Josh MacAlister, Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington, has welcomed the Labour Government’s record funding boost for road maintenance, including £96.5 million for Cumberland.

Councils across England will fix potholes and prevent new ones, thanks to a doubling of roads cash by the end of the Parliament as part of the Budget.

Each local authority will be able to use its share of the £7.3 billion to identify the roads most in need of repair and deliver immediate improvements for communities and residents.

The Government is also turning up the pressure on local authorities by more than tripling the share of local roads funding that is tied to transparency – from 8% to over 30% of the budget, worth more than £500 million. Councils can only unlock the funding if they publish clear pothole and maintenance data and follow best practice.

Josh said:

“At the election, Labour promised to fix an extra million potholes a year by the end of the Parliament. This announcement shows that we are putting our money where our mouth is. It’s double the funding that was promised by the previous Conservative government.

“This record cash boost for local roads is in addition to £23 million to improve local bus services, an extension of the £3 bus fare cap to 2027, and the freezing of rail fares for the first time in 30 years. We’re making travel that little bit easier for west Cumbrians.

“I want to hear from you which roads you want to see repaired with this extra cash. Get in touch and I’ll feed in your suggestions to Cumberland Council for consideration as part of their maintenance programme.”

For farmers in West Cumbria, the way government supports farming and nature recovery is not an abstract policy debate – it is about whether family farms can survive and pass on a viable business to the next generation. That is why I have made securing a devolved farm-funding settlement for Cumbria one of my top priorities in Westminster.

At the moment, too many decisions about support for upland farms are taken hundreds of miles away by people who do not know our fell farms, our commons or our communities. Cumbria has the largest concentration of common land in England and a farming system that underpins our UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Yet farmers here are having to navigate complex national schemes, falling incomes and growing uncertainty.

I believe there is a better way. For months I have been pressing ministers to back a Cumbria-led pilot that would put tens of millions of pounds of farm support and nature recovery funding every year under local control. That would mean decisions taken in Cumbria, by people who understand our land and our businesses – farmers, commoners, local councils, the National Park and conservation groups working together.

Local leaders, including from the National Park Authority and farmer-led nature recovery projects, have been clear that devolved funding would allow us to tailor support to our upland landscapes and to the realities of Cumbrian farming. Instead of one-size-fits-all schemes, we could design simpler, more practical options that reward food production, protect hill farming and restore nature in a way that strengthens rural life.

Some farmers might ask how this ambition sits alongside my recent vote on changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR). I understand the concern that vote has caused. Although only a small number of farms locally will be directly affected, many worry it signals a wider shift in how government sees farming. I take that anxiety seriously.

Before the vote, I argued hard inside government for the interests of West Cumbrian farmers. Those discussions helped secure important adjustments to the original proposals. Voting against the measure would have required me to leave the Labour benches and in so doing, lose the ability to shape policy for farmers and many others in West Cumbria. This would have sat badly with me because I’m in politics to get stuff done. I want to be in a position to influence decisions that matter for our communities not just on tax, but on planning, housing, transport, education, nuclear and the NHS.

You may not agree with every decision I make, and I respect that. But I hope you can see the thread that runs through my work: to get more decisions and more resources into Cumbrian hands. I will keep pressing ministers to let Cumbria lead – and listening to farmers as we fight for a fairer future for rural communities.

Farmers can sign up to attend my next Farmers’ Forum at 6pm on Friday 30th January at joshmacalister.uk/meetjosh.

Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven & Workington, has welcomed more than £18 million of new investment in local bus services across Cumberland over the next three years, as part of the Government’s landmark national funding programme to deliver faster, cheaper and more reliable buses. This comes alongside the £5 million already secured this year, which is now beginning to deliver the first wave of new and expanded local services.

The announcement forms part of the Government’s £3 billion national settlement for local transport authorities, with Cumberland receiving nearly £18 million in multi-year bus funding to back local bus services in West Cumbria and beyond.

This new funding could support better links between towns and villages across West Cumbria – including new early-morning, evening and weekend services – delivering on Josh MacAlister’s long-running Back the Bus campaign to rebuild a dependable, affordable bus network for local people.

At the same time, Stagecoach has set out its plan to improve the reliability of its commercial services following recent delays and cancellations. In a letter sent to Josh, the operator confirmed actions including:

• Replacing older vehicles with newer buses from January;
• Maintaining strong driver staffing levels;
• Overhauling maintenance practices and fully staffing the Lillyhall engineering team for the first time since Covid;
• Bringing in specialist contractors and speeding up repairs through manufacturer-backed suppliers;
• Working with Cumberland Council to minimise delays caused by roadworks;
• Upgrading the tracking system to provide passengers with more accurate real-time information through upgrades to the tracking system.

These steps follow concerns raised by residents about unexpected cancellations and the impact on getting to work, school and medical appointments.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“This is a huge step forward for West Cumbria. After years of people being let down by unreliable and infrequent services, we now have more than £18 million going into our bus network – with the first improvements already rolling out thanks to the £5 million already secured earlier this year.

“Buses matter enormously to people here. They connect us to jobs, apprenticeships, GP surgeries and town centres. This investment, combined with the improvement plan Stagecoach has now committed to, means passengers should begin to see real, tangible changes – more dependable services, better information and a network designed around the needs of our communities.

“This is exactly what I’ve been campaigning for through my Back the Bus campaign. I hope this marks the beginning of a new chapter for public transport in West Cumbria.”

Cllr Denise Rollo, Cumberland Council’s Lead Member for Transport, said:

“We know how vital reliable bus services are to the daily lives of people across Cumberland. This multi-year funding gives us the certainty we’ve been calling for and allows us to plan properly for improvements – from new and existing routes and improving the overall bus experience including infrastructure and real time information.

“We welcome Stagecoach’s commitment to address the recent reliability and quality of service issues, and as the Transport Authority we will continue to hold them to account.

“This investment gives us the tools to start to build confidence in our bus network one journey at a time.”

Residents of West Cumbria are invited to attend two important community drop-in events in Whitehaven this Friday – one offering vital advice on avoiding economic crime from officers of Cumbria Police, and another providing flood-resilience guidance from the Floodmobile team and Environment Agency – organised with the support of local MP Josh MacAlister.

These sessions offer a great opportunity to meet your MP and local specialists, and take away practical tips to protect yourself, your home and your community ahead of winter.

From 10.30am to 2.30pm at the Beacon Museum, economic crime experts from Cumbria Police will be available for one-to-one conversations, sharing top tips on avoiding scams, fake texts or calls, bogus door-to-door traders, and other threats to people’s money and identity. This is part of the force’s “Don’t make their Christmas – fraudsters aren’t fussy, they will pick on anyone” campaign.

Cumbria’s Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said:

“I’d encourage anyone who has experienced fraud or is potentially at risk to attend the event.

“Here in Cumbria we have a dedicated team to protect you from fraud who will support you every step of the way.

 “This is particularly important over the festive period where many criminals will attempt to impersonate friends and family and trick you into handing over cash or security details.”

Between 10am and 4pm on Whitehaven Harbour, the Floodmobile – a specially designed “flood-house on wheels” offering a hands-on demonstration of practical flood resilience – will be open. Visitors will be able to see property-level flood resilience measures for themselves, talk to flood-risk experts, and learn how to make homes and businesses better prepared for flooding.

Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, aka Flood Mary, said:

“This new Floodmobile is an invaluable resource. I helped to design it and it’s packed with the kind of advice and products people often don’t discover until it’s too late. Flood resilience isn’t just about keeping water out – it’s about getting back on your feet faster, with less damage and less suffering.”

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“I’m pleased to bring together Cumbria Police, the Floodmobile and the Environment Agency in Whitehaven this Friday – at what I know can be a very stressful time of year. With fraudsters targeting people when they’re busy or preoccupied, and the increasing risk of flooding, it’s more important than ever for residents to have access to reliable, face-to-face advice.

“Whether you’re concerned about a suspicious call or want to make your home flood-ready, I’d encourage you to come along, talk to the experts and get the peace of mind that comes with being prepared.”

Families in West Cumbria will soon see strengthened SEND support through Labour’s expansion of early intervention services in every Best Start Family Hub, including those in Whitehaven and Workington. From April, councils across England will recruit dedicated SEND practitioners for all 1,000 hubs, ensuring families can access expert help early, without the need for a diagnosis – long before problems escalate. 

Cumberland is already ahead of the curve, with Family Hubs up and running in Whitehaven and Workington, helping parents navigate early years services more easily. Labour’s national rollout will build on this foundation, ensuring children with emerging needs get timely guidance and support.

Labour inherited a SEND system under enormous strain. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that when early help is missing, more children go on to require higher-level interventions later in childhood. Labour’s reforms are designed to break that cycle, creating a simpler, joined-up system that supports families early, locally, and effectively. 

By 2028, Best Start Family Hubs will act as one-stop shops for parents, offering proven interventions ranging from child-focused speech and language sessions to specialist parent–baby groups.

Local MP Josh MacAlister has written to Cumberland Council, offering support as the area works towards meeting new locally set development targets – part of Labour’s national goal of ensuring a record number of children are “school ready” by age five. 

Cllr Emma Williamson, Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council, said:

“Cumberland’s Family Hubs in Whitehaven and Workington are already making a real difference for local families, giving them a place they can turn to for trusted, joined-up support. Labour’s expanded SEND offer will strengthen that work even further.

“For too long, families have been left waiting for help that comes too late. By putting specialist SEND expertise at the heart of every hub, we can make sure children get the right support early, setting them up to thrive in school and beyond.” 

Whitehaven and Workington MP Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Children growing up in West Cumbria deserve the strongest possible start in life, and that means getting support right, early and locally. Our Family Hubs are already showing what’s possible, and Labour’s expanded SEND support will help even more parents get the guidance they need without navigating a maze of disconnected services.

“I’m committed to working with Emma and Cumberland Council to keep improving early development across our communities and to ensure more children are ready to thrive when they start school.”

Josh MacAlister MP has intensified his push in Westminster to win a new devolved farm-funding settlement for Cumbria – one that puts decisions in the hands of local people and delivers real support for farmers, rural communities and nature recovery.

Josh has held multiple meetings with ministers in recent months, pressing the case for Cumbria to lead a new model of locally driven funding as part of a pilot being considered by the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

(Cumbrian leaders unite in radical bid for farm funding)

Following the call from local leaders over the summer, a roundtable was held in Cumbria in the autumn, bringing together MPs, farmers, agricultural businesses, nature and conservation charities, to discuss the proposal with officials from the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It could mean decisions about how to spend tens of millions of pounds a year being made locally.

Josh has written again this week to the new Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, urging the Government to back a Cumbria-led pilot that would simplify support for upland farms and ensure future schemes reflect the realities of Cumbrian landscapes and livelihoods.

Josh MacAlister MP said:

“Our farmers are the backbone of rural Cumbria, and they are facing pressures that national schemes simply aren’t built to handle. I’m fighting to change that.

A devolved settlement would mean decisions made in Cumbria, by people who understand our land, our heritage and our communities. It would give farmers the certainty and support they need, and it would help us restore nature in a way that strengthens – not undermines – rural life.”

Cumbria has the largest concentration of common land in England and a farming system woven into its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Yet upland farms have seen incomes fall sharply in recent years while navigating increasingly complex national funding rules.

Josh argues that a devolved model – designed and led in Cumbria – would cut through bureaucracy, align support with local priorities, and accelerate progress on nature recovery, climate resilience and food security.

He added:

“In Cumbria we have the leadership, the partnerships and the experience to make this work. From our local councils and national park to farming groups, commoners and conservation organisations – there is real unity behind this.

My message to ministers has been simple: let Cumbria lead. I will keep making that case until we get the settlement our farmers and communities deserve.”

Gavin Capstick, CEO of the Lake District National Park Authority, said:

“A more devolved funding model would allow Cumbria to tailor existing schemes or add bespoke new elements so that they work better for our upland landscapes, our heritage and the communities who sustain them.

The Lake District is a globally significant place, and the future of its farming and nature depends on decisions being shaped locally.”

Will Rawlings, Director of West Lakeland Farmer-Led Nature Recovery CIC, said:

“Farmers across Cumbria need funding systems that are simple, practical and tailored to the challenges of upland farming – not one-size-fits-all schemes made hundreds of miles away.

A devolved approach would put local farmers at the heart of shaping our future, and we hope ministers will hand over the reins so we can seize the opportunity this presents to protect the future of farming in Cumbria.”

Josh confirmed he will continue working closely with local partners and pushing Government to back a Cumbria pilot as part of the upcoming national investment in farming and nature recovery.

Are you a local farmer? Sign up to attend Josh’s next Farmers’ Forum, 6pm, Friday 30th January: joshmacalister.uk/meetjosh

Last week’s Budget marks a significant step to ease cost-of-living pressures on workers, families and pensioners, while laying the foundations for a country where every child has the chance to thrive. Global instability and domestic pressures have tested household budgets, and the Government is acting to provide support.

Ensuring older people live with dignity and security is a cornerstone of our approach. By maintaining the triple lock, we’re delivering an increase of up to £575 for pensioners next year – and pensioners whose only income is the State Pension will not pay income tax in this Parliament. There is also help with fuel bills through the Winter Fuel Allowance of up to £300, plus a further £150 for the poorest pensioners through our expansion of the Warm Homes Discount. And over 500 retired miners in West Cumbria are getting a boost to their pensions thanks to our changes to hand over cash from the Mineworkers Pension Scheme and the BCSSS to its members which has been denied to them for so long.

We are boosting the pay of apprentices and those on the lowest incomes with major increases in the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage – a pay rise for thousands of people across West Cumbria, ensuring work continues to be the surest route out of hardship.

For working families, the Budget strengthens incomes and rewards effort. We’re increasing investment in free childcare, supporting family finances but also benefiting children. High-quality early education is one of the most effective tools to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for the next generation. The additional funding ensures these reforms are ambitious but deliverable for providers. The expansion of free school meals and free breakfast clubs will benefit hundreds of children across West Cumbria and ensure families keep more of their money.

Other measures will make everyday daily life a little easier: £150 off energy bills for everyone; an additional £150 discount for thousands of low-income households across West Cumbria; a freeze on prescription charges and rail fares; an extension of the £3 cap on bus fares; and continuation of the 5p cut to fuel duty.

The most important impact will be felt by children. No child should be held back because of the circumstances they are born into. Childhood poverty leaves a deep and lasting imprint – on individual life chances and on our society and economy. There are 1,800 children in West Cumbria in households affected by the two-child limit on Universal Credit, the majority in working families. Scrapping the cap will lift hundreds of local children out of poverty. It is fully funded, not by higher taxes on working people, but through higher gambling duties and tackling waste and fraud in the benefits system.

People asked for security, opportunity and hope. This Budget delivers all three – supporting those who most need help now while building a stronger, fairer country for the future.

169 former mineworkers in Cumbria will receive a significant uplift in their weekly pension, overturning an historic injustice and ensuring fair payouts for years to come.

Following the announcement by the Chancellor in last week’s Budget, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed that the move will mean a 41% per cent boost to the annual pensions of 40,000 former mineworkers across the UK – an average increase of £100 per week for each member.

The trustees of the scheme are expected to make the first uplifted payments to members before the end of the year, with payments backdated to coincide with when the changes were implemented to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme in last autumn’s Budget – a move which gave a £29 per week boost to the pensions of nearly 500 retired miners across Cumbria.

Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, where the majority of beneficiaries to the changes live, welcomed the announcement, saying:

“For too long former miners in Cumbria have had to wait for the pension settlement they deserve. I’ve made representations to ministers over the last 16 months as I know have many of my colleagues representing former coalfield communities.

“This Labour government has listened and ended this injustice, delivering what is rightfully owed back to mining families. This is a victory for the relentless campaigning of communities here in Cumbria and across the country.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

“We owe the mining communities who powered this country a debt of gratitude.

“For far too long the government has failed to deliver justice for former mineworkers and their families.

“I am delighted that we are rightfully transferring the BCSSS investment reserve back to former mineworkers. I pay tribute to the campaigners who have fought for a fair deal – without them this would not have happened.”

Chris Kitchen, General Secretary of the NUM said:

“The NUM welcomes the BCSSS announcement in the Budget and the Labour Government’s recognition that there were two pension Schemes in the mining industry that suffered historic injustice which they have sought to correct.

“The additional pensions this will provide will benefit not just the pensioner but our former mining communities devastated by the closure of our industry.

“A commitment made, a commitment delivered.”

Josh MacAlister, Member of Parliament for Whitehaven and Workington, has today welcomed the Labour Government’s record funding boost for road maintenance, including nearly £100 million for Cumberland Council.

Cumberland Council will now be able to fix many more potholes and prevent new ones through proactive road improvements thanks to a doubling of roads cash by the end of the Parliament as part of the Budget.

The Government is also turning up the pressure on local authorities by more than tripling the share of local roads funding that is tied to transparency – from 8% to over 30% of the budget, over £36 million for Cumberland. The council can only unlock this funding if they publish clear pothole and maintenance data and follow best practice.

Josh said:

“At the election, we promised to fix an extra million potholes a year by the end of the Parliament. This announcement shows that we are putting our money where our mouth is. It’s double the funding that was promised by the previous Conservative government.

“This massive boost of investment in local roads comes alongside funding to cut NHS waiting lists, give everyone £150 off energy bills next year, freeze rail fares and the bus fare cap and extend the fuel duty cut for another year.

“I want to hear which local roads residents want prioritised so I can make representations to the council. Please contact my office with your suggestions to feed into the maintenance planning process.”

Residents can report local roads to Josh at joshmacalister.uk/contact

Josh MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington and a serving Mountain Rescue volunteer, has welcomed the Government’s decision to exempt Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicles from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) – a change he has been actively lobbying for since entering Parliament.

Volunteer-led Search and Rescue organisations – including Mountain Rescue, Lowland Rescue, Cave Rescue and other specialist teams – are a vital part of the UK’s emergency infrastructure. They work closely with police, ambulance and fire services to save lives in the UK’s most remote and hazardous environments and form an essential component of national resilience planning. 

Despite this vital role, SAR organisations receive no state funding and rely entirely on volunteers, charitable fundraising and donations. Many operate specialist off-road vehicles, often modified to carry lifesaving equipment – vehicles that, until now, were still liable for VED, placing significant financial pressure on teams with limited resources. 

Josh MacAlister MP, who serves in a Mountain Rescue team in the Lake District, said:

“I’ve seen first-hand, as both an MP and a Mountain Rescue volunteer, just how essential these vehicles are – and how hard volunteer teams work to maintain them. Removing VED is a practical, common-sense change that will make a real difference to teams on the ground. It will save my team alone about £2,000 per year.

“Search and Rescue volunteers give their time, skills and courage freely. This exemption recognises their contribution and ensures more of their fundraising can go straight into lifesaving equipment, training and operations.”

There are an estimated 500 SAR vehicles operating across the UK. For many, particularly Land Rover Defenders, costs include both standard VED and the additional luxury car supplement. The estimated cost to the Treasury of the exemption is around £460,000 per year, a modest figure that delivers substantial value to teams nationwide. 

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Dan Tomlinson MP, said:

“I’d like to thank Josh for his tireless campaign on this on behalf of Search and Rescue organisations in his constituency. Volunteer Search and Rescue teams are an indispensable part of our emergency response system, and their specialist vehicles are essential to reaching people in danger. Given their unique role and charitable status, it is right that these vehicles should no longer be subject to VED. This is a sensible and proportionate step that supports national resilience while easing pressure on volunteers who give their time freely.”

Mike Park, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Rescue England & Wales and a member of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement:

“This is a hugely positive step. It means more of our fundraising can go directly into vital equipment and training for our teams across the country. Our volunteers head out in all conditions, every day of the year, this is a tremendous show of support from the government.”

The exemption requires primary legislation and is expected to come into force in 2027.