hidden from the public.

These roadblocks are centred around competing uses of the land at Moorside and other projects linked to the NDA’s decommissioning mission. Other sites being considered for new nuclear do not have these roadblocks, making them more likely to be picked by GBN.

It is my absolute and firm belief that we can and must overcome these roadblocks. The NDA need to come up with alternative land for their other projects and we need to sequence new nuclear and decommissioning projects in a way that ensures we can do both.

I fully support the important work that is ongoing at Sellafield – I saw it firsthand on a recent visit – and will fight for future decommissioning projects that will continue that work and create more jobs. But we simply cannot have a situation where West Cumbria’s entire economy is reliant on the NDA and decommissioning work.

New nuclear is so important not because of the direct jobs it creates but because of the potential green industrial and advanced manufacturing jobs which could be created by the power it generates. For example at the Port of Workington, where I’m working with Cumberland Council and the new government on a major expansion which could transform the economic geography of West Cumbria.

I want us to have a vibrant, diverse economy where local young people have more than one option for a career and where we’re attracting the best talent from elsewhere to come here.

So, this week I brought together GBN, the NDA, Sellafield, the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Nuclear Industry Association, leading officials from the Prospect, GMB and Unite trade unions, the leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, and fellow Cumbrian MPs Markus Campbell-Savours and Julie Minns in a new Nuclear Delivery Group for Cumbria. It was the first time all key stakeholders were in the same room discussing these thorny issues. The meeting was productive but inconclusive. 

I also spent an hour with the new Minister for Nuclear this week. This was my third meeting with him and I pressed on him in the strongest possible terms the need for new nuclear in West Cumbria.

My hope and my goal is that the NDA will release the land and work constructively to find solutions to make both new nuclear and the decommissioning mission work together. After all, the NDA were able to plan on this basis up until 2018 when a large new nuclear plant was planned. I know we can do it if we get everyone pulling in the same direction. And the opportunities for West Cumbria if we do are limitless.

Finally, I was honoured this week to be elected to Chair the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Nuclear Energy. It brings together MPs and members of the House of Lords from all parties to advocate for nuclear power. Under my chairmanship I want to make it the strongest voice for new nuclear that Parliament has ever seen. The last government spent too long dithering and delaying. The new government needs to grasp the opportunities of new nuclear with both hands.

What do you think? Get in touch with me by e-mail: hello@joshmacalister.uk. I’m holding a series of advice surgeries and public meetings across West Cumbria in this coming months. Visit my website to find out more: joshmacalister.uk/meetjosh

History was made in Parliament today as Andy’s Man Club groups in Whitehaven and Workington were invited to hold a special session in the Houses of Parliament for MPs.

The session, hosted by Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister, was held to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

Over 20 MPs attended to learn more about the vital work of Andy’s Man Club in preventing male suicide, the biggest killer of men in West Cumbria.

Steve, lead facilitator of Andy’s Man Club Workington, said:

“We really appreciate Josh’s support for Andy’s Man Club and his invitation to lead this historic first Andy’s Man Club session in Parliament.

“Male suicide is the biggest killer of men in Workington but it doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re struggling, come along to one of our sessions on a Monday night. You’ll realise you’re not alone and there is a network to support you.

“I hope the session in Parliament will be the first of many as we continue to advocate for this issue to get more attention and focus from politicians.”

Josh said:

“I first attended Andy’s Man Club last year and was left in awe of the work they do and the opportunity it provides for men to come together in a safe space to share their feelings and get support.

“I wanted to bring them down to Parliament so other MPs could learn about this work and talk about the really important issue of male suicide, which kills far too many men in West Cumbria and across the country.

“This will be a topic I focus on during my time in Parliament. We need to talk about it more openly, let men know there is help available, and make sure the right support services are in place.”

The new Labour Government has announced a £421 million boost to local authorities to help vulnerable families with the cost of their energy, food and water – through an extension of the Household Support Fund.

The funding was due to run out at the end of September, leaving thousands of vulnerable people across Cumbria without extra help this winter. The extension means support will continue through to next spring.

In a statement published following the announcement, Josh MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said:

“The Conservatives left Britain broke and broken. But here in West Cumbria the new Labour government is already taking action to fix the foundations of our country and get Britain moving again.

“The Tories mismanaged our economy so badly that we’ve all taken a battering in recent years. That’s why Labour has announced the £421m extension to the Household Support Scheme – to help families and pensioners in West Cumbria get through the winter ahead. 

“And Labour won’t stop there – the new government is taking further action to fix the foundations through our plans to grow the economy, make work pay, and Get Britain Working again.”

A new group bringing together key stakeholders has met for the first time to tackle the roadblocks getting in the way of delivering new nuclear in West Cumbria.

The group, convened by Whitehaven & Workington MP Josh MacAlister – who was also elected this week to Chair the influential All-Party Parliamentary Group for Nuclear Energy in Parliament – brought together MPs, Cumberland Council, trade unions and business and nuclear sector organisations, including Great British Nuclear, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield, Nuclear Waste Services, the Office of Nuclear Regulation, the Nuclear Industry Association and Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster.

The key issue under discussion at the first meeting was competing use of the land at Moorside. The site was designated for new nuclear use by the last Labour government in 2008 but large swathes of the site have since been earmarked for decommissioning activity by the NDA. 

Great British Nuclear (GBN) are currently assessing sites to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with decisions expected in the coming weeks. If adequate land is not available at Moorside, it will not get through the GBN process and West Cumbria could lose out on new nuclear for a generation.

Josh said:

“This was the first time all key stakeholders were in the same room discussing this issue. It’s something that should have been done a long time ago by Cumbria’s former MPs, who instead left us sleepwalking towards losing out on new nuclear, while telling everyone to trust the process.

“Now we have new leadership and we’ve asked the difficult questions and discovered the extent of the roadblocks getting in the way of new nuclear in our area, Cumbria’s new MPs and the council are working in lockstep and fighting tooth and nail to overcome these issues and secure Cumbria’s nuclear future.”

A new group to develop and deliver plans for an ambitious expansion of the Port of Workington has met to start work.

A major expansion of the port and effective use of the land around it, much of which is owned by the council, could transform the economic geography of West Cumbria.

The group, chaired by Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister and Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, includes Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, and a range of businesses who use the port or with a future interest in use of the port.

In recent weeks Josh has met with the Minister for Industry, Sarah Jones MP, who will be responsible for Labour’s promised £1.8 billion port investment programme, to discuss Workington’s ambitions.

Cllr Fryer updated the group on plans to change the governance structure and management of the port to get it into a better position for development and confirmed that a bid for external experts to develop a masterplan would soon be launched.

Josh said:

“There is so much potential in the port and the surrounding area to attract new industry and advanced manufacturing, generating high quality, long-term jobs for the people of Workington.

“That’s why Mark and I brought Ed MIliband here before the election to show him the port and the possibilities if its potential was unlocked. He confirmed that we were in a ‘prime position’ for investment.

“We’ve now finally got a government with a plan to develop a proper industrial strategy and invest in projects like this that will deliver growth and create jobs and we want to take full advantage of that by putting forward a strong and ambitious plan to get maximum benefit from this asset.”

Expansion of the Port of Workington was a key element of the industrial plan Josh published before the election outlining how he would work to deliver growth and jobs if elected as MP for Whitehaven and Workington.

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.