Lincoln MP Karen Lee has said that some of the city’s biggest employers decried the threat of a no deal Brexit, and that Prime Minster Boris Johnson had put hundreds of jobs at risk by ‘trying to force it through by default’.
The Lincolnite spoke to the Labour MP on Friday, September 6, as the House of Lords passed the Benn bill, designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit on October 31.
It will become law as soon as it gets royal assent, which should happen on Monday, and will force the PM to extend the deadline beyond October 31, if no deal is agreed by October 19.
There’s no guarantee however that no-deal will be off the table completely by an extended deadline.
Photo: The Lincolnite
In the meantime, MPs will be asked again to back a general election in mid October.
“I think the Prime Minister is trying to assert his will in a very undemocratic way. I think the fact he has expelled 21 of his own MPs and shut parliament down tells you there is something very wrong there”, said Karen Lee, acknowledging the confusing state of politics in the UK.
“There will be a general election, it’s just when. If Labour were to agree to an election now and then parliament close for the pre-election period, Mr Johnson could then get his no deal through by default, and we’re not going to let that happen.
“Boris Johnson simply cannot be trusted.”
Karen said a number of local businesses had told her a no deal Brexit would hit them and their staff hard: “I really am going out to local businesses and I have been challenged to name them.
“I have been out to Dawsons, Dynex, Bifrangi, Siemens, Lindum and this morning I have been to Micromentric on Doddington Road. No one wants a no deal Brexit. They are all saying it would hit us in Lincoln and it would cost us jobs. I also have proof.”
“I keep being reminded that 56.9% of the people voted to leave”, she added, “but I don’t just represent the leavers because they won the argument. I represent everybody. I have to look at the argument in the round and think what is best for Lincoln.”
“It would affect jobs. There has been talk about job shortages, shortages of jobs, shortages of medicines. There has not been enough preparation. No deal is just not acceptable. When business people tell me it will harm their businesses, I believe them.”
Karen Lee told The Lincolnite she would back a second referendum, a position she admitted was a change of position from a previous interview, but she could not say if she would campaign for Remain.
“I think we would have to go back and put it to the people with a number of options, including leave and including the choice to remain. But it couldn’t be the way that it was, just the binary question.
“None of us know what’s going to happen now. My understanding is that we would finish on Tuesday. We’re now told that we’re going to be there all week until Thursday.”
Your questions
We also put a number of readers’ questions to the Lincoln MP:
What have you achieved since you became an MP?
“In the last year we handled 4,000 pieces of casework. I have been a really hardworking MP. I have stood up in the chamber and talked about a whole range of issues. As well as that, I am the lowest spending MP in Lincolnshire, which I think people would find a welcome change.
“I think Lincoln would have suffered far more from what the government is doing if I hadn’t been there to question some of it.
“Would a Conservative MP have stood up and said “you shouldn’t be closing the walk-in-centre’? I helped people fight. It’s hard as an opposition MP to change things, but it’s having that voice, and it’s standing up and saying ‘no, that’s not right’.
What are you doing about the Skellingthorpe GP closure?
“Some 80 people turned up to the Skellingthorpe drop in I hosted. The problem is they don’t have enough staff. I understand why it’s closing but I am against it is closing. The Conservative government should have been on top of this.
I am holding another drop in with the CCG on September 18.”
Any news on the Red Arrows?
“Every time I try to chase it up they say no decision has been made and we will let you know when we have.
“There’s a bit in the bottom of my heart that makes me think we are going to lose them.
“I would like to keep them, but they’ve not given a straight answer. I have tried and tried, but I get no straight answers.”
Spotted an error? Please notify us by selecting that text and pressing Ctrl+Enter.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
Taxpayers could face higher costs as the council leader says it is ‘morally right’ that taxes are raised to pay for care.
North Lincolnshire Council’s finances are in a better position than most local authorities, cabinet was told – but there could still need to be tax increases.
The council is legally allowed to raise council tax by up to two per cent this year.
Adult social care tax could go up by one per cent, with an extra one per cent that wasn’t used last year.
The next budget will be agreed at full council in February and come into effect from April.
Council leader Rob Waltham suggested to cabinet that an increase could be planned for adult social care.
“It’s morally right that we pay more tax to support older people in our communities,” he said.
“We have a duty to support people who need it, whether they are children, in the middle of their life or elderly.”
The care sector has seen national shortages during the pandemic, leading to rising costs for local authorities.
Labour Councillor Lorraine Yeadon asked for assurances that care service quality and the number of staff would be at least as high as before the pandemic.
She was told that residents would receive the support they needed.
Each one per cent of rate increase will raise an extra £800,000 in revenue.
Councillor Elaine Marper, the portfolio holder for finance and governance, said North Lincolnshire Council expects to submit a balanced budget for the next financial year.
“These are difficult and unprecedented times, but North Lincolnshire has really held it together. There have been a few jitters in other local authorities, but we were in a good position to start with,” she said.
“Despite the extra cost of adult social care, we have worked to find better ways, working closely with the NHS.
“Borrowing is also expected to remain low.
“We have managed to maximise outcomes in difficult circumstances, leading to the recovery and renewal of North Lincolnshire.”
A Cleethorpes club which wants to play music until the early hours would be a public nuisance, say residents.
Cleethorpes Social Club has applied for a music and sporting events licence from 11pm to 2.30am ahead of its reopening.
The Grimsby Road premises, which is currently closed, also wants permission to serve alcohol until just before closing at 3am, seven days a week.
Local residents concerned about late-night noise have signed a petition against the plans, and Neighbourhood Watch have described the plans as ‘unacceptable’.
The objections mean that the application will go to North East Lincolnshire Council’s licence committee to decide.
Councillor Debbie Rodwell said: “The last time this club was open there was noise disturbance which affected the residents of the area and this is the residents’ concern again.
“We have been presented with a petition signed by many of the residents who are concerned about music all day and parking problems.”
Councillor Marie Green, who also objected, said: “This property has only a narrow alley between it and the closest house in a row of terraced homes.
“Given the close proximity to homes, all licensed activities should conclude no later than 11.30pm.”
A representative of the local Neighbourhood Watch said: “This is a residential area of terrace house with older people and young families in which the noise would be unacceptable. In the summer with the windows open, you would have the noise all night.”
Former councillor Hazel Chase objected, saying: “Although used as a private club in years gone by, the opening hours were not as lengthy as those now requested and the previous owner worked well with the community in which it sits. This venue is right in the middle of a residential area and such opening times together with live music is not acceptable.”
The club’s application says most of the noise will take place in the front room, reducing impact on surrounding properties.
The licence hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 1.
A three-bedroom self-built ultra-modern home in Skegness with energy efficiency and new technology at the heart of the concept has been listed on the market for £1 million.
Five Aces Crescent in Skegness has been listed by nationwide estate agents Strike at a guide price of £1 million, and you get plenty of bang for your buck. See the full listing on Strike’s website here.
The large open plan design of the home is the brainchild of the original owner of the self-built home, offering underfloor heating throughout the upstairs and downstairs of the property, as well as in the triple garage.
The kitchen comes with a wifi enabled oven and coffee machine, complete with two warming drawers, a large induction hob and a drop-down extractor with a glass surround.
The property has an enclosed garden space on a five-house gated community. | Photo: Strike
If that wasn’t enough, the main sink has a four tap function, offering hot, cold, boiling and filtered water, while the second prep sink has a waste disposal unit.
As well as this, the property offers full house coverage with CCTV and alarm systems and smart light switches in all rooms, all powered by a central media centre within the snug lounge.
The snug itself comes with a twist, as the room converts into a full Dolby atmosphere cinema room thanks to a drop-down projector and separate screen.
Let’s take a closer look inside:
The colour scheme is apparent throughout, with lots of glass and white consistent with the furniture and layout. | Photo: Strike
A lovely view of your garden space when looking out from the kitchen. | Photo: Strike
The infamous snug room, which moonlights as a power control centre and even a hidden home cinema. | Photo: Strike
Huge storage space and integrated appliances. | Photo: Strike
Nothing quite like your own home gym. | Photo: Strike
The living room overlooks the fully open plan kitchen and dining area. | Photo: Strike
A wonderful place to enjoy the sun from indoors. | Photo: Strike
The self-build layout is striking and offers natural light everywhere you look. | Photo: Strike
The master bedroom, one of five sleeping areas in the house. | Photo: Strike
Even the bathtub comes with a unique backdrop. | Photo: Strike
Integrated features in one of the home’s five bathroom spaces. | Photo: Strike
The property even comes with its own office space. | Photo: Strike
A look at another of the bathrooms at Five Acres Crescent. | Photo: Strike
Whatsapp
