Many will know that since my election I have been lobbying Ministers hard to turn the £200m Barrow Transformation Fund into a reality.

That’s why it was such a huge moment for me when – standing in the Minister’s office on Thursday – I got the final confirmation that we’d got it over the line.

This is massive investment from the Labour Government which is backing our whole area. This funding will help build affordable housing, improve local transport, and boost our sports, health, and culture facilities.

I have lived here my whole life – I know what an amazing place it is to live, work, and raise a family. But, at the same time, I can see that we have huge challenges – anti-social behaviour, crumbling schools, poor roads, and town centres with huge potential but filled with empty premises. Not to mention the problems we are seeing at Furness General Hospital.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Barrow and Furness. To once again be a centre not just of the manufacturing industry in this country, but a centre for sport, arts, transport, tourism and healthcare provision.

With this investment we can be a hub for the region that attracts people and investment to breathe new life into our Towns and villages.

It is a huge prize and that is why I have pushed so hard since getting elected and finding out that there was never actually any money budgeted for this work when it was press-released by the last Government. Like many other funds and empty promises offered around the country prior to calling an election.

I am pleased to say that from the start – beginning with Keir Starmer’s visit as opposition leader before the election – Labour ministers have understood just how important our area is to our national defence and have been fully committed to finding this funding.

The independent Barrow Delivery Board is now up and running and will oversee this fund and decide on its use. The Board must also look for ways to maximise the effectiveness of this funding and to attract further investment in Barrow.

This is real, lasting investment in our future—not just empty promises.

Labour is backing Barrow all the way, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it.