Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster has called for support from chancellor Rishi Sunak.

BECBC, which draws members not just from Cumbria but across the North of England and beyond, has called for the chancellor to get fully behind the announcements made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Building Back Greener that were made last week.

Speaking ahead of the Spending Review Statement in the Commons, executive director John Grainger said: “It is imperative that the chancellor backs up the announcements by arranging for a suite of financial packages that will provide much needed stimulus for business to get back on its feet early in the New Year.

“The welcome declaration from Number 10 that nuclear will be part of the solution for driving towards 2050.

“This though means a level of investment that makes these decisions attractive for the private sector to inject a large amount of capital themselves to make these projects viable.

“The supply chain in Cumbria stands to benefit greatly from an expenditure round that it is accepted has to look at the big picture in terms of overall recovery.

“Our companies are already returning to a form of normality that might well be enhanced by the initiation of vaccine programmes, and a positive message from Government will give the economy locally just the stimulus it both needs and hopes for.

“We strongly advocate that this happens.”