Scarborough and Whitby MP backs call for Minister for Coastal Communities
Alison Hume has been talking about it at the Labour Party Conference
Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume has thrown her support behind growing calls for the government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities.
Speaking at the Labour Party Conference alongside fellow Labour MPs from across the UK’s seaside towns, Ms Hume called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deliver a bold new strategy to revitalise the coast — including a “Coastal Challenge” initiative inspired by the successful London Challenge, which dramatically improved education outcomes in the capital under the last Labour government.
“Scarborough and Whitby, like other coastal communities, is among the most beautiful constituencies in the country,” said Ms Hume. “But behind our magnificent landscape, we face a host of unique challenges — from poor transport links to skills shortages — that threaten to stifle the enormous potential of our people.”
The proposed Minister for Coastal Communities would coordinate policy across departments to tackle longstanding issues in coastal areas, such as deprivation, poor health outcomes, and the ongoing ‘brain drain’ to more connected urban centres.
Ms Hume emphasised the need for investment in education, skills and infrastructure, pointing to the region’s innovative businesses and creative talent as key drivers of future growth — if given the right support.
“I want to see the people of Scarborough and Whitby flourish,” she added. “With others, I’m calling for a ‘Coastal Challenge’ to be implemented as part of the government’s Plan for Change.”
The move is backed by the 66 Labour MPs representing coastal constituencies, who argue that for too long, the economic and social needs of seaside towns have been overlooked by central government.