Josh MacAlister, the new Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, got straight to work this week on his top priority of delivering new nuclear in West Cumbria.

Josh wrote to the boss of Great British Nuclear to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss ways to speed up decision making to get on with delivering new nuclear projects, something new Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed when he spoke to the Whitehaven News last year.

He also wrote to the chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority calling for a meeting to seek clarity on the future of land at Moorside which is designated for new nuclear power generation.

Josh said: “I wrote these letters on day one as promised, before even getting sworn in as your MP, because delivering new nuclear in West Cumbria is essential for the jobs it will create and the energy it will generate to power the new industries I want to bring here.

“I want to understand current processes and timetables and any roadblocks that are getting in the way of building new nuclear power plants and work with local stakeholders, potential private sector investors and the new Labour government to break down barriers, speed up decisions and get on with the job.”

Speaking to the Whitehaven News last year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said “We need to be tough on the decisions that get in the way of building projects, so to make sure this happens fast and at pace.”