THE Furness MP has confirmed that Team Barrow will be backed by a £200 million investment from the government.

Michelle Scrogham, the Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, said the project would soon become a ‘reality’ and thanked people behind the scenes for ‘working tirelessly’.

In March the previous Conservative government committed an immediate £20 million and a further minimum of £20 million a year over the next 10 years to make Barrow an attractive place to live, work, and build a nuclear career.

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The MP was responding after a group of Furness Conservative councillors sent a letter questioning why the initiative was not included in the recent budget announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves, labelling it a ‘glaring omission’.

Mrs Scrogham said: “Since I was elected I’ve been lobbying the new Government hard on this. This is massive for our area. I haven’t left it alone and Ministers are no doubt sick of the sight of me by now.

“I’m pleased that Ministers have understood from the start just how important Barrow is to our national defence and have been fully committed to it. I pay tribute to all the people who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to clean up the mess left by the Conservatives and get the project back on track.”

“Team Barrow will soon become a reality and can start delivering the transformation of our area backed by the full £200m investment it needs. This is absolutely no thanks to the Conservatives who need to apologise to the people of Barrow and Furness for the way they once again put their political games ahead of our area’s best interests.”

Westmorland and Furness Councillors Les Hall, Roy Worthington and Daniel Edwards co-signed a letter to Mrs Scrogham demanding reassurances about funding for Team Barrow.

Councillor Hall (Hawcoat and Newbarns, Conservative) said: “It is worrying that the Barrow Transformation Fund is not specifically mentioned in the recent Budget, and we hope this is just an oversight.

“Were it to prove that the commitment of the previous Government has in fact been reneged upon by Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Defence Secretary John Healey, it would be a shattering blow to the area. It would doubtless have devastating consequences for so many and have the exact opposite effect of creating prosperity.”

At a council meeting on November 4, Cllr Hall asked the deputy council leader, Councillor Andrew Jarvis, whether he shares concerns that the budget announced by the new government ‘failed to mention’ funding for Team Barrow.

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In response, Cllr Jarvis said: “It would’ve been nice to have received an indication within the budget. I am told though it might be worth asking that question shortly as I suspect we will be hearing something in the next month or so.”

When asked on a visit to Barrow in April whether the Labour Party would provide the funding if elected into government, leader Sir Keir said: “Yes absolutely, it’s very important.

“It’s come up time and again this morning, the vital tying together of the future secure jobs and work here in the yard, with the secure future that we want for Barrow.

“We’re fully supportive of this and we would see our role in government, if we’re privileged enough to come in, to roll up our sleeves and put our shoulders at the wheel to support that work.