Carlisle's MP has set out her agenda and the key issues for the next five years which includes growing the city's economy and getting involved in nuclear manufacturing.

Julie Minns will focus on a number of issues affecting constituents both within the city and in the wider Carlisle constituency during her tenure as MP.

One of the key things she wants to achieve is to connect Carlisle with the rest of Cumbria's nuclear industry which will provide a boost to the city's economy. 

Josh MacAlister, MP for Workington and Whitehaven, is pushing for new nuclear projects to be approved for the west of the county.

Ms Minns said: "I know that my colleague Josh has got very clear ambitions to make sure we get an SMR (small modular reactor) out on the west coast.

"I've got a very clear ambition that I want Carlisle to be the home for the manufacturing of one of those SMRs. I want us to have a piece of that pie.

"I want Cumbria to really define itself as a centre of nuclear excellence, from research, development, production, deployment through to reprocessing and storage."

Ms Minns is also keen to highlight Carlisle's incredible history to make the city a destination for people to visit that is on par with York and Chester.

And, ensuring that the flood defences are completed is a key priority for her. 

Alongside this, she believes that rejuvenating the Market Hall could lead to a trickle out effect on the rest of Carlisle city centre and encourage potential residents to view the city as a place to settle down. 

She added: "I think it's critical that our city centre is able to offer a range of activities and things for people to do, because we can create jobs here but we want people to make their lives here as well."

READ MORE:

Challenges that residents outside the city are faced with also link to broader national issues, she said.

These challenges include the need to build more homes and tackle the issues surrounding the NHS and dental services, as well as implementing the rural crime strategy and ensuring that all constituents are connected through transport and broadband. 

"If we're going to play our part in the government's growth targets, we need to get a healthy working population and homes for those people to be able to live in," Ms Minns said. 

Subscribe to the News & Star today and get the latest news, sports, and entertainment delivered straight to your device.