July 24, 2017 3.25 pm This story is over 80 months old

Five things we learnt: Second interview with Lincoln MP Karen Lee

Lincoln MP Karen Lee visited The Lincolnite‘s news room on the morning of Monday, July 24 to talk about her first weeks in the role. Watch the interview below: Karen answered a number of readers’ questions on subjects such as the possible closure of the city’s walk-in-centre, ongoing debates with Veolia over a proposed waste transfer…
Lincoln MP Karen Lee

Lincoln MP Karen Lee visited The Lincolnite‘s news room on the morning of Monday, July 24 to talk about her first weeks in the role.

Watch the interview below:

Karen answered a number of readers’ questions on subjects such as the possible closure of the city’s walk-in-centre, ongoing debates with Veolia over a proposed waste transfer site in the city and how she will represent her constituents through Brexit negotiations.

Here’s a breakdown of the top five takeaways from the interview:

  1. After the first weeks establishing her office and duties, Karen said the atmosphere in the Labour HQ was ‘very positive’ and that she feels the party would win in a future general election. She said she was proud to have been selected as PSS to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, and that she would be interested in striving for a ministerial position in the future.
  2. Karen will join a number of local Labour councillors to meet with Veolia this evening, who last week announced they would be appealing Lincolnshire County Council’s decision to refuse a waste transfer site in place of their current operations on Long Leys Road. She added that her views had not changed since she joined opposition to the plans the first time around and that the site is ‘not the place’ for the development. She also backed calls for a public meeting with residents.
  3. On the subject of the possible closure of the Lincoln Walk-In-Centre, Karen said she would not be making her stance public before she has seen the results of the consultation. She added however that of the hundreds of responses that have come her way ‘not one’ was supportive of the proposals. She will meet with Lincolnshire West CCG on Wednesday to discuss concerns.
  4. As a key campaign and maiden speech pledge, Karen will be discussing her vision for a medical school in Lincolnshire with the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lincoln Mary Stewart.
  5. She added that she would finally be stepping down from her role as city councillor and that a by-election for the Carholme ward of the city would be announced ‘in due course’.