Over the last four years I've used these pages to tell you about all of the really exciting things that have been happening across the constituency since my election. We've seen over £1bn in public and private sector investment and support across the constituency. And that is something we should be really proud of.
Local council funding, local NHS funding and local schools funding have all increased at a level above inflation and all to their highest level ever. We also have more police officers than ever before, allowing us to reopen rural police stations and put community bobbies on the beat in our towns and villages - all promises I made in 2019. The median salary is up and unemployment remains at historic local lows.
I've kept you informed of progress, and shown how I deliver against my promises. I'm a man of my word. And there's a lot more to come in 2024.
"Pay less attention to what men say. Just watch what they do".
Dale Carnegie
There's no doubt that it has not been an easy four years for any of us. Dealing with Covid and its aftermath, the supply chain issues it created, then the war in Ukraine and the subsequent impact on food and fuel supply, have had a significant impact on UK finances, project delivery times and our own pockets. Government help on the cost of living for everyone has a further impact.
Yet our management of the economy in difficult circumstances, pushing back against the loudest critics who pretend that every problem just needs more money thrown at it, means that we enter 2024 delivering on our promises to ease the burden on your pocket - with a National Insurance cut taking effect on January 6th. The second National insurance cut in a little over a year
"To govern is to choose", and those choices can be difficult. We can all look backwards and find things we might like to have been done differently. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But beware anyone that tells you that these choices are binary, simple, and that all would be great if only they'd been in charge.
For those who wish to see us fail, it is easy to criticise from the sidelines. But they offer no alternative - they have a problem for every solution.
To them every silver lining has a cloud 🌧️
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming”
Theodore Roosevelt
I'm not a career politician, or indeed your average politician! I'm the son of a bin man; a former Farmer, British Steel Apprentice and Electrician. Cumbrian born and bred, and now raising my own children here. My wish to ensure that my community is well served, and that it's the best it can be, led me to where I am today via election to parish and borough councils - with your support.
I will alway speak my mind, and speak up on behalf of my constituents - no matter who I need to say it to, or who it might upset.
"Mark has been a fantastic asset to the Workington constituency, and is the right choice for Penrith and Solway. Mark is one of the stand-outs of the 2019 intake - an asset to the Conservative Party and to his constituents. Not one to hold back, never afraid to speak truth to power and always relentlessly focussed on the best interests of his constituents"
Rt Hon Boris Johnson
Since January 2020 I have opened over 42,000 new cases on behalf of constituents. Every constituent can rest assured I'll fight their corner.
I've got your back 💪
But I couldn't do it without my fantastic team based in Maryport who work diligently day in and day out to help people, and yet they are the ones under attack when people talk about MPs expenses - those 'expenses' (correctly termed business costs) are their wages, their office, their computers.
2024 is going to be a great year, another step on the path to Cumbrian prosperity. And we'll see more of the fruits of our labour of the last four years. I'll be doing what I can to ensure that we keep moving in the right direction.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if there's anything I can do to help you or your friends and family
Wishing you and your loved ones all the best for 2024, and thank you for your support through 2023.