Jamie Reed
Jamie Reed | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Copeland | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Cunningham |
| Majority | 3,833 (9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 August 1973 Whitehaven, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Manchester Metropolitan University |
Jamieson Ronald Reed (born 4 August 1973) is a British Labour politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Copeland in Cumbria since 2005, replacing Copeland's long-serving former MP Jack Cunningham (now Lord Cunningham of Felling).
Early life
Reed was born in Whitehaven. He attended Whitehaven School and Manchester Metropolitan University. Before election as an MP he worked as a Press Officer at Sellafield, a former nuclear power station and nuclear waste reprocessing installation, in his constituency, and had served on Copeland Borough Council.
Parliamentary career
In his maiden speech, Reed declared himself to be a Jedi in the debate over "Racial and Religious Hatred Bill" under consideration in Parliament. His comment was intended to be taken ironically and raise the issue of how the Bill would define what was and wasn't a religion.
Jamie Reed has also referred to himself as a "good Methodist" in parliamentary debate:[1]
As a good Methodist, I shall refuse the opportunity to bet. My hon. Friend mentioned the economic estimates done by a German economist on the amount of money spent on nuclear technology and nuclear research and development. Are we talking principally about the civil nuclear sector? Is the military nuclear sector also included? He also mentioned the IAEA. It does not exist to promote the nuclear industry; it exists to give it some kind of international regulatory framework.
Reed is well known for his support of the nuclear industry. Sellafield is in Copeland and the nuclear industry is the main employer in the area. He has frequently referred to the "17,000 individual interests" that he has in the future of the nuclear industry.[2][3][4]
Having previously served on the frontbench as a Shadow Environment Minister, since October 2011, he has served as one of Labour's Shadow Health Ministers, under Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham. Reed shadows the portfolio of Parliamentary-Under-Secretary for Health, Earl Howe.
Reed famously helped out his party leader, Ed Miliband, who declared he felt "respect" on seeing a white van, following Emily Thornberry's "White Van Gate" tweet prior to the Rochester and Strood by-election, 2014 result,[5] stating during PMQs: "When I see a white van, I wonder whether it's my father or my brother who is driving".[6]
On 12th September 2015 he resigned as shadow Health Minister following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour party while Corbyn was still giving his acceptance speech, which led to thousands of people googling his name to find out who he was.[7]
References
- ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (2008-01-22). "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 22 Jan 2008 (pt 0016)". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Energy Security and Nuclear Non-Proliferation: 1 Jul 2009: Westminster Hall debates". TheyWorkForYou. 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^ "Energy Bill: 22 Jan 2008: House of Commons debates". TheyWorkForYou. 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^ "[Frank Cook in the Chair] — Nuclear Industry: 19 Apr 2007: Westminster Hall debates". TheyWorkForYou. 2006-07-10. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^ www.bbc.co.uk
- ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 26 Nov 2014 (pt 0001)". parliament.uk.
- ^ "Jamie Reed on Twitter". Retrieved 2015-09-12.