By Isaac Cooper

December 4, 2022 - Michael Gove has been urged by Workington MP, Mark Jenkinson to give the green light to the controversial West Cumbrian coal mine.

The levelling up secretary is set to make the decision in the coming weeks after months of delays and several postponements.

Michael Gove is due to make a decision in the next few weeks.

Workington MP Mark Jenkinson told The Sun Newspaper: "As Britain still needs coking coal for the foreseeable future to make our world-leading steel, it should come from here, not imported thousands of miles away - which will only increase our carbon footprint any further."

The mine would lessen the country’s reliance of Chinese imported coal and steel, alongside creating hundreds of jobs in the area.

However fresh analysis by the Green Alliance says it could produce the same emissions as putting 200,000 more cars on UK roads and the mine has been opposed by many high-profile environmental groups and charities.

The decision was previously delayed whilst the new prime minister, Rishi Sunak, attended the COP 27 climate summit in Egypt.