Jamie Reed
 Jamie Reed       (politician) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1973-08-04 Whitehaven, Cumbria, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Party | Labour |
Jamie Reed is the former Blairite MP for Copeland. From 2011 until May 2015 Reed was also the shadow minister for health. [1] In December 2016, Reed stepped down as an MP to take a job working at the Sellafield nuclear power plant. [2] Chancellor Philip Hammond appointed Jamie Reed to be Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead on 23 January 2017, signalling that the by-election would take place a month later.[3][4]
Contents
Background
He was appointed MP for the Copeland Constituency in 2005, after the retirement of the vehemently pro-nuclear incumbent Jack Cunningham. Copeland is the local constituency for the controversial Sellafield plant so it is hardly surprising that its MPs are the strongest pro-nuclear proponents there are.
He is also a local to the area. Born in Whitehaven, he was educated at Whitehaven School before studying at Manchester Metropolitan University and then Leicester University where he completed an MA in Mass Communications[5].
A Nuclear Spindoctor
Reed then put his spindoctor skills to good use by becoming BNFL's press-officer for four years. During his time there he defended the company's radioactive discharges into the sea, and BNFL's "terrifying loopholes in security" at the Sellafield site exposed by the media just weeeks after the September 11th terrorist attacks in America. [6][7]
Reed was not the only pro-nuclear spin doctor chosen by Labour to represent the Copeland seat. The public relations in-house magazine PR Week wrote a story on the Labour selection process to replace Cunningham: "Stuart Bruce of Bruce Marshall Associates informs us he was one of four people on an all-PR shortlist alongside Bell Pottinger board director and former special adviser to Cunningham, Tim Walker, and Thomas Docherty, another BNFL PR man. What this can mean for the re-elected Labour government's commitment to pump billions into a raft of new nuclear power stations, we couldn't possibly say".[8]
A Nuclear MP
On election Reed said that one of his major tasks was to fight for a new generation of nuclear plants in the UK.[9] Reed has long lobbied officials in Whitehall over what he calls the "compelling case for nuclear". In November 2005 he told his local paper: "The evidence in support of a UK nuclear renaissance is growing week by week." [10]
In his record in the UK Parliament Register of Interests, Reed records a "Donation to my constituency party received from GMB trade union".[11] The GMB Union is pro-nuclear.
Both the GMB and Reed welcomed Tony Blair's review of energy and the possible resumption of nuclear power. Peter Kane from the GMB said: "This is a major step forward not only with regard to the possible employment opportunity within the industry but also to the government's commitment on reducing carbon emissions." [12]
Reed said that he also welcomed "the Prime Minister's bold and necessary leadership on what will be a contentious issue. Britain pioneered nuclear generation as a world leader and Calder Hall - the world's first commercial scale nuclear station - is in my constituency. Britain is still a world leader in the field of nuclear technology, and we have one of the most skilled, committed, safe workforces within any industry anywhere in the world. This must be built upon, not allowed to wither."[13]
Contracts for difference
In 2012 when Secretary of State Ed Davey outlined proposed policies such as 'contracts for difference', designed to attract investors for Britain's much-needed £110bn of new investment, Reed said:
- “I hope this will now bring forward the necessary investments in nuclear from the market as I believe it will. “After working closely with potential nuclear investors for many years, they’ve always made it clear that they required this kind of operating framework. “We need nuclear generation not only in order to be able to meet our carbon emission targets but to better secure our national energy supplies as well. “Crucially, new nuclear investments will also help re-balance our economy nationally but more so locally. “These investments are absolutely key to West Cumbria’s future". [14]
Quit being an MP for a job in the nuclear industry
In December 2016, Reed resigned as the MP for Copeland, therby triggering a by-election. On his resignation, Reed said he believed he could achieve more for his community working as head of development and community relations for the nuclear processing site Sellafield. Sellafield’s chief executive, Paul Foster, said he was an 'outstanding candidate' for the position.
Reed said he would not be a 'propagandist' for the nuclear industry, but the new job represented an opportunity to help the local economy. He added:
- 'I would totally anticipate people being cynical about any politician leaving politics to take up a job elsewhere. It’s not an ordinary or usual thing to see, so I do accept that.' [15]
References
- ↑ Mr Jamie Reed MP www.parliament.uk, accessed 18 May 2015
- ↑ Peter Dominiczak and Laura Hughes, Labour MP Jamie Reed quits sparking Copeland by-election, The Telegraph, 21 December 2016, accessed 21 December 2016.
- ↑ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/manor-of-northstead-jamie-reed
- ↑ "Copeland by-election: Is a 'once in a blue moon' result on the cards?"
- ↑ http://www.copelandbc.gov.uk/main.asp?page=936 Home Page
- ↑ Nucleonics Week, 2003, "Progress in Reducing Discharges under Debate at Ospar Meeting", 26 June, Vol 25, p12.
- ↑ P.McMullan (2001) "Our Reporter Exposes A Scandalous Lack Of Security Checks At The Nuclear Plant Classed As A Prime Target For Sabotage; Terror Risk At Sellafield", Sunday Express, 2 December, p17.
- ↑ PR Week (2005) Labour Candidate Emerges And Wins, 20 May, p48.
- ↑ Nuclear News, 2005, A Sellafield Press Officer was Elected Member of Parliament, July, p46.
- ↑ Whitehaven News
- ↑ UK Parliament Register of Interests
- ↑ Atomic Insights
- ↑ Atomic Insights
- ↑ North West Evening Mail, Nuclear investments key to area’s future prosperity, claims MP Reed, Tuesday, 29 May 2012
- ↑ Helen Pidd and Jessica Elgot, Corbyn critic quits as Labour MP, triggering tight byelection race, The Guardian 21 December 2016, accessed 21 December 2016.
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