A SHADOW cabinet minister has backed Cumbria County Council's decision to reconsider plans for a new deep coal mine in the west of the county.

Bridget Phillipson, Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, accepted that west Cumbria needed investment and employment - but was unsure the coal mine was the way forward.

She said: "I know that people in West Cumbria are crying out for good, secure, well-paid jobs, and that hasn;t been the case in the last decade.

"We need to get more highly paid jobs for young people, so they don't have to move away from home.

"I think the council are right to look again and reconsider.

"I believe we should be focusing our efforts on creating new, green jobs.

Miss Phillipson was speaking after meeting business owners in Cumbria to discuss the future and the Government's response to the pandemic.

The shadow minister also called on the Government to introduce a "smart" furlough scheme, where workers who are on furlough can learn new skills to secure better paid jobs.

She added: "Labour's plan is to secure a smart furlough scheme. Many other countries operate a similar scheme.

"Those on furlough would be able to get extra skills.

“I think, coming out of this terrible pandemic we must seize the opportunity to resolve the deep inequalities in our country and take Britain forward."

Cumbria County Council decided to reconsider proposals for the new coal mine near Whitehaven after new information about the Government's climate change targets emerged.

It followed sustained pressure from campaigners across the UK and beyond, including ex-NASA scientist and climate change expert James Hansen.

However, supporters of the mine, including Copeland MP Trudy Harrison, have maintained that the coal will be used in the production of steel, and suggested there is no current alternative. They added that steel is needed for future green industry projects.