Latest news with #MichelleScrogham
Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Lake District mosque protesters are racist, says Labour MP
Lake District residents campaigning against the construction of a new mosque have been criticised as racist by a local Labour MP. Police were called as protesters, who support and oppose the new development, clashed on Saturday outside the building site for the controversial £2.5m mosque. Demonstrators holding placards with messages reading 'Muslims welcome here' were met with protesters holding Union flags with messages reading: 'No to the mosque' and 'Not racist! Just patriotic!'. Michelle Scrogham, a Labour MP for Barrow and Furness who attended the counter-protest, responded to the objections by saying: 'There's absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria.' She added: 'The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don't represent the people of this area. 'The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming. We've had immigration on a mass scale for many, many years. 'Anybody that wants to come here and say you're not welcome, they're wrong. It's just utterly wrong.' Construction of the South Lakes Islamic Centre, situated in Furness, Cumbria, started in January this year. The centre will be the only masjid within a 50-mile radius, serving both the local Muslim community and visiting tourists. The group said the space would cater to the 40 to 50 practising Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital and their families. Protests have previously taken place on the site, with both sides of the debate shouting at each other across the road last month as the anti-mosque group waved the Union flag. Paul Jenkins, who organised a counter-protest on behalf of Furness Stand Up To Racism, said: 'The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. 'The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multi-faith community and defend the right of the Islamic Centre to be here.' Henry Goodwin, a demonstrator, said: 'There are five British values, which include tolerance of other people's faiths and beliefs. 'We're standing up for proper British values.' Opponents have criticised the development, saying it is not needed in Furness, although those demonstrating against the mosque refused to speak to reporters on the ground. Residents have previously voiced their concerns over social media about the construction of the mosque, calling it an ' absolute monstrosity '. Another said: 'Absolutely disgusting… total blot on the landscape … totally unwelcome … how on earth has this been passed in planning?' One other resident said: 'There goes the beautiful Lake District – with a huge building plonked there.' Planning approval for the mosque was granted in Dec 2022 after 30 objections were raised.
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Protest outside the construction site of a controversial £2.5 million mosque sees police called as rival factions clash
Police were called to a protest outside the construction site of a controversial £2.5million mosque as rival factions clashed. People gathered around the building site of the three-storey South Lakes Islamic Centre in Furness, Cumbria, on Saturday. Demonstrators holding placards with messages reading 'Muslims welcome here' butted heads with protesters waving Union Jack flags with messages reading 'No to the mosque' and 'Not racist! Just patriotic!'. A local Labour MP, who attended the protest, slammed anti-mosque protesters as racist. Construction on the mosque started in January this year with those behind the ambitious plans claiming it will be the first mosque in the South Lakes area of the Lake District. Standing opposite the anti-mosque protesters, Paul Jenkins, who organised a counter-protest on behalf of Furness Stand Up To Racism, said: 'The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. 'The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multifaith community and defend the right of the Islamic centre to be here.' Local Labour MP Michelle Scrogham, who was first elected in July last year, also attended the counter-protest. She said: 'I am here because there's absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria. The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don't represent the people of this area. 'The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming. We've had immigration on a mass scale for many, many years. 'People that moved here in the 1800s - they weren't from round here - this town is built on immigration. 'The number of people who have moved here for jobs and work and settled with their families and nothing has changed at all. 'Anybody that wants to come here and say you're not welcome they're wrong. It's just utterly wrong.' Demonstrator Henry Goodwin said: 'There are five British values, which include tolerance of other people's faiths and beliefs. 'We're standing up for proper British values.' Amy Heild said: 'I had a look for some quotes from the Quran and the Bible. 'In both religions I found lots of examples where they are advocating for peace and tolerance of people's different faiths and religion, and looking at how God would look favourably on people that support people outside of their own faith and the human right to dignity in their own beliefs.' A local Labour MP, who attended the protest, slammed anti-mosque protesters as racist Those demonstrating against the mosque refused to speak to reporters on the ground. Planning approval for the mosque was granted in December 2022 after 30 objections were raised. Opponents have raised concerns about the development, saying it is not needed in Furness, while supporters say the centre would provide a much-needed place of worship for hundreds of Muslim families living in the area. Earlier this year, representatives from the South Lakes Islamic Centre said construction had been delayed due to negative television coverage. In a YouTube video, a representative said: 'The concrete, which was supposed to come this week, has been delayed because of the GB News coverage. 'It's just the challenges we face; it's a difficult area to build, but we are progressing very quickly.'
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Barrow hospital could stop treating sickest patients permanently
Sick and injured people requiring the highest level of intensive care may have to be transported more than an hour's drive away to a neighbouring county under a plan to permanently reduce a hospital and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) intends to make permanent the temporary suspension of the level 3 unit at Furness General Hospital (FGH), in Barrow-in-Furness, due to a lack of who require lower levels of critical care will continue to be treated at FGH, but the sickest patients would have to attend Royal Lancaster director Prof Andy Knox said the ICB would engage with the community and staff before confirming the cuts. FGH suspended the provision of the highest intensive care services last September due to the impact on patient safety caused by issues with recruiting enough qualified and experienced ICB said only three of the required eight permanent consultants were in Knox said: "Medical staffing within the unit at FGH has been a concern for several years, with consultant cover not meeting national guidance despite significant efforts from the trust." Michelle Scrogham, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, said she believed it was the wrong decision."For as long as it's been announced I've been opposed to it, I don't think they've taken into account that it's one road in and one road out [of Barrow]."She said the route was often closed due to accidents, floods or roadworks and it was only "a matter of time before somebody pays the price for that"."We've got a growing population in Barrow and we need to offer those services." Since the suspension, over a six-month period 30 people have been transferred to chief medical officer Dr Caroline Brock said University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Trust was "absolutely committed" to FGH and its future as a district general hospital."We understand the impact this will have on our colleagues and local community and that there may be concerns about what this means for FGH," she added."If the decision is made to make the changes permanent, we will work with our teams to develop a safe and effective treat and transfer model - using evidence-based learning from other trusts across the country who run similar services in geographically isolated areas like Barrow."We will continue to work with the ICB and support colleagues, patients and families throughout." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Submarine builds to bring 'prosperity to Barrow'
A defence firm has said the decision to build up to 12 new attack submarines is in response to the "increasingly uncertain world we're living in". The prime minister announced earlier that the new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines would be built at Barrow shipyard. Submarine builder BAE Systems said it "welcomed" the defence spending, while MP for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham said the move would "safeguard jobs" and provide huge opportunities for local people. BAE employee, Mark Early, said it was "the best thing ever" and would bring prosperity to the area. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it expected a new submarine to be built every 18 months with a "major expansion of industrial capability" at the BAE Systems' site. The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness" to deter growing threats to the UK. BAE said it welcomed the government's "commitment to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War". "The review recognises the increasingly uncertain world we're living in and the capabilities the UK needs to defend our freedom and strengthen our national security now and into the future," chief executive Charles Woodburn said. Mr Woodburn said the "clear demand signal gives our sector the confidence to invest in boosting capacity". Meanwhile Mr Early said it would create "massive improvements". "I know lads that travel up from Lancaster every day to work here," he said. "The more money we spend, the more people will come to the town, bringing prosperity. "It's the best thing ever." Antony Goldsmith, who also works at BAE, said: "It's good for the town. "Obviously I've got a lot of years left in there so brilliant news for us." Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "The people of Barrow and Furness are right to be proud of their role in keeping this nation safe over many decades. "Our commitment today to expand the attack submarine fleet is the start of the next chapter of Barrow's illustrious history." Scrogham said: "This will safeguard jobs, provide huge opportunities for local people and be the driver for our local economy across south Cumbria." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines Nuclear submarine port to be granted royal title BAE Systems
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Submarine builds pledge to bring 'prosperity to Barrow'
A defence firm has said the decision to build up to 12 new attack submarines is in response to the "increasingly uncertain world we're living in".The prime minister announced earlier that the new conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines would be built at Barrow builder BAE Systems said it "welcomed" the defence spending, while MP for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham said the move would "safeguard jobs" and provide huge opportunities for local employee, Mark Early, said it was "the best thing ever" and would bring prosperity to the area. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it expected a new submarine to be built every 18 months with a "major expansion of industrial capability" at the BAE Systems' site. The review is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness" to deter growing threats to the said it welcomed the government's "commitment to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War". "The review recognises the increasingly uncertain world we're living in and the capabilities the UK needs to defend our freedom and strengthen our national security now and into the future," chief executive Charles Woodburn said. 'Massive improvements' Mr Woodburn said the "clear demand signal gives our sector the confidence to invest in boosting capacity".Meanwhile Mr Early said it would create "massive improvements"."I know lads that travel up from Lancaster every day to work here," he said."The more money we spend, the more people will come to the town, bringing prosperity."It's the best thing ever." Antony Goldsmith, who also works at BAE, said: "It's good for the town."Obviously I've got a lot of years left in there so brilliant news for us." Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "The people of Barrow and Furness are right to be proud of their role in keeping this nation safe over many decades. "Our commitment today to expand the attack submarine fleet is the start of the next chapter of Barrow's illustrious history."Scrogham said: "This will safeguard jobs, provide huge opportunities for local people and be the driver for our local economy across south Cumbria." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
