Having lived in Workington all my life, I have lived the doomsters' narrative of inevitable decline. Under Labour, the council saw its role as to manage what they saw as inevitable local decline, rather than to preserve it.
I'm pleased to say this began to change in 2019 when the Conservatives formed a new administration on Allerdale Council. We saw the huge potential in our area. We knew that, with investment and growth, we could ensure our local economy would grow sustainably. We wanted to see more jobs, a higher wage economy and increased opportunities to retain our homegrown talent.
When I ran for election in 2019, I laid out My Plan, my opportunity to set out a blueprint for growth throughout the constituency. On my election, that became Our Plan. My election gave me a route to lobby government directly in a bid to achieve growth for my area.
Almost three years on and we can see change, investment, a vibrant jobs market with huge potential in the pipeline. In addition, the investment from businesses, support from Government and an upturn in our local communities is now starting to take shape. Investment in our towns - including the £23 million for Workington Town Deal and £11.5 million via the Maryport Future High Street Fund - has given businesses confidence to invest in our area while enabling projects that will ultimately create more vibrant town centres.
But achieving growth is not without its challenges. Work is required to ensure the local political environment supports these aspirations. The biggest complaint I get when I visit businesses is that they struggle to employ enough people to fill their vacancies. Next year I will be hosting Workington's first Skills Fair. I want to showcase the opportunities on our doorstep. I want every school leaver in my constituency to make maximum use of their talent locally, and for that I strongly believe they need to see all of the options available to them. It is thanks to my successful Private Member's Bill that this work on their future careers now starts earlier, from Year 7, affording them more time to make informed decisions on their future. However, ultimately, it is for businesses to work with schools to inspire and train the next generation so that we have a high-skilled economy which will unlock further growth.
We need to maintain this momentum, and not rest on our laurels. The creation of Enterprise Zones was a key pledge in Our Plan. It would support an environment conductive to growth, attracting and helping new and existing businesses to thrive. The Government has just announced the next round of Investment Zones, and areas across Cumbria - including Workington - have been earmarked. I will fight hard locally and by lobbying Government for at least one of these commercial hubs to be here in the constituency.
But we cannot take our foot off the pedal. Growth by its very nature has to be nurtured.
We have never had a more vibrant jobs market in the constituency. We have never seen so much investment. I have never felt so much confidence in our local area. When I talk to businesses, headteachers and the next generation, they are positive about our future. There is a confidence that was previously lost - and I am determined to retain it so that the Workington constituency can realise its full potential.
