Jamie Reed

Live, one-hour webchat with Jamie Reed, the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Copeland

3rd & 7 37yd

Hi, the webchat with Jamie Reed will start at 2pm. We're just testing links at the moment.

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 12:51:24 PM
Testing, testing...

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 12:54:49 PM
Hi Jamie, hope all's ok at that end?

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 12:55:17 PM
Everything seems to be fine here.

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 12:56:27 PM
Hi Jamie. The NHS is an issue nationally, but locally the situation seems to be even worse. Our hospitals are failing, badly - there is even a police investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary. What could you do to change it should you be re-elected - and why would the next term be different from the last?

by Jane 4/30/2015 1:00:10 PM
Did you pull the plug on the Andrew Neil broadcast?

by Hannah 4/30/2015 1:02:05 PM
We've got a little bit of a connection hiccup. Hopefully resolved very soon...

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 1:02:34 PM
Jane - NHS needs more resource and we've said we would give that - principally we need more staff locally as every investigation has stated. But I've also asked the NHS Chief Executive to produce a 'recovery plan' for the NHS in Cumbria. I think the only MP to have done so. I've also worked with UCLan to help develop a programme where we can 'grow our own' medics. We can't simply treat our local NHS like a metropolitan health service, we need to acknowledge the specific difficulties and challenges - but if we get it right (and I think we can) then we can become a national leader in establishing a new model of clinical care for areas such as ours (though none match us precisely).

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:05:47 PM
I don't believe in Labour policies, but I like you and what you have to say. Can I still trust you to represent me as well should I vote for you?

by Jim 4/30/2015 1:06:06 PM
It was timed out by Milbank, Hannah. Sadly I couldn't see and could hardly hear in the BBC Cumbria studio. There'll be plenty of other times, don't worry.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:06:58 PM
What mark out of 10 would you give your time as MP so far?

by Marko 4/30/2015 1:08:46 PM
Jim - thanks for that. Yes you can, the job of an MP is to represent all constituents and I've always tried to do that. This doesn't mean advocating or voting for issues I don't believe in though - I couldn't do that but I'd always explain my actions and why I voted in certain ways.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:09:00 PM
Would you do anything to stop all the horrible wind turbines going up everywhere?

by Brenda 4/30/2015 1:10:56 PM
Marko - I wouldn't. It's always for others to judge. Constituents are the landlord, I'm the tenant;it's up to the electorate to mark as they see fit. If I'm being judged on delivering the programme I've put before the Copeland electorate then there have been some remarkable successes- new WCH, town centre investments, new nuclear, new school investments - but nothing in politics is perfect.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:11:56 PM
Yes or no - and without using the phrase "we will give the NHS the resources it needs and about mentioning the Time for Change fund - will Labour commit to giving the NHS the £8 billion it needs to fill the funding gap by 2020?

by Ben 4/30/2015 1:12:18 PM
Do you ever want to be Prime Minister? Or would you be happy with health?

by Mrs G 4/30/2015 1:14:33 PM
Which politican from another political party do you most respect and why?

by Jenn G 4/30/2015 1:14:37 PM
Brenda, I appreciate that they divide opinion but I'd be lying to you if I told you I could stop them. Local councils make these planning decisions and if they make them outside of the advice given or the legal framework provided for refusal then they end up having decisions overturned at appeal and this costs council tax payers a fortune. What I will always do is make sure that opposing views are listened to and acted upon, though.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:14:59 PM
Ben, we will always give the NHS the resources it needs, without question.We took the NHS from a circa £30b budget p.a. in 1997 to a circa £110b budget in 2010, making the NHS the best health service in the world. So the track record is there.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:16:50 PM
Ed Miliband left his mansion to discuss poverty with multi-millionare Russell Brand in his mansion. Do you see the irony? And is Mr Brand really the kind of celebrity Mr Miliband should be sharing a nightcap with?

by Kenny 4/30/2015 1:20:01 PM
Mrs G, I wouldn't like to be Prime Minister - my kids would probably destroy No.10 - and it's a privilege to work alongside Andy Burnham in Health. I've always considered being the Copeland MP as the most important thing - turning Copeland into the place I know it can and should be is what motivates me more than anything. That and achieving a new settlement for England that empowers areas like ours.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:20:15 PM
Kenny - there's no doubt that Russell Brand speaks to millions of people about politics in ways that politicians either can't or won't so I was very pleased to see Ed talking with him; it was a brave thing to do in my opinion. I found David Cameron's jealousy quite interesting. On the irony - I understand the point - but Ed has brought forward proposals for a mansion tax so that the wealthiest contribute more to society (the NHS in particular). He's put his own money where his mouth is and that deserves credit.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:25:17 PM
What is the mansion tax rate going to be if Labour win the election?

by Howard 4/30/2015 1:25:19 PM
Labour say they will raise 1.2 billion from the mansion tax. That's on homes worth over 2 million. Does that rate start from 0 or after 2 million?

by G Johnson edited by andrew.clarke 4/30/2015 1:25:54 PM
Jenn - try again - I admire Ken Clarke because he's never afraid to point out the increasingly spiteful agenda of David Cameron and George Osborne or their crazy approach to the EU. I also admire Charles Walker, he's a very perceptive, able MP who has spoken about mental health issues and more and Andrew George from the Liberal Democrats for voting against Health & Social Care Act which is causing so much distress to the NHS locally and nationally.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:29:34 PM
Why did you deem it acceptable to wear an open shirt, jeans and trainers when canvassing in Mirehouse? It was very patronising.

by JK 4/30/2015 1:30:51 PM
G Johnson, the mansion tax will only apply to homes rated at £2m and above. This threshold will rise as property prices rise. This means that if you are below the threshold now, you will never, ever pay it.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:31:48 PM
Howard, the mansion tax is a progressive tax so the more expensive your property above £2m, the more you will pay. Homes between £2m-£3m in value will pay an additional £250 a month. The tax will raise £1.2billion per year according to HMRC figures. We'll be using this money for the NHS.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:34:26 PM
It's obviously going to be a hung Parliament (although you'll disagree), but would you welcome a coalition with the SNP?

by Undecided 4/30/2015 1:36:04 PM
JK - really? It was a great canvass and it was good to catch up with friends and family. If you'd like to e-mail your address I'll pop round in a top hat.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:37:05 PM
Why did you only vote 59.2% of the time when you claim to represent the people of copeland on important matters, you ranked 553rd out of 650, how can you claim you are doing a good job for copeland?

by Nick 4/30/2015 1:37:28 PM
My parents live in Keswick, why is it you never pay Keswick any attention? When Dale Campbell Saviours was MP he always made sure to include the town in his work as MP.

by Karl 4/30/2015 1:38:51 PM
Why have you refused to give support to local railway staff? We never got replies to emails and you refused to sign the EDM protecting rail staff. Do you not agree with staff keeping their jobs?

by Karl Norendal 4/30/2015 1:39:44 PM
Undecided, I can't say this often enough - no deals whatsoever with the SNP, no coalitions, nothing. I would not welcome it in any way, shape or form. It's pretty desperate of David Cameron to keep going on about this. It seems to me like he would happily put the interests of the Conservative Party over the continuation of the United Kingdom, I would never do that.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:40:08 PM
Nick, not every vote matters (sadly) and as a front-bencher living in the most inaccessible English constituency from Westminster and as a front-bencher who has to go around the country, it's impossible to attend every vote. I wish voting frequency was a measure of how MPs perform, but I'm afraid it isn't.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:42:30 PM
This education campus in Whitehaven sounds like a fantastic plan - what will you do to make sure it happens?

by Marko 4/30/2015 1:43:06 PM
Karl, Dale lived in Keswick and the constituency then was much smaller than it is now. I'm proud to represent Keswick and whether it's flood defences, affordable housing for local people, the Mary Hewetson hospital, public transport or more I have always given Keswick a lot of attention. The Copeland constituency is huge - stretching from Millom in the south to Keswick in the north.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:45:23 PM
Karl, e-mail me please but please don't think EDMs achieve anything - they don't. I get asked to sign lots of them and they've been described to me by a Clerk in the House of Commons as 'parliamentary graffiti'...I'm very happy help you with your issue in any way possible.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:48:00 PM
Jamie

Can you please explain why we in West Cumbria are used by the Health Dept. as guinea pigs in the Water fluoridation scheme

by Andrew Canavan 4/30/2015 1:48:47 PM
Marko, I've been pushing for this for years, bringing funding partners to the table and seeking every funding avenue available. In short, I'll be doing everything ensure this happens. We need a local crusade for secondary education and even after this project - which will be absolutely transformational - we will still need more investment. It's the key to the success of the town and one of my chief priorities alongside the WCH. I believe our young people can be the best and brightest in the country.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:51:11 PM
As an ardent supporter of the nuclear industry what would you say to those of your consistuents who have concerns about its expansion in your area?

by On the fence 4/30/2015 1:51:41 PM
Andrew, I don't think we are guinea pigs but I appreciate that this is an issue that concerns some people. Happy to talk with you about it.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:52:28 PM
Cumbria has previously been part of Scotland. Would it be beneficial for the county to return to a Scottish rule?

by Mister Bus 4/30/2015 1:53:13 PM
Just about five minutes of this session left....

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 1:55:27 PM
On the fence, I'd like to listen to those concerns and understand them but the NuGen investment is the biggest private sector investment we've ever seen, will help us to become one of the fastest growing local economies anywhere in the UK and will be transformational in so many other ways: transport, housing, public services, retail environment and more. Fundamentally, it also helps us to meet our climate change goals and rebalance the UK economy.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:56:15 PM
I'm apathetic to politics and politicians. Convince me to vote - and THEN convince me to vote for you.

by Apathetic 4/30/2015 1:56:43 PM
Mister Bus, as you can tell from my name, I'm from an Anglo-Scottish family (we used to call it 'British') but it wouldn't be beneficial. What will be hugely beneficial is Labour's plans for English Devolution, retained business rates, and my plan for local growth.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:58:13 PM
Apathetic, no vote, no voice. Politicians don't achieve change, people achieve change through politicians. Go to jamiereed.net to find out more, or please e-mail me directly.

by Jamie Reed 4/30/2015 1:59:27 PM
And that is 3pm and the end of the hour-long webchat.

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 2:01:28 PM
Thank you to everyone who submitted questions. Sorry we couldn't get through them all - we were swamped!
Thanks as well to Jamie for taking part!

by Ian, News & Star 4/30/2015 2:11:22 PM