Mail Weekly Column: 1 January 2024
In my first column of the new year, here’s my A to Z of 2023.
A is for AUKUS, the defence pact between Australia, the UK and USA that will use a Barrow-designed submarine to help keep the world safe, and Furness’ economy buoyant, for generations.
B is for Books. Thousands of constituents got in touch about Ulverston and Roose libraries and it was a pleasure to deliver a petition to the Speaker of the House of Commons on their behalf.
C is for Casework. My Team and I have completed nearly 6,000 pieces of casework this year and responded to 10,000s of emails on every subject under the sun.
D is for driving. Over £17million has been awarded through the Levelling Up Fund to improve the A590, A595, and A5086.
E is for Erosion. After much lobbying, the new Council are finally putting together a strategy to manage and mitigate against erosion on Walney.
F is for Free Childcare, which will be available for 2 year-old children of working parents from April.
G is for the GSK Taskforce. In 2023, GSK, the Council and I launched the Ulverston Life sciences and Advanced Manufacturing Park (LAMP) and are working with the Government and industry to bring new jobs to the area.
H is for Hydrogen. After years of lobbying, I’m delighted that Barrow’s first Hydrogen project will be getting off the ground, taking Kimberly Clark and surrounding businesses off the grid entirely.
I is for Inflation. Inflation makes the pound in your pocket worth less. Thanks to tough action, the PM has helped take it from 11.1% to just 3.9%.
J is for Jobs. My Jobs and Skills Conference had over 3,500 people attending, directly linking those in search of jobs, and local schools, with local employers.
K is for the King. It was an incredible honour to pay tribute to Her Late Majesty the Queen on behalf of Furness’ residents, and to meet the HM The King in Parliament.
L is for Levelling Up. Over £120million in levelling up funding has been secured from Government for Barrow & Furness to date (and more to come!)
M is for Mobile Broadband. I am the Government’s Rural Connectivity Champion and am working hard nationally and in Furness to get the UK better connected with fibre and 4G.
N is for National Insurance being cut by 2% next month, meaning an average tax cut of £450 for 27million people.
O is for the Online Safety Act, which will force social media companies to step up to tackle hate crime, bullying, grooming, fraud and antisemitism online.
P is for Pensions. State pensions are going up by 8.7% in April.
Q is for questions sessions. It was fantastic to hold mock parliaments and Q&As across Furness’ schools as part of Parliament week last year.
R is for Royal Barrow. In December we launched the campaign to have Barrow recognised as a Royal Town for its contribution to the world in the past, and what it will deliver through AUKUS in the future.
S for Surgeries. I’ve held more surgeries in 2023 than there are weeks in the year, and my casework team hold additional ones every Tuesday in my office.
T is for Team Barrow. This project brings together central Government, the Council, BAE and me to leverage real change for Furness, for good.
U for Barrow’s new University campus, part of the Town Deal and which the Princess Royal broke ground on just a few weeks back.
V is for Volunteering, and seeing the amazing work that local residents did with my team to improve their community as part of the All Together Alleys project.
W is for Wages. The National Living Wage will be £11.44 from April, meaning that working people on the lowest wages will be 25% better off after tax and inflation than in 2010.
X is for stopping Anti Social Behaviour - I’ve been working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure visible policing is in place in Barrow, Ulverston and Dalton town centres.
Y is for Young people who I hope will start to see a bright future in Furness with the local economy picking up, new jobs being created, and investment flowing into the area.
Z is for Zoom. The bane of my life in 2023. Here’s to less of it in 2024!
