HERE is Trudy Harrison’s weekly column.

I was a pleasure to welcome two significant visitors to our beautiful West Cumbria on Monday last week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited our county to see first-hand the crucial work being carried out in the Northern Centre for Cancer at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.

The Prime Minister had a tour and spoke to every patient in the centre.

He then spent the evening discussing the future of Cumberland with the county’s Conservative MPs, councillors and candidates at an event in West Cumbria.

We have an excellent crop of Conservative candidates who will contest the historic first Cumberland Council elections this May; sitting initially as a shadow authority before the new council is formed (replacing the county council and three districts) in May 2023.

The PM was on top form. He made time for everyone and all were thrilled to have his ear, and he offered his support to our candidates as election-time approaches.

We had a second day planned on Tuesday where the PM was due to meet with the National Nuclear Laboratory and Rolls Royce to make our case for future power station site in Copeland.

Although this meeting didn’t happen when the PM had to return to London earlier than planned due to the escalating situation in Russia, he has committed to return soon.
I also had a thoroughly enjoyable day accompanying my friend and colleague Will Quince MP, Minister for Children and Families, visiting just a sample of the excellent children’s facilities we have in Copeland.

We visited two nurseries, where we loved playing, singing and reading with the children.

We also visited the Family Action centre, based in Whitehaven although it has an equivalent centre providing services to families in the Millom area.

We chatted with staff and parents about the range of fantastic services they offer the community - including healthy eating workshops, speech and language therapy, budget management and support for new and expecting parents – in addition to their plans for the future.