The General Election 2024 is finally here and the former Copeland and Workington constituencies have been combined to form the new seat of Whitehaven and Workington.

To get you ready The Herdwick News has broken down all constituency candidated by party and summarised their manifesto promises.

Copeland’s MP, Trudy Harrison is standing down and Workington’s MP Mark Jenkinson is standing for the Solway and Penrith constituency.

Whitehaven and Workington General Election 2024 Candidates:

Conservative Party

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson’s manifesto focuses on reducing crime, expanding the nuclear industry, and investing in local health services with significant upgrades to West Cumberland Hospital and a new diagnostic center in Workington.

He supports the Whitehaven coal mine, aims to increase youth opportunities through apprenticeships and T-Levels, and plans to improve infrastructure with better broadband, roads, and connectivity.

Read the manifesto here

Labour Party

Josh MacAlister

Josh MacAlister’s manifesto for Whitehaven and Workington aims to reduce the cost of living by imposing a windfall tax on oil and gas profits, supporting mandatory mortgage measures, creating a private renters charter, and prioritising local homes for Labour’s Warm Homes plan.

He advocates for a new deal for working people to deliver a living wage, ban zero hours contracts, and end fire and rehire practices. Macalister plans to protect and improve NHS services by doubling medical school places, cutting waiting times through NHS staff overtime, maintaining a fully operational A&E at West Cumberland Hospital, establishing a mental health hub, and increasing NHS dental appointments and reforms.

Read the manifesto here

Liberal Democrat

Chris Wills

Chris Wills, the Liberal Democrats candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, aims to improve lives through his experience in teaching, road safety, and sustainable travel. He has worked to reduce road casualties, promote cycling and walking, and support youth through the Rock Youth Project.

Wills, a former farmer, proposes using wool as insulation to aid green energy solutions. As a community center trustee, he focuses on making them energy self-sufficient. He is committed to environmental conservation and heritage preservation.

Read the manifesto here

Reform UK

David Surtees

David Surtees, Reform UK candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, seeks “real change through common sense policies”. Key policies include tax cuts, reducing immigration, rejecting net zero, boosting gas and oil drilling, and supporting environmental efforts. Reform UK aims to eliminate NHS waiting lists with £17bn annually, increase police by 40,000, and introduce a “patriotic curriculum.”

Additional goals are raising defence spending, scrapping HS2, improving infrastructure, supporting small farms, reforming the House of Lords, eliminating the TV licence fee, and leaving the ECHR and WHO. They also plan to reduce corporation tax and cut £150bn in public spending.

Read the manifesto here

Green Party

Jill Perry

Jill Perry, Green Party candidate for Whitehaven and Workington, advocates transformative policies rooted in her local ties and environmental activism. The Greens promise 150,000 new council homes yearly, green energy investments, and a wealth tax to fund priorities like NHS revitalisation and public services.

They aim for public ownership of key industries, tuition-free education, and clean water initiatives, while also supporting NATO reform with a “no first use” nuclear policy. Perry’s experience underscores her commitment to these goals.

Read the manifesto here

How to vote on in the UK General Election 2024:

To be able to vote in the General Election 2024, on Thursday, July 4, you must be registered, bring your voter ID and got to the correct voting station.

To check if this is the constituency that you are to vote in visit the Electoral Commission’s website here.

This is the first General Election that needs a form of ID to vote to check the acceptable forms of ID visit the government website here.