Ed Miliband was the keynote speaker at Cumberland’s first ever economic summit.
Around 300 business leaders attended the event at Carlisle’s Civic Centre yesterday, Thursday February 29.
The full-day event was organised by Cumberland Council.
Mr Miliband, Shadow Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, was joined by speakers including leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer, Carlisle MP John Stevenson, Cumberland Council’s chief executive Andrew Seekings, Professor John Fyfe, Emma Porter, MD of Story Contracting and The Rebuild Site, and Tom Lloyd-Goodwin, of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies.
Panellists at the event included Rhianydd Griffith, of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate and the Environment, deputy leader of Cumberland Council Lisa Brown, and Sarah Taylor-Howe,of Cumbria Health plus Cumberland Council directors Darren Crossley, Colin Cox and Chris Jones-King.
The MC for the event was Phil Laycock, director of UKREiiF/Built Environment Networking Limited.
Mr Miliband said: “The clean energy transition is the economic opportunity of the 21st century and would be at the centre of a mission-led Labour government.
“Cumbria has a proud energy history. From the skills of its workforce to a world-leading nuclear industry, to the potential for renewables across the region, it can lead the way again and Labour’s Green Prosperity Plan would harness this potential to make Cumbria a clean energy superpower.”
He told the summit that a Labour government would back Cumbria if it won the next General Election.
The former Labour Party leader said: “Cumbria will be eligible to benefit from our British Jobs Bonus, a £1.5billion fund to reward companies that invest in clean energy projects.
“Britain has succeeded in generating large amounts of offshore wind, but it has failed to generate the jobs to go with it.
“Our British Jobs Bonus will incentivise companies to procure from and build supply chains for clean industries in communities like Cumbria, bringing the good, secure jobs that are so desperately needed.”
He said the initiative was the first time in decades that Britain would have a fund like this and it was modelled on the US Inflation Reduction Act.
He added that the Port of Workington could be developed because they would set aside £1.8billion in a new ports fund to upgrade ports so wind turbines could be manufactured in Britain, rather than towing them in from overseas.
He added: “I believe from my discussions with Mark [Fryer] and with Josh [MacAlister] over the last 18 months that the Port of Workington is an ideal candidate for this public investment.
“Owned by the council, which has a vision for its future.
“Investment could unlock more capacity at the port and support regeneration of the area, enabling it to reap the benefits of jobs in the clean energy industry, like offshore wind.
“But we will only make, buy and sell in Britain, if we drive forward with all forms of clean energy.”
Mr Fryer said the announcements from Mr Miliband were really positive and added: “It’s about bringing people together right across the whole of Cumberland, the business leaders, the council as a community leader and other organisations to seize the opportunities that there are out there and working together across political boundaries because it has held us back.
“The idea that we have got one council is it should be more streamlined, more cordial and a lot better than it has previously been, so I am looking to the summit.”
When asked if it was a coup to get the shadow energy secretary to Carlisle he said: “This is Cumberland – they should all be wanting to come here.
“He is positive about the whole of Cumberland, I’ve been speaking with him now for probably 18 months about that approach, about the green energy power and green jobs, we’ve had them promised to us before and all the political parties of both colours have not come up with them, so it is up to us as the leaders in Cumberland to hold everyone to account really.”
Councillor Chris Wills (Upperby, Lib Dems) said the summit was critically important, because they were in the early days of a new council, and added: “We are just about to put together an economic strategy that will influence the lives of everybody who lives and works in the authority.”
Councillor Jill Perry (Bothel and Wharrels, Green Party) said she felt the priorities of the summit should be investment in green infrastructure and added: “What I’d like to see is more emphasis on renewables and less emphasis on nuclear, which clearly isn’t clean because of all the waste that is produced.”
She said there should also be more emphasis on green infrastructure and developing low carbon house building.
Andrew Seekings, Cumberland Council’s chief executive, said: “I think the most important thing is to get lots of people together to talk about some of the opportunities that we have got moving forward.
“For the council it is really important that growth that we get is inclusive growth, We have got lots of opportunities around the county and wider into Cumbria to work with Westmorland & Furness to really get a strategic plan together that can create growth and good wages for people here.”
Mr Fryer said: “Our Cumberland Economic Summit was a great success and I would like to thank everyone involved in organising and taking part in the event. Working with local businesses and organisations, we want to build on our priority to deliver an inclusive economy that works for local people.
“We need their knowledge and expertise so that we can put in place an economic strategy that works for Cumberland. We need them to be part of the conversation.”
Mr Stevenson added: “Cumberland has a great deal to be positive about and Carlisle as a regional capital has seen a great deal of change for the better. We need to focus on the future now through education and skills, apprenticeships, infrastructure improvements, the environment and boosting the private sector.
“We must also work hand in hand with Whitehall and grasp the offer of devolution for Cumbria and a champion and spokesman in the form of an elected mayor.”
The summit discussions linked in with Cumberland Council’s Cumberland Plan and the council said it was keen that strategic partners and stakeholders get the opportunity to help them develop a clear vision for the area.
Mr Miliband also visited the Port of Workington for a tour of the 2.6-hectare site and he met with port staff.
During the visit to the council-owned municipal port, which handles up to 500,000 tonnes of cargo per year, Mr Miliband heard about the council’s plans for the port including the drive to secure inward investment, develop the facilities and capacity and significantly improve the multi-modal transport opportunities at the site.
Mr Fryer said: “We will continue to strive to make the Port of Workington the most sustainable port possible. We believe that the port is a key logistics asset for Cumberland, and we are keen to attract investment to provide facilities for future green growth across our region. We will continue to provide a first-class service to our customers at the port, whilst strengthening our competitive position in the region and beyond.”
