My Family
I’m a married father-of-four who was elected as the Member of Parliament for Workington in December 2019. Prior to my election I worked as a self-employed contractor in the nuclear supply chain. Born and raised in Workington, I chose the village of Seaton to settle with my wife Dawn, our children and our three French Bulldogs!

I was a local parish councillor in both Seaton, where I was latterly Chairman of the council, and in Camerton, as well as borough councillor for the Seaton and Northside ward from 2015, becoming Deputy Leader of Allerdale Borough Council in May 2019.

My Background
I am a former charity trustee and school governor and I was incredibly active at a grassroots level, often organising clean-up days in my village, and helping the Seaton in Bloom group which was formed as a result of my efforts in council. Those traits haven’t left me as I continue to organise clean up days around the constituency and runs my ‘Grot Spot’ reporting, alongside supporting the elected councillors in my constituency at all levels.

After leaving St Joseph’s RC Secondary School, I attended Newton Rigg College to pursue agricultural studies, later joining British Steel as an apprentice. Following several years gaining valuable experience in various sales, training and management positions across a number of sectors – particularly the pub trade, I updated my qualifications and returned to my trade as an Electrician so that I could spend more time with my family.

In Parliament
I have built a network of fantastic relationships, and I am well regarded. Often looked to by senior colleagues on issues such as nuclear, coking coal, steelmaking, economics, immigration and issues around the European Union. I was asked to take a junior government role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary after only 2 years in Westminster, serving in DEFRA, and earlier this year was promoted to a ministerial position as an Assistant Government Whip. I was elected by my colleagues to the BEIS Committee in early 2020, and returned after leaving government. I am also a member of the Women and Equalities Committee.

I am a member of a number of All-Party Parliamentary Groups – including Nuclear, Hydrogen, Issues Affecting Men and Boys and Left Behind Neighbourhoods. I am the treasurer of the APPGs for the Northern Powerhouse and for Cyprus, and I chair the APPG for Pigeon Racing.

Successes
While it is relatively rare for backbenchers to introduce legislation that ends up on the statute book, in 2021 I introduced a bill to extend careers advice down to Year 7 pupils and to put state schools and academies on the same statutory footing when it comes to careers advice. I was delighted to see that make it to the statute book and it will take effect from September 2023.

In 2022 I introduced two further bills – one around prisoner release dates that I handed to Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) when I went into government, and looks likely to hit the statute book, and one to end male primogeniture in the House of Lords, bringing them into line with the Royal Family. The second was handed to Harriett Baldwin when I entered government, as she had introduced earlier versions of the bill. I’m delighted to see that it also gets ever closer to making it onto the statute book.