· FROM THE CONSTITUENCY, FOR THE CONSTITUENCY ·

The key to our success in 2019 was in choosing local candidates. My family and I are embedded in the constituency – raised here and now raising our own family here. Reliant on the same services as you and facing the same issues as you.

My focus is constituency first, Westminster second.

· ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, NOT HIDDEN AWAY ·

In a constituency that stretched up the coast 30 miles north of Workington, my predecessors all chose to have their offices at the southern tip of the constituency. Following my election in the Workington constituency, I opened an office in Maryport – about as far north as I could go without losing major road and public transport connections from all directions, but also the last bastion of Labour in the constituency.  I choose to have a shop front, advertised to all so that everyone can see that I am accessible. 

I would seek to replicate this in the east of the constituency, with two offices so that I am always accessible across the constituency.

· NOWHERE LEFT BEHIND ·

I have had some tremendous successes across the Workington constituency, from access to government funding in two of my largest towns, to saving a large business, and hundreds of jobs, in another. We’ve resolved longstanding issues across the patch, saved rural bus services and had many successes with rural school transport.

Every constituent has to be represented, from the smallest hamlet to the largest town.

· REBUILDING OUR BASE ·

I survey every elector in the constituency across the year with an addressed, hand-delivered survey to understand their local issues, and work hard to ensure we raise the funding that allows us to do it. I also run canvassing sessions two to three times in most weeks and support our local councillors at all levels. I spend as much time as possible at home in the constituency, and ensure that I’m visible and accessible to all.

It is only through this constant local engagement that we ensure that we win elections and rebuild our councillor base.