I WRITE this month’s column after the very welcome, much anticipated financial commitment from the Transport Secretary to develop the Grizebeck by-pass.

Mr Grayling referred to the stretch of road at Dove Ford as the ‘farmyard’ at the Conservative Conference. Clearly his memories of visiting the area with me last year have had the desired effect.

While our infrastructure will be an ongoing lobbying challenge (and I won’t rest until we have the road, rail and digital connectivity we need to thrive), I always feel very proud showing off my constituency, highlighting its huge potential to visitors.

I can confidently say there is nowhere better in the UK to lead on the colossal nuclear decommissioning export opportunities than Cumbria.

It was good to welcome the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Jake Berry MP to the area as part of his northern-wide tour.

We met Sellafield apprentices, reinforcing the exceptional skills training facilities and world-class apprenticeships.

The visit provided the perfect occasion to reinforce Cumbria’s great opportunities including decommissioning export specialisms, new nuclear development, as well as securing West Cumbria Mining.

I really want Government to make export much easier and to help me work with our many specialist companies.

Nuclear new build is a national need, to maintain the UK’s ever increasing power requirements. I’m committed to delivering Moorside for the benefit of West Cumbria, the industry and the country. I have stressed its importance to the Secretary of State for International Trade ahead of his delegation to the Republic of Korea next month.

On October 24, my Cumbrian colleagues and I will meet the Korean Ambassador to the UK in Westminster to continue to press for progress, while in the constituency I have formed the Moorside Strategic Partnership, which government officials and key local industry figures will be part of.

I will be chairing the first meeting in November and will keep up the pressure until Moorside is over the line.

What is important now is that all MPs in Cumbria work collaboratively to grasp the opportunities, capture the moment and secure positive change for our area.