CARLISLE’S MP is calling on the transport secretary to consider relocating part of his Government department to Carlisle.

John Stevenson has written to Cabinet minister Grant Shapps calling on him to “rebalance” the “current London-centric set up” of Government.

His letter comes as Mr Stevenson says there is a substantial push within Whitehall to see change.

“There is a movement within Government that where possible they will look to shift some of the civil service out of London and into regions across the UK,” explained Mr Stevenson.

The MP said he had had a conversation with Mr Shapps and decided it was a chance to put Carlisle in front of ministers’ noses.

“The Department for Transport can help anchor that investment and development (at Carlisle railway station) and bring good-quality jobs to the area.”

Mr Stevenson believes the move would be beneficial to both the Government and the city.

“The Government should look where possible to move jobs and opportunities that don’t need to be in London.

“If we were able to move part of the department it would be a significant boost to the economy, it would bring quality jobs and it would recognise that Carlisle is an important regional centre.”

He said such a move would be beneficial to the whole region but is cautiously optimistic about the chances of his dreams being realised.

“The honest answer is I don’t know but it has always been my philosophy that if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

“The Government has agreed to level up to see regional growth and development and part of that is infrastructure and technology improvements such as broadband, but it is also about people.

“The Government wants to see levelling up in the regions to make sure there are good jobs there.”

An important part of Mr Stevenson’s appeal tugs on the history of the city.

“Carlisle has been a big railway city in the past and still is today.

“It has a rich railway heritage,” he said.

Mr Stevenson writes in his letter: “Traditionally, Carlisle was a great railway city. Indeed, at one time it had seven railway companies passing through the Carlisle Station, and it was an extremely important hub as it connects to Newcastle, west Cumbria, Leeds, Manchester, as well as London, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

“The station is still an important national hub, and at present, through the Borderlands Growth Initiative, there is likely to be £15 million investment into Carlisle Station. The station is considerably sized, with large city centre footprint and sizeable amount of surplus space.”

The MP says there would be ample space for civil servants.