ON November 22, I woke with great anticipation to be part of my first autumn budget statement (such is my personality).

I felt it was a good national budget with much to be optimistic about in terms of leading the digital revolution, the focus on productivity and the help for wannabe homeowners with stamp duty eradication for under 30-year-olds, which will be much appreciated by younger people in areas of high cost homes, but will not necessarily benefit Copeland with our below-average house prices.

However, the decision to inject a further £10bn in the Help to Buy Equity Loan as well as investing a further £2.8bn into the NHS, and continuing the freeze on fuel duty is encouraging news.

After hearing the chancellor, Philip Hammond, talk of the greatest investment in our railways since Victorian times, I headed to Euston and set off for home. I could count the number of weekly return journeys I make to London without trauma on one hand, and that journey was no exception.

After the dubiously slow pace the train adopted shortly after leaving Preston, we eventually came to a standstill in Lancaster - and that was it. No further rail service west and no buses as the roads were flooded; I was stranded with hundreds of other passengers with no forward journey plan.

So, while I'm delighted to hear of this huge rail investment, I will be making the very strong case for Copeland and Cumbria to catch up. We must become more resilient to bad weather and secure the vital investment to bring our road, rail and digital access up to modern day standards. Never mind 5G - a mobile signal and decent internet is still a dream for many living in the outlying areas of Copeland, which causes such inconvenience and hinders productivity.

This is not a "what about us?" whine, there is an incredibly strong business case for investing in the North. The calls for increased productivity need the pioneers of the North to deliver, but we are severely restricted by poor infrastructure.

As I write this column, I'm just about to go into my education select committee to ask questions of the national schools commissioner about the systemic failure suffered by students, staff and families at Whitehaven Academy. I am obviously pleased that with the diligence and determination of the Whitehaven Academy Action Group and the town council, a new sponsor is now being sought. I will be working alongside the school and community, to ensure that we secure the best possible sponsor, swiftly.

As I have said many times, I believe it is essential to have local accountability and given the challenges ahead, only a high-performing sponsor with a track record for excellence will be agreed. I would like to pay tribute to the students, staff and their families for their tremendous commitment. I'll be with Whitehaven Academy every step of the way in the exciting journey ahead.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.