Introducing your candidates for Whitehaven & Workington in the 2024 General Election

Meet the people vying to be your next MP in the new constituency of Whitehaven & Workington.

The boundaries for the constituency take in major parts of the former Workington and Copeland seats – and will only be represented in Parliament by one MP.

We asked the candidates declared so far a bit about themselves and what they are offering the electorate if they are successful in the 2024 General Election, which will be held on July 4.

Cumbria Crack has not edited their answers – they are talking directly to you.

People had until 5pm today, Friday June 7, to declare their intention to stand in the General Election. No more candidates have come forward.

Andrew Johnson, the Conservative Party

Andrew Johnson, of the Conservative Party

	Andrew Johnson, Conservatives
Who are you?	The 44-year-old is married to Rachel and has two children, Henry and William. He lives in Distington and is a business communications consultant.
How did you get into politics?	I first joined the Conservative Party in 1997 having witnessed first hand Labour’s managed decline of West Cumbria and with a sense that things could and should be better.
Why do you want to represent Whitehaven & Workington?	This is a fantastic part of the country and an area I’m proud to have been born and brought up in. This area has great potential but only if we back projects like the new mine, new nuclear and supporting industries and continue to fight hard for better transport links.
What promises do you make to the people of Whitehaven & Workington if you are elected?	I’m committed to making sure that the new mine happens and the 500-plus jobs are delivered for local people. I will also fight tirelessly for West Cumbria to receive its fair share of investment for rail upgrades, improved road links, better healthcare services and to deliver genuine opportunity for young people.
Why should people elect you?	I’m the only one fully backing the new mine and new nuclear at Moorside, both of which will deliver thousands of new jobs for local people, bring in millions of pounds of investment into the area, help to support wider businesses and our town centres and deliver the vital transport upgrades we need.
What are the major issues for Whitehaven & Workington?	New nuclear, the future of the coal mine, better transport links especially along the A595 and the coastal railway, better GP access and provision along with retaining key services at the West Cumberland Hospital, the future of farming and making sure that we continue to benefit positively from tourism, and continuing to improve skills and training for young people.

Chris Wills, Liberal Democrats

	Chris Wills, Liberal Democrats
Who are you?	The 67-year-old is married with two adult children and lives in Carlisle.
How did you get into politics?	He is a Cumberland councillor – and former Carlisle City councillor prior to local government reorganisation.
Why do you want to represent Whitehaven & Workington?	The constituency needs to be properly connected to the rest of the UK to boost its prosperity and allow our young people to stay and thrive here.
What promises do you make to the people of Whitehaven & Workington if you are elected?	Fast road connections with fast buses. Better rail. Taxi-buses locally to replace a dwindling bus service. Farmers having job security. Social housing.
Why should people elect you?	I make things happen.
What are the major issues for Whitehaven & Workington?	Housing crisis. Social care crisis. Dentists crisis. Anti-social behaviour. Terrible road connections to the east and south.

Jill Perry, the Green Party

	Jill Perry, the Green Party
Who are you?	The 67-year-old has two grown-up children and lives at Bullgill, near Maryport. She is a Cumberland councillor and is an ex-teacher and ex-artisans jams and preserves producer.
How did you get into politics?	I joined the Green Party after the Iraq war when I felt politically homeless. I’d been an environmental campaigner for quite a while so a party that prioritised peace and care for the natural world seemed the obvious choice.
Why do you want to represent Whitehaven & Workington?	I think the people of Whitehaven and Workington constituency have been badly served by traditional politics, and I aim to make a difference.
What promises do you make to the people of Whitehaven & Workington if you are elected?	Big changes are needed in almost every aspect of life to make society fairer and greener. It is unlikely that the Green Party will form the Government but the more of us that are elected the more influence we will have. We aim to have four Green MPS and if I’m elected I promise to push the Government to make the necessary changes – a stronger NHS, cleaner rivers, peace in the Middle East, an end to poverty pay and wealth taxes on the super rich to help fund our public services.
Why should people elect you?	I will work hard. When we have more Green MPs we will be able to hold to Government to account and push them to be braver on issues like climate and wildlife, and protecting the NHS which affect everyone.
What are the major issues for Whitehaven & Workington?	The cost of living crisis and the price of heating the home are big issues for many people, but like lots of places there is a big divide between the rich and the poor and that also creates problems. A divided society is not a happy one.

David Surtees, Reform UK

	David Surtees, Reform UK
Who are you?	The 64-year-old is married to Elizabeth and has two grown-up daughters. He is a nuclear mechanical engineer and lives in Seaton, near Workington.
How did you get into politics?	I looked at the country and the complete mess that both the Tories and Labour have made of it with their continued empty promises and realised if I really did want change I needed to get up off the sofa and make it happen!
Why do you want to represent Whitehaven & Workington?	Because I have lived in West Cumbria my entire life I care passionately about my community, it is my home. It is way past time that when removed the self serving political class whom always look after themselves first. I intend to put my community first and deliver common sense policies for everyone’s benefit.
What promises do you make to the people of Whitehaven & Workington if you are elected?	If elected for the Whitehaven & Workington constituency, I will champion common-sense policies that benefit all our families and deliver tangible results for our community.
Why should people elect you?	I’m a family man not a career politician, I passionately care about our community. I am committed to improving the opportunities for growth and prosperity for everyone, particularly for our children’s and grandchildren’s futures.
What are the major issues for Whitehaven & Workington?	The cost of living crisis Access to doctors and dentists Generation of well-paid job opportunities Waiting lists for treatment Lack of good quality affordable housing Social care Crime Immigration

Josh MacAlister, Labour

	Josh MacAlister, Labour
Who are you?	The 37-year-old lives near Ennerdale. He is married and has two lazy lurchers. He started his career as a secondary school teacher and then set up and led a national charity to get more brilliant people into frontline children’s social work. He then led a landmark independent review to reshape how vulnerable children and families in England are supported and went on to chair a charity before standing for Parliament.
How did you get into politics?	I’ve been a member of the Labour Party for over 20 years. I got into politics partly because of my step-dad Peter. I fell behind at school and he helped me catch up. That left me with a strong sense that education and having extra support can change lives, and I saw politics as a way of doing this for more people.
Why do you want to represent Whitehaven & Workington?	I think West Cumbria has everything we need for a brighter future, but we’ve been let down by decision makers in Westminster far removed from the lives of local people. There is so much potential here. We just need an MP who can harness that, bring people together, champion our people, businesses and communities and pull the right levers to get the support we need.
What promises do you make to the people of Whitehaven & Workington if you are elected?	We’ve had enough after 14 years of failed Tory governments. In this campaign, I’ve listened to thousands of local people and businesses and then developed a plan for West Cumbria with local backing that will be my action plan as your MP. Action to bring down bills; fixing our broken NHS, bringing new nuclear and industry here to create the good quality long-term jobs we need. I will work tirelessly every single day to deliver this plan and I’ll be a visible, accessible MP all year round, so people can hold me to account for it.
Why should people elect you?	Just ask yourselves – are you better off now than you were a few years ago? The answer for most people is no. And that’s because we’ve had a Conservative government led by Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak which tanked the economy, brought our public services to the brink of collapse and has left thousands of people across West Cumbria struggling to pay their bills. It’s time for change. I’ve done real jobs outside politics and have a record of delivery to show for it. I know I can work for the change we need and, if we get a Labour government, I’m hopeful that I can deliver. And I’ll be out there, all year round, right across West Cumbria, listening to you and reporting back to you. Just as I have been in the last 12 months.
What are the major issues for Whitehaven & Workington?	The cost of living crisis continues and our public services are really at breaking point, but neither of those are unique to our area. Our biggest challenge is we’ve had a government with no industrial strategy for 14 years and they just don’t care about areas like ours. They did nothing when Moorside collapsed and we lost our best chance for a new nuclear power plant and they’ve done nothing to attract new industry here to diversify our local economy, create more good jobs and get us really motoring forward. If elected, on day one in the job I will start banging on doors in Westminster for new nuclear, investment to expand the Port of Workington, funding to upgrade our infrastructure. We need these for a healthy, strong local economy and for sustainable, long-term jobs.