West Cumbria Mining’s plan for a coking coal pit near Whitehaven was initially approved by the local county council in 2020, but the decision was later withdrawn. A public inquiry was held last year to examine concerns about the mine’s impact on the environment, with the Planning Inspectorate producing a report for the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Communities and Local Government. A final decision by the Secretary of State is due imminently. This briefing argues that the mine should not be approved because:

• it does not have public support
• it would undermine the UK’s climate leadership
• UK steelmakers don’t need the coal
• the UK should invest in clean steel instead
• low carbon industries offer multigenerational jobs.