Karen Lee

By Karen Lee KarenLee

As Lincoln’s MP, I have spent a huge amount of time over the past weeks and months focusing on Brexit. As a result, other issues which my constituents seek help with are being ignored by this government, such as cuts to sickness and disability benefits, problems with inadequate housing, issues accessing healthcare, and many more social issues I’m approached about day in and day out.

I have opposed Theresa May’s deal because it won’t protect jobs, workplace rights or environmental standards. It won’t ensure frictionless trade for UK businesses and it provides no certainty about our future relationship with the EU. It rules out a permanent customs union, which is vital to support businesses and jobs in our city.

Lincolnshire’s economy relies on the manufacturing industry, which provides over one in ten jobs in the East Midlands, for jobs and investment. 48% of manufacturers’ trade is with the EU, and businesses need a frictionless trade deal to maintain supply chains and access European markets.

The Prime Minister’s plan all along has been to run down the clock on Brexit, using the threat of no deal to bully MPs into accepting her deal. Mrs May’s deal has been voted down twice by MPs of all parties, including her own. In January the Prime Minister’s deal was resoundingly rejected by the biggest margin in UK history.

Mrs May brought her unchanged deal back to MPs on March 13 and it was again defeated by a huge margin. She has humiliated our country and made us the laughing stock of Europe. She has purposely delayed things so much that there is simply not enough time left to legislate for and deliver an orderly Brexit on March 29. 

Labour have said that we will do all we can to rule out a no deal Brexit, and we helped win a vote in Parliament to take no deal off the table. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the East Midlands’ economy is projected to lose £12 billion a year – which is more than how much we spend on all regional NHS services.

I have been appalled that the government has repeatedly threatened Lincoln and other areas in the UK with such a disastrous outcome. That’s why Labour MPs took the necessary step of voting to extend our leaving date so that we can find a way forward which works for all of our constituents.

The PM is now saying she will only ask for a short extension of Article 50 so she can keep trying to pass her deal — this will not break the current deadlock on Brexit. Her speech to the nation, where she attempted to blame MPs for her own intransigence, was a disgrace. Her attitude somehow continues to be “my way or the highway”, despite her deal being voted down twice by huge numbers. The PMs aggressive language was also irresponsible given the very real threats to personal safety MPs face, and she ought to know better.

Since being elected I have worked hard to represent the views of everyone in Lincoln, whether they voted leave or remain, and to always prioritise the best for our city. I will continue to put Lincoln first throughout the Brexit crisis that this government has needlessly created.

Karen Lee was the Labour MP for Lincoln between 2017 and 2019. She is an NHS nurse and a Labour County Councillor for the Cathedral and Ermine ward of Lincoln

By Karen Lee KarenLee

Since becoming Lincoln’s MP, I have frequently been told that Lincoln’s transport system does not work effectively for those who use it. Both residents and visitors have told me that traffic is one of the most frustrating issues both in our city centre and across Lincoln, and as someone who has lived in Lincoln all my life I have experienced the city centre gridlock at its worst!

One of my key election pledges was to work with local stakeholders to try to improve the traffic situation locally, and last year I took the lead in forming a Transport Taskforce. I’m working with organisations, including both city and county councils, local businesses, the University of Lincoln, Network Rail, Stagecoach, and cycling enthusiasts, with the aim of creating a vision of a better-connected Lincoln. But this is not just a job solely for us. I wanted to know how residents think transport in Lincoln can be improved.

I recently conducted a survey which provided my constituents in Lincoln, Skellingthorpe, Bracebridge Heath and Waddington East with a simple, user-friendly opportunity to express their opinions about local transport. I have received over 600 responses, representing all age ranges. I am currently formulating an in-depth report summarising all the responses, but the broad conclusions so far have revealed a lot about people’s attitudes to transport in Lincoln.

If you’d like a copy of my report when it is published, please contact my office.

It is clear from the survey that car travel is by far the most common way of travelling in our city, and when asked how often Lincoln residents use public transport, the highest response was ‘very rarely’. This indicates that a significant number of people are currently not engaging with the public transport options available to them. Low engagement in Lincoln could be explained by the fact that a significant majority of respondents noted concerns with the value for money and punctuality of local transport.

So how can we make it easier for people in Lincoln to drive less and reduce traffic? When asked what would make residents more likely to use public transport, lower fares were by far the most popular first choice. This is perhaps not surprising; in the past year local bus fares in England have increased by 2.8%, increasing faster than wages and inflation, although multiple journey tickets can provide better value. Sadly, the government’s austerity agenda has meant that since 2010 bus budgets have been cut by 45%, leading to thousands of routes being cut or withdrawn, and last year saw the lowest level of bus journeys per head on record.

A Labour government will take steps towards a cheaper and more comprehensive service, such as by introducing free bus travel for under-25s. But there are immediate measures we can take in Lincoln to help improve transport options in our city.

Last week I held a Community Engagement event which focused on transport issues locally, and the best bit about that event for me was the fact that there was a substantial interest in better cycling provision for our city centre. A lot of people in Lincoln have had enough of clogged-up roads and pollution being pumped into our atmosphere. This was echoed in my survey, as cycle lanes were a popular option to help incentivise residents to cycle. This is something I am particularly interested in focusing on going forward.

Being responsive and listening to the concerns of my constituents is my number one priority as Lincoln’s MP. My transport survey and community engagement events have given me a lot of food for thought, and I will continue working hard to deliver improvements that are in line with the wants and needs of people living in Lincoln.

Karen Lee was the Labour MP for Lincoln between 2017 and 2019. She is an NHS nurse and a Labour County Councillor for the Cathedral and Ermine ward of Lincoln