West Cumbria’s rural communities have weathered some very tough times, but the last few years have been particularly tough. A stagnant economy, a cost of living crisis, a poor deal for farmers and cuts to public services which have hit rural areas hardest.
We need an MP and a government with a plan for rural communities.
As your Labour MP, working with a Labour government, I will:
1. Work with health bosses on a rural health access plan to ensure Labour’s investment to get our NHS back on its feet benefits our rural areas
Labour’s manifesto lays out a detailed, fully costed and fully funded plan to fix the damage the Tories have done to our NHS. You can read it here. My job as your MP will be to ensure we feel the benefits of that as quickly as possible here in West Cumbria, and that our unique situation is understood and addressed. I’ll work with ministers and local health bosses to make sure we’ve got a plan to address the particular challenges in delivering health services in rural areas with a rural health access plan and I’ll meet key stakeholders regularly to monitor progress.
2. Deliver my industrial plan for West Cumbria to grow our economy, create sustainable jobs, improve our infrastructure and support our towns and villages
Delivering my industrial plan won’t just benefit our towns – it will transform our economy, create jobs right across West Cumbria and also deliver investment in our infrastructure.
You can read my industrial plan here.
3. Fight to secure additional funding to invest in roads and support for rural bus services, better connecting our villages and towns
I’ve already been fighting to improve local bus services, and I’m delighted that Cumberland Council agreed to fund a new service connecting Seascale and Gosforth to Whitehaven (procurement pending an operator) and Stagecoach recently invested £1 million for new buses on routes in West Cumbria, but there is so much more to do.
I’ll keep pushing to improve services and better connect rural communities and if we can’t get private operators to step up I’ll fight to bring our buses back under public control, something Labour in government will make easier.
I also want to see more investment in our roads – Labour has already committed funding to fill an extra 1 million potholes a year.
4. Work with David Allen, Labour’s Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, to get more officers and resources into Cumbria’s rural crime team
We need more visible policing in rural areas and a quicker response to rural crime from the police. I worked with David Allen on his plan and we called for expansion of Cumbria Police’s Rural Crime Team. But we need a Labour government and the 13,000 extra police officers that will deliver to make it a reality here in Cumbria. I’ll work with the Policing Minister, our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and our Chief Constable to get it done.
5. Back our farmers; fix the payment system, use public procurement to back British food and hold regular meetings with farmers to discuss issues
Farming is an important part of our history here but must also play a vital role in our future. Labour is promising a New Deal for Farmers – fixing the payment system and strengthening procurement so we buy more British produce – but I now there is more our farmers want and need from government and I will be a strong and loud voice for West Cumbria’s farmers.
I’ll hold regular farming surgeries at times and in locations convenient to our farmers. I’ll come down to your farm or meet you at the auction or down the pub, wherever you need! I’ll be visible and accessible all year round and whatever you tell me will be relayed back to the highest levels of government if Labour are in power.
These are my top rural priorities but I will of course be working on a whole range of issues if elected. Your concerns are my concerns and I’ll be a champion for our area and its people.
Join my e-mail list
Join my e-mail list and I’ll keep you up to date with my plans, local campaigns and events. I’ll also be regularly seeking your views on a range of topics to help shape my priorities as your Parliamentary candidate and next Labour MP.
Josh MacAlister MP 