Like everyone, I continue to be horrified and appalled by the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and my heart goes out to all those affected by this terrible situation.

Since the attacks began late last month, I have been contacted by a lot of constituents who are desperate to help in any way they can.

Thank you so much to all those who have contacted me and, while the temptation to donate or gather items to go to those in need is understandable – and highly commendable, the current advice is that a financial donation is the most appropriate at this time.

All donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal for Ukraine will pay for humanitarian aid – including food and healthcare supplies, shelter – for affected families.

The charity is in Ukraine, as well as neighbouring countries, and your donations will make a direct difference.

In addition, the UK Government has pledged to match-fund donations to this appeal, meaning your support will go even further.
To make a donation and for more information about the appeal, visit donation.dec.org.uk/Ukraine-humanitarian-appeal

Election candidates announced

It was my pleasure on Saturday to support the launch of Copeland Conservative Association’s campaign for the historic Cumberland Council elections this May.

The elections will be the start of a fundamental and positive change in how local authorities are run in Cumbria; it will culminate in the creation of two unitary authorities for the county in May 2023, in place of the county/district setup we have now.

The councillors elected on Thursday, May 5 will oversee the creation of the new Cumberland authority (covering the areas of Copeland, Allerdale and Carlisle) over the coming 12 months, and then continue in their roles for a four-year term once Cumberland Council takes effect in May 2023.

This is a tremendous opportunity to improve how decisions are made and services carried out in our county, and I know that the Conservative candidates announced this week – including Doug Wilson (Millom) and Andy Pratt (Millom Without) – are the ideal choices to deliver the best outcomes for Cumberland.

For more information and to contact the candidates, visit www.cumberlandconservatives.org.uk