Lee Sherriff

Live, one-hour webchat with Lee Sherriff, the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Carlisle

3rd & 7 37yd

Alan Simpson - No

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:05:51 PM
Who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman?

by Walter 4/20/2015 2:05:54 PM
What are your thoughts on female bishops? Surely it's time for equality?

by Ted Crilly 4/20/2015 2:07:28 PM
Ken - We need to push for better infrastructure which in turn will bring investment. We need to make sure Carlisle gets its fair share of what is out there. It is working with everybody, including local authorities, LEP, MEPs and Govt depts to make sure we fight for everything we can get for Carlisle.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:07:38 PM
Walter - Wonder Woman!

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:08:02 PM
Ted - Yes. Always equality.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:08:27 PM
Hi Lee - Think you might have missed my question on self-employed people. What will you/Labour do to improve life for the self-employed?

by David 4/20/2015 2:08:40 PM
Lee, The word 'Fair' can mean anything! The idea of 3 year tenancies sounds easy but in practice could only be made to work if landlords were forced to offer them. The present private rental system works well for Carlisle. There is a regular supply of good quality and value private properties. Why go along with petty, dogmatic interfering legislation just because London and South East rents are crazy? Why try to fix something that ain't broke?

by Keith 4/20/2015 2:08:53 PM
Why did labour dismantle all the children's play area's in Carlisle, and force the kids back on to the streets

by Kane 4/20/2015 2:10:09 PM
David - Cut and freeze small business rates; tackle late payments from larger businesses and ensure they compensate adequately. We are also, for the first year, going to give tax incentives for paying workers the living wage. It depends on what capacity you are self-employed. Some people are compelled to be classed as self employed so creating better paid and more jobs will help with that situation.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:12:26 PM
You election leaflet, had some personal 'unbiased' endorsements from local people such as Jo (the ex libdem) Hannah (the student) and Mike. Yet Jo is the labour candidate for Harraby, Hannah works on your campaign and Mike is a Labour Party member.

Could you find no -one who had no links to the Labour Party to endorse you on your leaflet. A bit naughty to try to deceive people that way.

by Kevin P 4/20/2015 2:13:04 PM
Keith - Carlisle does have its share of unscrupulous landlords as well as decent ones. It is about creating a fair rental system that works for everybody and gives stability.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:13:17 PM
Hi Lee, as a governor of a local school do you think it right a young girl at Trinity has her education jeopardised due to being excluded for having her hair coloured? Is it right that the management of Trinity can victimise their own pupils?

by Martin 4/20/2015 2:14:42 PM
What are your thoughts on HS2 and should it come even further north to Cumbria?

by Nevil Sprout 4/20/2015 2:16:29 PM
Kane - The money was taken out to maintain equipment by the previous Tory/Lib Dem administration in 2010. The removal of the ongoing maintenance in that time meant some of the equipment was no longer fit for purpose and potentially dangerous. The council did a study to make sure every child had a safe play area within walking distance of their house and we replaced equipment that needed to be replaced. Since then investment has been put into play areas such as Dale End Road, work is about to start in Melbourne Park. And the council has offered to work with any community groups that want to take over and create their own park as happened at Belle Vue with Cara's Park a few years ago.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:16:41 PM
Kevin - They are all still voters.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:17:18 PM
Martin - It is an individual case. It is not appropriate for me to comment on.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:17:50 PM
Hi Lee, As someone who is wanting to join the ambulance service, what are your plans to improve performance and working conditions / benefits for what is an essential front line service? Moral is very low in the Cumbrian ambulance service currently as nobody seems to have an answer to the problems a & e staff are increasingly facing?

by Liam E 4/20/2015 2:17:58 PM
Nevil - The concern locally is the train services we have, we need improvements, especially on the Newcastle line and we need to focus on those. We need to remind London that the north does not stop at Newcastle, Manchester or Leeds. In my opinion, if it is coming at all, HS2 should come to Cumbria and stop at Carlisle.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:20:09 PM
On your leaflets Lee, you talk about banning zero hours contracts, but the papers say loads of MPs and labour councils have people on zero hours contracts. how many people does carlisle council have on zero hours? Thats controlled by labour isnt it?

by Tony T 4/20/2015 2:20:10 PM
Hello Lee,
if you are an MP how would you feel walking into vote and being told what to do by the SNP.

And if you aren't elected on May 7th what are your plans?

by Colin 4/20/2015 2:20:50 PM
Liam - I would support the work that unions do to improve conditions and pay and would encourage negotiations to get the best deal for those working in an essential service.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:22:26 PM
Tony - None. All Carlisle CIty Council employees are paid the living wage.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:23:22 PM
Colin - That's not going to happen! Probably take a day off then go back to work.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:24:26 PM
Is it not sad that we never see milk men on milk floats anymore?

by Dougal McGuire 4/20/2015 2:24:27 PM
Give us one big incentive to vote for you

by Nobby 4/20/2015 2:24:40 PM
Do you think we should have more buses in Carlisle?

by Edie McCredie 4/20/2015 2:26:04 PM
John - I answered that earlier. It would be impossible to include every minority group in that but women are 50% of the population, which is not a minority group.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:26:15 PM
If I'm honest Lee all I ever hear you bang on about is Bedroom Tax this, zero hours that, it all just gets so repetitive The majority of Carlisle isn't on either, why do you never do anything to speak to them. They exist you know.

by Carole 4/20/2015 2:26:50 PM
Dougal - Yes. It is always good to buy local.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:27:10 PM
Lee, it also has it's 'share' of irresponsible tenants! When politicians interfere with a functioning market it usually ends in tears. I myself am a long time labour voter, I first voted for Harold Wilson in 1970, and like many of my generation worked hard, never claimed a benefit except child allowance and pension, and now own several properties in the town which I rent out to supplement a pension. There are a lot of thoughtful, potential labour voters out there Lee who aren't on minimum wage, zero hour contract, the usual myriad of benefits and who own their own homes after a lifetime of hard work to clear a mortgage.

by Keith 4/20/2015 2:27:17 PM
Would you back calls for an elected head of state, or do you support the hereditary principle remaining part of Britain's constitution?

by JJ 4/20/2015 2:28:13 PM
Carole - I am out four times a day, seven days a week. I hear people telling me I am the only candidate they have had knocking on their door! We talk about a lot of issues.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:28:18 PM
Should the uk be greener?

by Alan Simpson 4/20/2015 2:29:17 PM
Are you going to win?

by Pat Mustard 4/20/2015 2:30:15 PM
JJ - I would like to see a reform of the House of Lords but I would not like to see our politics become more like the US system.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:30:20 PM
Alan - Yes it should. I believe under a Labour govt it will be.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:31:00 PM
Last quick question - is there a poster of you in Lancaster then?

by peter 4/20/2015 2:31:12 PM
Pat - That is up to the people of Carlisle.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:31:25 PM
Peter - Not to my knowledge!

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:31:53 PM
Right, thank you all for the questions. That is the end of my hour.

by Ian, News & Star 4/20/2015 2:32:27 PM
Thanks all. A very busy hour - and many thanks to Lee for taking part.

by anne.pickles 4/20/2015 2:33:42 PM
All wound up now. More web chats soon - see the website for details. Anne Pickles.

by anne.pickles 4/20/2015 2:34:45 PM