6 days ago
Cumbria MP launches plan to deliver ‘thousands' of jobs
JOSH MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, has launched 'Get West Cumbria Growing' - a new industrial plan for West Cumbria which he says could deliver thousands of new jobs across the area and unlock land for new nuclear power generation.
The plan is a more detailed version of one he published before the 2024 General Election which laid out his priorities if elected as the area's MP.
Included are proposals to grow West Cumbria's nuclear industry by capitalising on the government's plan for plutonium disposition and unlocking land for new nuclear at Moorside.
The plan also highlights the need to expand the Port of Workington to open up West Cumbria's economy to new markets and create further opportunities to diversify away from reliance on nuclear decommissioning whilst also supporting future work at Sellafield.
Writing exclusively for The Whitehaven News this week, Mr MacAlister says the plan 'sets out a roadmap for a prosperous and diverse economy in West Cumbria'.
Central to the plan is the case for unlocking land at Moorside, which has been the 'biggest barrier' to securing new nuclear power generation in West Cumbria since the collapse of the NuGen deal in 2018. According to Mr MacAlister, unlocking this land is 'absolutely critical' to West Cumbria's nuclear future.
Mr MacAlister said: 'West Cumbria is the birthplace of the civil nuclear industry, representing the first clean energy revolution in the last century. It has a rich industrial heritage in mining and steel.
'Yet for all of our history, and our ongoing world leading work in nuclear decommissioning, there is huge untapped potential. There are many occasions when West Cumbria has been a pioneer community, and it should be again. That's why I have published this ambitious industrial plan to lay out the direction of travel to secure growth and jobs for our area.
'Central to this is unlocking land at Moorside where we could site small modular reactors and the industry they could power, which has been my top priority as your MP. I have spent endless hours over recent months making the case for this locally and nationally.
'I've held debates in Parliament, had more meetings with ministers on this than any other topic, and established the Cumberland Nuclear Future Board with Cumberland Council to bring together local partners united in our goal to secure our nuclear future.
'Once we have an agreement on use of the land we can motor ahead with attracting nuclear developers to the area, utilising the combination of a great plot of land, our existing nuclear industrial base, and a willing community. I'm doing everything I possibly can to get this over the line.
'I want to emphasise the partnership between me, Cumberland's other MPs, Cumberland Council, the NDA, Sellafield Ltd and unions representing our nuclear workforce who have been working closely together on this for many months.
"Our community is clear; we want and deserve new nuclear.'
Mr MacAlister is hosting a public meeting to launch his industrial plan and discuss his plan for new nuclear in West Cumbria on Thursday, June 26 at 6pm in Whitehaven.
Anyone wishing to attend can sign up at or by calling his office on 01946 458023 and leaving your full name and address. Venue details will be provided following registration.
