North West · England · 73,198Boundary · 2023

Whitehaven & Workington

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Created in the 2023 boundary review, from parts of Copeland and Workington.

Dispatch
Apr 2026

Won by Lab in its first election in 2024. Covers Whitehaven, Workington and Seaton (Allerdale). Population 89,812.

A minister with a mission, Josh MacAlister is one of the few Labour MPs whose parliamentary record is visibly shaped by a pre-politics career. Appointed Minister for Children and Families in September 2025, he led the government's flagship Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill through its final Commons stages in April 2026 -- voting four times in a single day to override Lords amendments to that legislation. He has also championed a sibling contact amendment to keep brothers and sisters connected in the care system, and launched a national fostering campaign alongside his ministerial duties. His specialism is not incidental: he led the Independent Review of Children's Social Care before entering Parliament, and £2.1 billion of his review's recommendations have already been adopted by government.

MacAlister votes with Labour 100% of the time -- a perfect party-line record across 415 of 488 votes, putting his participation slightly above the Commons average. His 192 parliamentary contributions span education, social care, local government, and energy -- reflecting both his ministerial brief and the interests of a constituency that includes nuclear facilities at Sellafield. His stance profile shows strong alignment with progressive taxation and workers' rights, but low scores on pro-business and tough-on-crime dimensions, consistent with a centre-left ministerial outlook.

415
Commons votes
This parliament
£28k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
73.2k
Electorate
2024 GE

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§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

MacAlister’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.431 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where MacAlister has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
93
Economy
85
Employment
48
Education
41
Crime & Policing
36
Welfare and Benefits
28
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip

No rebellions or free votes recorded yet.

§ 08The local picture.18 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
BranstyJoseph Ghayouba1,043Labour P
Cleator Moor East FrizingtonLinda Jones-Bulman847Labour P
Cleator Moor WestMichael Christopher Eldon1,087Labour P
Cockermouth SouthAndrew Semple1,065Labour P
EgremontSam Pollen1,185Labour P
Egremont North St BeesReginald Graham Minshaw747Labour P
GosforthDavid Willis Moore989Conserva
HarringtonDenise Susan Rollo605Labour P
Hillcrest HensinghamJeanette Forster831Labour P
HowgateGillian Troughton678Labour P
Kells SandwithEmma Louise Williamson1,046Labour P
Maryport SouthBill Pegram692Labour P
Population (2021 Census)
89,812
Electorate 73,198 · 2024 register
Median income
£28,200
HMRC SPI 2024
Households renting privately
10.7%
England average 20.0%
Schools
60
47 primary · 6 secondary
Next · dig deeperEvery division, question, speech and committee record

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Filter divisions, search written questions, read every speech since the election. Sortable, searchable, downloadable.

More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.