"Stop Ignoring Our Coast": East Riding Lib Dems Urge future Andy Burnham to Appoint Dedicated Coastal Minister

East Riding Liberal Democrats have thrown their weight behind a high-profile national campaign demanding stronger representation for coastal towns, calling on the future Prime Minister, Andy Burnham MP to establish a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities.
​The move, spearheaded nationally by Liberal Democrat MPs, has found strong resonance in East Riding, where local campaigners argue that seaside towns like Bridlington, Hornsea, and Withernsea have been systematically ignored by successive Westminster governments.

​East Riding Demands Costal Communities have "A Seat at the Table"
​Supporting the national joint letter written to the  future Prime Minister "Andy Burnham MP" by Steff Aquarone MP and eighteen other MPs,  East Riding Liberal Democrats warn that the unique challenges facing the Yorkshire coast require urgent, specialised focus.

​"From Bridlington down to Hornsea and Withernsea, our East Riding coastal communities have been ignored by Westminster for decades." "We face massive, unique challenges here, from rapid coastal erosion wiping out land and homes, to seasonal employment traps and a devastating lack of basic services like NHS dentists.
​Yet, we also have incredible potential in offshore wind, green energy, and our tourism sector. We desperately need a dedicated Minister who sees our coastline not as a boundary, but as an absolute priority."  Cllr Eliza Whitaker 

​A Call to Support "Forgotten" Regions
​The campaign directly challenges the Prime Minister to deliver on his promises of national renewal. In the national letter backed by the East Riding Liberal Democrats, MPs reminded the future Prime Minister of his pledge to support marginalised areas.

​"We are writing to you, as you begin your work of shaping a Government that can deliver your ambitions to deliver for areas which have been left behind, to urge you to support our coastal communities," the letter states. "You told the country in your recent speech that you want to see: Places no longer forgotten or written-off as they have been in the past, but supported to make the best of their assets." Steff Aquarone MP 

​Unique Challenges Beyond the Urban-Rural Divide
​The Liberal Democrats argue that coastal towns face a distinct set of hurdles that traditional policy frameworks fail to address. Drawing on the landmark 2021 report by Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty, the campaign highlights the stark health and economic disparities plaguing seaside communities.
​"Our coastal communities are in desperate need of this,"  "Coastal communities don't fit the historic north-south or urban-rural divides - all around the country, and with different histories, but too many shared challenges." Steff Aquarone MP 

​The letter emphasises that these areas suffer from poorer health, lower life expectancy, and higher rates of poverty than their inland counterparts:
​"There is much more which unites coastal communities at opposite ends of the country, than with their inland neighbours just a matter of miles away." Steff Aquarone MP 

​Unlocking the Coast's Potential
​Rather than viewing the coast solely as a problem to be solved, the Liberal Democrats insist that East Riding and other coastal areas are economic engines waiting to be unlocked.

 They point to the massive potential in tourism, green energy, and environmental conservation as key drivers for national growth.
​"We also have a wealth of opportunity waiting to be seized upon," the letter continues. "A multi-billion pound tourist economy, cutting edge green energy projects, natural environments like no other. With someone fighting our corner in Government, the 'growth in every postcode' you desire will reach those postcodes right at the end of the line, around the edges of our country." Steff Aquarone MP 

​To bridge the gap, the Liberal Democrats argue that a single, focused representative is needed to cut through departmental red tape and advocate for these unique regions.
​"That is why we are writing to urge you to appoint a Minister for Coastal Communities in your Government. A single champion, working outside of the strict silos of Government to support our areas across all their challenges and opportunities, could lift up coastal communities and stop them being forgotten any longer." Steff Aquarone MP 

Promoted and posted on behalf of East Riding Liberal Democrats, 1 Vincent Sq SW1P


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