Introducing your Barrow and Furness General Election candidates for 2024

Meet the people vying to be your next MP in Barrow & Furness.

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.

Meet your candidates…..

Simon Fell, The Conservative Party

	Simon Fell, The Conservative Party
Who are you?	The 43-year-old is married with three children, aged two, four and eight. He was elected as MP for Barrow & Furness in 2019 and lives just outside Ulverston.
How did you get into politics?	Over 25 years ago I interned for an MP and saw what a difference a good constituency MP could make in people’s lives. I fell in love with the idea of being able to advocate for people and help them so directly. I then went and worked in a range of non-political professions for 20 years. I ran my own business for a while, worked in telecoms, and then in fraud prevention, before finally chancing my hand to represent Barrow & Furness in 2015, again in 2017, and then finally wearing down the electorate in 2019 when I won for the first time.
Why do you want to represent Barrow & Furness?	This is a really remarkable and wonderful place that is all too often neglected and I want to change that. We’ve had some awful times recently with negative press, and having gone through COVID, but I can honestly say there is no stronger community out there. Furness is full of fantastic people who really look out for each other. And we do some quite amazing things here too – protecting our nation and our allies with the submarines built here, producing world-class lighting, renewable energy generation up and down the coast, the UK’s last lead-crystal manufacturer, so much food from our amazing farms… the list goes on. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to advocate for that on the national stage?
What promises do you make to the people of Barrow & Furness if you are elected?	We’ve made huge progress together over the last few years, bringing in over £370million of investment to Furness through the Team Barrow project that I’ve led on, Town Deals, Levelling Up Funds, big infrastructure projects like Furness’ first University campus, funding to save cultural assets like Signal, Film & Media and the Roxy, to secure step-free access at Ulverston Station and much, much more. We achieved that by working together, putting politics to one side, and by quietly and patiently making the case for the area. My promise would be to keep this approach up – we have some major issues here, and I want to keep delivering for the people of Barrow & Furness on them – improving our infrastructure and connectivity, investing in our public services, and using the opportunity of the work in the shipyard and new nuclear to drive positive change across Barrow & Furness.
Why should people elect you?	I’ve worked hard for Furness since being elected in 2019 and I’ve got a strong record of delivery. My focus since being elected has been on the place I’m proud to call home and the people who live there, and together we’ve delivered a lot. But I’m under no illusions that there’s so much more to do, and I’d like the opportunity to keep the progress up and not put it at risk.
What are the major issues for Barrow & Furness?	The single biggest issue we have facing Barrow & Furness is demographic. We have one of the fastest declining populations in the UK. That places huge stresses on our public services, on business’ ability to operate and deliver, and on third-sector organisations who support those most in need. That’s what the Team Barrow project that I lobbied for is set to address: making the community an even better place to live, and to raise a family. We need to hang on to more of the young people we’ve got, and attract more people here. The £220million we’ve secured through Team Barrow is to be used soley to focus on those fundamentals. The other largest issue – the massive disparity between ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ also weighs heavily on my mind, and is again something that this project is set to address. I want to see the prosperity of the shipyard create more opportunities across the area, and to look at how the promise of new nuclear at Sellafield could do the same further up the coast too.

Michelle Scrogham, the Labour Party

	Michelle Scrogham, Labour
Who are you?	The 53-year-old is married to Graham and has two children. A business owner, she has always lived in Ulverston, apart from a year living in Singapore when her dad was supervising the build of a GSK factory there.
How did you get into politics?	I’ve never been able to ignore injustice or a problem I thought I could tackle. I was taught to stand up for those who can’t defend themselves and that has always stuck with me. Within six months of starting work at NatWest at just 16, I became a union rep, progressing to Jointly Accredited Rep for the North West Region which I held alongside my job. When I was offered that role, I was told if I accepted it would end my career in banking. I took the role without hesitation as bullying was an obvious issue to tackle. After having my two children I started my own business on the high street and became involved locally with the Business Improvement District which I now chair and represent on the Cumbria Better Connected Board, organising festivals and becoming a town councillor. I decided to get into politics to push for better services here in Cumbria as many areas seem to be forgotten or let down.
Why do you want to represent Barrow & Furness?	This is my home and a place I care deeply about. I’ve never wanted to represent anywhere else. I think it’s important that the voice that represents you in Westminster should have deep roots and understanding of the issues, challenges and potential.
What promises do you make to the people of Barrow & Furness if you are elected?	To always be their voice and fight for them, making their priorities my own and represent the whole of the constituency. I want to be able to show that politicians are not “all the same” and help restore people’s faith. I’ve never been one for holding back and promise to be as strong a voice in Westminster as I have in all my roles.
Why should people elect you?	We’ve never had anyone local represent us in Westminster and I think it’s important that our voice there should be authentic, someone who isn’t here for a job, but because they care and want to deliver change for the better. I’m known for delivering results and being a hard worker. When I joined the volunteers who organise Ulverston Dickensian Festival nine years ago, I wanted to ensure that the local economy benefited from the hard work. Our traders are now 80% locals, the stall income has trebled since I digitally mapped the streets (meaning we can provide more free entertainment) and the event brings in around £3 million to our local economy each year.
What are the major issues for Barrow & Furness?	The list is long but in no particular order – Poor infrastructure, hollowed out high streets, a major skills shortage in multiple sectors, anti-social behaviour, a lack of affordable and social housing, schools struggling to provide special needs provision, lack of mental health support or social care, a lack of leisure facilities, unreliable and poor public transport network, roads that resemble the surface of the moon, poor road links and a lack of community policing, escalating rural crime, problems accessing an NHS dentist, poverty and some of the worse child poverty levels in the country. Many of these issues are seen right across the country, but our rural and remote location means that the impact on our communities is often felt much more than elsewhere.

Lorraine Wrennall, the Green Party

	Lorraine Wrennall, Green Party
Who are you?	Lorraine is in her 50s and is married. Brought up in Barrow’s Hindpool, she studied Communications and economics at university and went into a media production career for a few years, with broadcast TV, online media, and later became a freelance. She then went into the NHS as the first Cumbria Co-ordinator for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) which is now a successful national mental health charity which challenges mental health stigma for men. From that she went further into public health and took different roles such as Mental Heath Promotion Lead for Morecambe Bay and Communications Lead for Public Health. She said: “My main focus was tackling inequalities, which is basically about making sure people have fair equitable access to the things they need to live, whether health care, education, jobs and so on.” After many years living in LA14, she now lives between Barrow and Ulverston.
How did you get into politics?	Even though I’m an absolute beginner as far as standing for MP, I’ve been very aware of politics even since I was kid; growing up in Thatcher’s Britain does that to you. It’s part of developing a sense of right and wrong: Facing and understanding the impact of strikes, redundancies, and living on the poverty line enlightens you about party ideology alongside the contrasts between those who are struggling in society and those who are doing well, thank you very much. My first real political activism began as as a teenager when I began supporting environmental concerns and as a student demo-ing against abolition of grants, becoming generally active with left-leaning politically-aware friends. As my husband and I are ex-union reps and naturally quite political, I’ve long followed a lot of official online news outlets and discussion which informs more reliably than the mainstream media. After years of voting Green, I joined the Green Party when I was a full-time family carer and felt the urgent need to do something tangible to counter the terrible Tory onslaught on our country’s way of life. Standing as parliamentary candidate was just the next logical step, a “why not?” moment.
Why do you want to represent Barrow & Furness?	It never sat well with me that we get too many MPs who are parachuted in from somewhere else, with zero idea about what’s really important to 95% of the electorate. As a proud Barrovian who grew up in a low-income household and having worked in Public Health at a reasonably high level, it made total sense that I had skills and experience to represent our constituency well. I’ve worked with local councils and big organisations before, achieving partnership goals, so can absolutely say I have already helped to make a difference in this area. My work was totally centred on inequalities – and that’s essentially the basis of why we have social issues, a fracturing of society. Aside from uni and some working away, I’ve spent most of my life here, love the area and want the absolute best for us all, but especially for those who get the raw end of the deal. Instead of getting second-rate out-of-touch initiatives that only benefit the few and miss the mark of priority concerns like cost of living, strangulation of the NHS by privatisation, accessible warm homes and getting cheap, renewable energy to name a few. As a bottom line, I also want to be someone who helps usher in real action to counter climate change. It’s a big cultural shift, but we need to make sure it happens, because otherwise we’re all in trouble. You can observe that weather systems are already altered by the planet’s temperature rise, even here in Cumbria. Floods are getting so common now, it’s becoming unmanageable on a daily basis. Not to mention the impact elsewhere such as hot climate fires in Australia, Spain, Canada, and flooding in Dubai – a desert! – of all places. There’s no point in having a healthy economy if you’re getting flooded out every month, your home is unfit for habitation and food systems break down because we can’t pollenate crops. Biodiversity loss is a big deal, but many don’t see that and frankly don’t care. We need to! If they go, so do we, and we don’t have long to act.
What promises do you make to the people of Barrow & Furness if you are elected?	My core promise is to stand up for a fair, kinder and inclusive society for all, particularly to champion those who suffer unfairly with regressive policies and are excluded on the basis of low income, disability or some other marginalising factor.
Why should people elect you?	I’m a grounded, authentic straight-talking Barrow lass, who’s educated and experienced with a proven track record in practical and strategic public sector work. My health career was all about understanding and tackling exactly the kind of complex issues that Government attempt to manage. As an ex-Union rep I’ve had to stand up multiple times for what is right for my colleagues during redundancy and restructuring. As a Green Party representative, I will fight for a fair, equitable, compassionate and inclusive society, ensuring that we all have enough and all can access everyday core services that we need without the problems we have seen in the last few years. I will tenaciously fight for local people’s concerns especially those who aren’t already well-represented or supported in society and not rest until suitable resolution is achieved.
What are the major issues for Barrow & Furness?	The levels of multiple deprivation, reflected in poor physical and mental health, disability, educational attainment, housing, employment and general well-being are all major issues with Furness. I’d also add that public transport is woefully inadequate both in town and out in more rural areas, so as a part of a move to make getting around easier for us and to help reverse the climate crisis, we need better, more frequent bus and train services that people can rely on. It’s not long ago that I can remember shipyard staff commuting by bicycle in their thousands, and excellent bus services ferrying those home who didn’t like to pedal. We’ve quickly become too car-centric partly because there is no alternative, even in our towns. Council services are massively underfunded, as in a lot of places nationally, but I’ve personally seen the dire consequences of that with the care of my own family. Councils don’t work full stop if they have no resources, whether a lack of budget or staff to fulfil basic functions.

Barry Morgan, Reform UK

	Barry Morgan, Reform UK
Who are you?	The 67-year-old is married and has a daughter. He lives in Copeland and is a journalist by profession.
How did you get into politics?	Before joining Reform UK, I had never before been a member of a political party or movement (except the expat chapter of the NO2ID campaign). I saw my country ebbing away, I wanted it back. Reform UK reflected my views and I offered my candidacy.
Why do you want to represent Barrow & Furness?	Do you mean apart from the majestic landscapes, the magical light playing on the hills and valleys or the contagious warmth of Barrovians, compounded by a reluctance to drag myself out of local watering holes? I’ve always loved this place. Obviously I want to change what I can, nudge others to change what I can’t – and lobby from Westminster when obstacles to change are not removed! There’s much to preserve – the pride and identity of the UK’s most important port, but the town is threatened by neglect and under-investment in the very communities which should support our strategic industries – there’s a street-level sense of betrayal and broken promises.
What promises do you make to the people of Barrow & Furness if you are elected?	1. I would spend the full MP’s allocation to establish a walk in centre where people and small business entrepreneurs can turn up for coffee, raise their concerns and be heard, an office properly staffed with guaranteed follow-up by myself in 24/7 liaison. 2. I want to stop this manic drive to convert Barrow’s housing stock into multiple occupancy homes – it sends up rents and drives our indigenous communities, most tragically our youth, out of their home town and many others homeless. 3. Barrow needs to facilitate the circulation of traffic, not bicycles, so I’ll lobby against road narrowing projects, bike lanes, low traffic neighbourhood schemes and parking restrictions; the town centre must see the return of vibrant trade and commerce, safe streets free of drugs and panhandlers. 4. Our rural communities must be free to grow food, raise livestock and not be browbeaten into rewilding the land that feeds us – the future of our young farmers is at stake. 5. BAE has a full order book for some 28 years and I want Rampside and attendant industries to expand alongside an offshore gas revival – that means a demand for scores of thousands of new homes in the coming years – this is an opportunity, not a crisis. I will knock heads together to forge a viable constituency-wide plan to ensure decent housing stock for incoming professionals and their families but not at the expense of local families who deserve affordable housing – my definition, not the developers’. Our local governments must ensure decent social housing – ultimately, spending is about priorities, it’s a choice.
Why should people elect you?	You mean apart from my stunning good looks and magnetic personality?
What are the major issues for Barrow & Furness?	I think the promises above deal with that question but one might in addition want to highlight: 1. The need to ensure no more asylum seekers or migrants are housed in local accommodation, in either public or privately owned facilities 2. The need to prioritise apprenticeships for local school leavers and youth in collaboration with councils and the major employers, like BAE of course, even in those trades and occupations which present no immediate utility for those employers – it’s called giving back! 3. Expand dedicated accommodation for incoming medical personnel at every level, either temporary or potentially permanent — Reform UK policy is to provide tax breaks for doctors and nurses recruited to ease the staffing crisis and tackle waiting lists. 4. Inaugurate local referendums on key social and infrastructural issues affecting working communities including commuters from outer reaches of the constituency 5. A special Task Force to address the particular grievances of Millom, which has been passed from pillar to post and has now been transferred to the redrawn Barrow and Furness constituency – it’s neglected communities are now so remote that the emergency services have difficulty accessing and people are dying. 6. But there are key national issues with local resonance that as your Reform UK Party candidate should preoccupy my focus – you have not asked about these.

Adrian Waite, Liberal Democrats

	Adrian Waite, Liberal Democrats
Who are you?	The 63-year-old is an accountant who runs a management consultancy business. A widower, he has three children and four grandchildren. He lives in Kirkby Stephen but said if he wins the election, he will move into the constituency.
How did you get into politics?	I think we have a failing political culture where politicians often do not listen and fail to deliver. The result is that many basic services including health, social care and housing are in crisis while the economy stagnates. I saw this especially clearly when I was a carer. I got involved in politics because I hope to make a difference and to change things for the better. When I was a student, I joined the Labour Party but after a while I became disillusioned. I then joined the Social Democratic Party but left them when I decided on a career in local government. I joined the Liberal Democrats in 2019.
Why do you want to represent Barrow & Furness?	I first came to live in Cumbria in 1993 when I was appointed finance director at Copeland Council. I have always enjoyed living in Cumbria and when I left Copeland Council to start my management consultancy business I decided to stay here because it was where my family and I wanted to be. I like the Cumbrian countryside, I enjoy studying Cumbrian history and I like the Cumbrian people and being part of the Cumbrian community. During the 30 years I have lived in Cumbria I have become familiar with all parts of the county, including Barrow & Furness through my business, voluntary and leisure activities. But I am also very aware that Cumbria has its problems caused in part by its geographical position, relatively sparse population and the decline of traditional industries. These problems include lack of economic development, pockets of deprivation, lack of access to health and social care and lack of affordable housing. There is also a need to protect the environment. I have tackled some of these issues as a council officer, management consultant and housing association chair but I believe I could do more as a Member of Parliament.
What promises do you make to the people of Barrow & Furness if you are elected?	To be honest; to be industrious; to listen to the people of Barrow & Furness and to do my best for them.
Why should people elect you?	I think people should vote for me if they believe in the same things that I believe in and if they think I would make a good MP. If they do not, they should vote for someone else.
What are the major issues for Barrow & Furness?	I feel the major issues include: The cost of living crisis and how to get the economy to grow. How to create an excellent national health service and social care service. How to solve the housing crisis by building more social homes and making all homes more affordable. How to protect the environment, including the wonderful environment of Barrow & Furness.

Lisa Morgan, Party of Women

	Lisa Morgan, Party of Women
Who are you?	She arrived in Barrow 20 years ago, after nine years working in Japan. She is a hypnotherapist. She has a degree in politics and been a teacher in England and Jamaica and had an international career in brand communication.
How did you get into politics?	When I was a young woman, I marched for women’s rights, demonstrated at Greenham, campaigned against sexist language… then relaxed. We thought women’s rights were won. We were wrong. Some men now insist they’re women, just like us. So I felt compelled to stand as a parliamentary candidate for Party of Women. Why that party? Because we dare to be honest. It’s the one party you can rely on to tell the truth — that men cannot be women, no matter what they do, and women can never be men. This is the fundamental truth of being a human being.  We put it bluntly: no woman has a penis, no man has a vagina. Telling children that they can change sex is another abuse of the truth. There is no such thing as ‘non-binary’.
Why do you want to represent Barrow & Furness?	Fairness is vital. There needs to be a strong voice unafraid to speak the reality of what a woman is and what a man is. It’s not fair that women should shove up to make way for men. I want to give confidence to the women of Barrow & Furness who I know from their own admission have felt silenced in recent years. This focus on the ‘TQ’ community has decreased our ability to take part in public life. There are few families that haven’t been affected by the spread of gender ideology. I want to empower and support those who have been damaged by it.
What promises do you make to the people of Barrow & Furness if you are elected?	I will always tell the truth about public concerns — particularly about the impact of policies that affect the lives of women, children and families. I will campaign that our money is spent where it is needed — on improving people’s lives — not on vanity projects based on the fantasy of trans. (I’m determined to find out how much money has been spent to promote what is an imported ideology of profiteers: banners, lanyards, classes to convince us that pronouns are important…) . I will fight for vital single sex services in order to preserve the dignity and safety of women. I will also campaign to stop children being confused and misled, both online and in educational settings. Transitioning children is abuse and encouraging it is an outrage.
Why should people elect you?	If people are confused about who to vote for, they are not alone. Convenient promises are being made by the major parties, while truths are hidden until after we have voted. If you vote for me, I will stand against the excesses of gender ideology. Why do I prioritise that? Because I care about the future generation’s health and wellbeing. They need to know that they are being told the truth in order to flourish.
What are the major issues for Barrow & Furness?	Poverty and inequality. This area suffers from the division between haves and have-nots, and all too often the have-nots are women. Women tend to be in the lower paid jobs and still shoulder most of the unpaid care and domestic work. Run down public services have more of a direct effect on women as our care responsibilities mean we are more likely to need to access public services for support. If we can’t define what a woman is how do we make financial allocations properly? We cannot quantify sex inequality and identify specific needs that require funding support unless we have statistics that show us truthfully who is female and who is male. Unnecessary money is being spent by local employers on EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) training and staff. Employers need to know that doing this is not an obligation and that bullying them into spending on this luxury belief has to stop.

Where is the Barrow & Furness constituency?

Boundaries for each of the constituencies in Cumbria have changed since the last election.

Here’s a map for the Barrow & Furness constituency to show you the difference (slide the red bar across to discover the difference between the old and the new):

The changes to the other constituencies in Cumbria can be found here: