Lincolnshire MPs react to PM’s call for general election on June 8
Lincolnshire MPs have been reacting to the news that Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election for June 8. The surprise announcement was made by the prime minister outside Downing Street on April 18. Theresa May has repeatedly made clear in the past her desire to not hold a…
Theresa May on her visit to Lincoln in 2015. Photo: Steve Smailes/Lincolnshire Reporter
Lincolnshire MPs have been reacting to the news that Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to call a snap general election for June 8.
The surprise announcement was made by the prime minister outside Downing Street on April 18.
Theresa May has repeatedly made clear in the past her desire to not hold a general election before 2020.
However, she claimed that opposition parties in Westminster were putting Brexit at risk of jeopardy.
She said: “We need a general election and we need one now.
“I have only recently and reluctantly come to this conclusion but now I have concluded it is the only way to guarantee certainty for the years ahead.”
Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act introduced by her predecessor David Cameron, the PM is unable call an election directly, but she said she would lay down a motion in the House of Commons that would require two thirds of MPs to back it.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said that he welcomes the snap election.
Sir Edward Leigh – Gainsborough
Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
“I’m delighted to have this opportunity to go back to my constituents and seek a mandate to deliver the PM’s vision for Brexit.
“I look forward to getting out and about in the constituency and securing my reelection.”
Martin Vickers – Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
“I fully support the PM’s decision. A convincing Conservative victory will strengthen our hand in the Brexit negotiations.
“The election will also be a vote of confidence in the government’s handling of the economy – an area of policy that the Labour Party have no realistic, coherent alternatives and a woeful record of failure still fresh in the minds of voters.
“Also when people look at the party leaders Theresa May stands head and shoulders above Jeremy Corbyn.”
Matt Warman – Boston and Skegness
Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman. Photo: Lincolnshire Reporter
“I support the call for the general election and the opportunity to give the prime minister the ringing endorsement she richly deserves.
“What we need to do is deliver a strong, stable Conservative government led by Theresa May, which will enable us to have the best possible government for the Brexit process and the best government as a whole for the country.”
Grantham and Stamford – Nick Boles
Nick Boles, Conservative MP for Grantham and Stamford. Photo: Policy Exchange
“I fully support Theresa May’s decision to hold an election, and I think that it is right to secure that mandate from the country as we head in to the Brexit negotiations.
“On a personal level I will be talking over the coming days to family and colleagues to make a decision, which I will announce in due course.”
Karl McCartney – Lincoln
Theresa May with Lincoln MP Karl McCartney Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
“I am delighted that the prime minister has shown strong leadership in calling a general election in June this year.
“It gives the people of the city of Lincoln the opportunity to choose a Conservative government that will deliver a successful Brexit, continue with improving the quality of life for everyone in Lincoln and continue with its investment plans for our city and county – just has it has done since I was first elected in 2010.
“The choice is clear – between a Conservative government and Member of Parliament that wants people, businesses and organisations in the city of Lincoln to succeed, and a Labour Party who have repeatedly said they will do all they can to frustrate Brexit and put jobs and livelihoods at risk, both locally and across our country.”
Melanie Onn – Great Grimsby
Great Grimsby MP Melanie Onn
“I will be standing to continue as Member of Parliament for my hometown, Great Grimsby.
“It has been a privilege to represent the town I was born and raised in, and I have spent the last two years standing up for Great Grimsby in Westminster, putting the town back on the map and making sure that people listen to us again.
“Whether it’s meant working with the prime minister to protect local jobs, speaking up for the fishing and renewables industry, or fighting against the Conservative government’s cuts to schools and hospitals, I have always made Great Grimsby’s voice heard in Parliament.
“Theresa May has said since becoming Prime Minister that calling an election in the middle of the Brexit negotiations would be a distraction from getting the best deal for Britain, putting her party before the country.
“Calling this election now shows that she cannot rely on her own party to back her on the key issues.
“I am standing again to ensure that we get the best Brexit deal for Grimsby. I accepted the result of the referendum, heard what people in Grimsby were saying during the campaign, and voted in parliament to trigger Article 50.
“My focus since June 23 has been to protect workers’ rights from the right-wing Tories who want to see them cut; secure local jobs which rely on market access to Europe; and holding the government to the promises they made to the NHS and fishing industry during last year’s campaign.
“I am hopeful the voters of Great Grimsby will choose me on their ballot papers again and allow me to continue standing up for Great Grimsby in Parliament.”
Caroline Johnson – Sleaford and North Hykeham
Sleaford and North Hykeham MP, Caroline Johnson. Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter
“We need this election now to secure the strong leadership that this country needs to see us through the Brexit process, and beyond.
“The division in Westminster caused by the other parties, coupled with the government’s small majority, risks weakening our hand in our negotiations with Europe.
“This election gives us the opportunity to bring stability and certainty for a full five years. The choice is a stark one – the strong and competent leadership of Theresa May, or the weak and unstable Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn.
“I am looking forward to getting back out on the doorsteps to continue my conversation with local people about what they want to see from Brexit and from a government working in their interests.”
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A third man has been arrested in a police investigation into explosive chemical substances found and destroyed in the Sturton by Stow village near Lincoln.
Searches continued at the property on Queensway on Thursday, as well as neighbouring areas, including waterways with an Underwater Search Unit.
This comes after residents were evacuated on Wednesday evening, and two people arrested on Tuesday, June 22, over handling stolen goods.
A Tactical Support Team from Lincolnshire Police also attended the scene. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The chemical substances were destroyed in a controlled explosion near the village on Wednesday too.
The third arrest is a man aged 30, on suspicion of handling stolen goods and possession of explosive substances. He remains in police custody.
An application to extend the detention of the two men arrested yesterday has been granted at Lincoln Magistrates Court this morning.
An Underwater Search Unit at the scene in Sturton by Stow. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Officers remain in the area and the investigation continues.
Lincolnshire Police said: “There is no risk to anyone in the area.
“We appreciate the local community will have seen a police presence and encourage anyone who has concerns to speak to their local officers.”
People in Lincolnshire are calling for more mental health support after a woman was involved in a crash with a bus in Lincoln on Wednesday afternoon, the latest in a string of tragic incidents in the city.
A woman in her 20s was hit by a bus on Moorland Avenue, which Lincolnshire Police were called to shortly after 3.30pm on June 23. Luckily, her injuries were minor, police said.
Paramedics attended the scene and the woman was taken by ambulance to Lincoln County Hospital.
An eyewitnesses commented on The Lincolnite. She described the woman as ‘clearly unhappy’, and helped her at the scene.
She said: “At the end of day this lady was clearly unhappy. She was clearly unhappy, but I feel for the bus driver and the people who saw it happen. I am glad I supported and helped her, I just wish I’d known who she was.”
Another person said: “Mental health is getting more serious now especially with the pandemic. We need more support for those with mental health and (who) should have got the support straight away at the beginning of this pandemic. I myself have struggled, but luckily I’m still here and so is this young woman.”
This comes after multiple mental-health related incidents in Lincoln this month, including a man found dead outside the Lucy Tower multi-storey car park and another male dying after being hit by a train near the level crossing bridge on the High Street.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: “We can confirm that one of our buses was involved in an incident yesterday (Wednesday) where a person was injured. Our first thoughts are with the woman who was injured.
“We will be carrying out a full investigation into the circumstances of the incident and will support the police and emergency services in any way we can.”
A spokesperson for EMAS said: “We received a call at 3.30pm to Moorland Avenue in Lincoln. The caller reported that there had been a road traffic collision.
“We sent a medical first responder, a paramedic in a fast response car and a double-crewed ambulance. The air ambulance was also in attendance. One patient was taken to Lincoln County Hospital via double-crewed ambulance.”
A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “A woman in her 20s had been involved in a collision with a bus. Paramedics attended the scene and she was taken to hospital for further treatment. Her injuries are thought to be minor.”
The hop-on hop-off open top tour bus will return to the city to launch alongside the Lincoln IMP Trail in July.
The newly livered bus will run between Saturday, July 3 and September 30, 2021. It will depart hourly from 10.30am until 3.30pm so visitors can get on and off at any of the stops and as many times as they want.
Lincoln’s 2,000 year history will be brought to life with live commentary from tour guides on the bus, from which people can find out about the Magna Carta, the iconic castle and cathedral, Roman Lincoln, Aviation Heritage and much more.
Representatives from Lincoln BIG, Stagecoach and the tour guides. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The first tour of the day is at 10.30am from Lincoln Cathedral (West Front) and the last one departs at 3.30pm. The tour lasts for just under an hour, with stops including Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Brayford Waterfront and the High Street.
Tickets for the bus can be purchased on the day from the Visitor Information Centre on Castle Square or from the driver. They are valid for two days (the day of purchase and the following day when the service is running).
Tickets for adults (over 16) are priced at £12, with children under 16 free. Student tickets are priced at £10, while groups of 10 or more can get a 10% discount
The bus can also be hired privately and tours can be customised to its start, finish and duration.
Lincoln Cathedral is among the stops for the Tour Bus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincoln Imp Trail will also launch on July 3. Thirty imps, designed by national and local artists, will be on display throughout the city of Lincoln, while one imp will be at the Hildreds Centre in Skegness – check out where to find them here.
Visitors can get on and off at any of the stops and as many times as they want. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Enjoying being back on the Tour Bus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
There are also five community Imps, including Wind who was adopted by The Lincolnite, and is arguably the most experienced traveller of the group.
There will also be a wide variety of Education Trail Imps, decorated by schools across Lincolnshire, and five community ‘roaming’ imps that move among shops in Lincoln.
The Tour Bus will be back from Saturday, July 3. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite Editor Daniel Ionescu and his adopted Imp Wind were among the passengers on the relaunched Tour Bus. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincolnshire will be playing its part in the NHS ‘big weekend’ of vaccine-related activity to encourage people to get vaccinated and meet the aim of offering everyone aged 18 or over a jab by July 19.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, who is England’s deputy chief medical officer, was chased by Geza Tarjanyi, while entering the Ministry of Defence building on Tuesday.
Lincolnshire’s coronavirus cases up to June 24.
Nationally, MPs have been looking at whether to exempt travellers from amber countries from quarantine if they are fully vaccinated.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there was a “real opportunity” to open up foreign travel, and also did not rule out a summer holiday abroad this year.
Data nationally continues to suggest case numbers are rising as people continue to look to the exit date of July 19 for coronavirus restrictions.
Public Health England’s latest surveillance report said that the North-west England has the highest rate, with 238.9 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to 20 June.
Meanwhile Eastern England has the lowest rate at 46.9, but that is up from 37.4.
The latest data from the Office of National Statistics up to June 23 suggests the UK currently has one of the highest infection rates in Europe, with the reason mainly being put down to the Delta variant.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, June 24
62,375 cases (up 177)
42,987 in Lincolnshire (up 78)
9,937 in North Lincolnshire (up 25)
9,451 in North East Lincolnshire (up 74)
2,195 deaths (no change)
1,622 from Lincolnshire (no change)
302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
271 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,313 hospital deaths (no change)
816 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
42 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
454 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,684,572 UK cases, 128,048 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.
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