Latest news with #JulieMinns
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
MPs meet with mobile operators over connectivity concerns
Cumbrian MPs have met with mobile operators, trade bodies and Electricity North West about communications resilience in power outages. Britain's analogue phone system – run on traditional copper lines – is to be phased out by January 2027 meaning an end to the traditional, analogue, landline phone. The existing network, called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), will be withdrawn. The PSTN is an aging network that is becoming harder and more expensive to maintain With Openreach's switch off of the copper network, residents in remote areas of Cumbria will be increasingly reliant on their mobile network when the power goes off. Landline phones will work on a digital phone line, but concerns have been raised about its suitability in remote locations. Carlisle MP Julie Minns has called on providers to write to people who are vulnerable to being cut off in the event of a storm. READ MORE: Red Arrows spotted in the skies above the Lake District | News and Star 'I'm calling on communications providers to tell Electricity North West and Scottish Power where their masts are and how quickly they can get generator backup to masts that lose power in storm events,' said Julie. 'I also want comms providers to write to customers of electricity networks who are vulnerable in the event of power cuts to let them know what steps they can take in an emergency.'
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Brexit deal: Carlisle biscuit boom or Tees fishing wipeout?
Reform UK's newest council leader has claimed the government's trade deal with the EU will see the "wipeout" of the British fishing industry. On Monday, the government announced a new agreement to reduce red tape in areas including food standards, passport control and defence, while in turn allowing EU fishing boats continued access to UK waters until 2038. Durham County councillor Andrew Husband said the government had "given away quite a lot to go through the airport a little bit quicker." However, Labour MP Julie Minns defended the policy on fishing, as did Conservative peer Lord Kirkhope, and proclaimed the new deal as "fantastic news for biscuits" manufactured in her Carlisle constituency. Speaking on BBC Politics North, Husband said: "What you've got now is an ageing population in the fishing industry, especially in the North East of England, who now are going to see a further 12 years of massive competition in the British waters."That is not going to encourage new fishermen to come through, in fact what will happen is you'll see a wipeout of the British fishing industry in the next 12 years unless there's a change of government in four years time."Minns retorted: "It's exactly the same Brexit freedoms deal that the last Conservative government negotiated, this is about actually future proofing it." Speaking on behalf of the Conservatives, Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate - who describes himself as "pro-EU" - said the deal was in fact good news for the fishing industry. He told presenter Helen Richardson: "Lobsters on every restaurant table in Paris and Brussels now will not cost as much and so will be sold in greater numbers. "Our inshore fishermen all round Yorkshire for instance are really going to benefit here from this deal."I'm reluctant to give too much to the government, but this deal is a good start." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had hit out at the deal, saying: "We're becoming a rule-taker from Brussels once again,"When pushed, former MEP Lord Kirkhope accepted significant differences with the party leader. "I don't agree about some of the things that have been said by my leader, and others, on this particular theme."He added: "I am saying that it would be madness in the world in which we now live, with all the new international pressures, that we do not make the very best of the relationship with our biggest market and our closest neighbours." Julie Minns' Carlisle constituency is home to one of the UK's oldest biscuit factories, now owned by McVities, which first opened in 1831. On Tuesday she celebrated the impact of the new trade deal in the Commons, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer branding the deal "good for biscuits." Minns told the BBC: "He said it was good news for biscuits, good news for business."I'd also add it's good news for Britain as well."We live in a very very uncertain world. We need that closer tie with our nearest European neighbours. BBC Politics North airs at 10:00BST on BBC One. Catch up with latest episodes now on the BBC iPlayer. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Changes to assisted dying bill mean 'no one is obliged to take part in process'
MPs voted to insert a new clause into the Assisted Dying Bill on Friday to say that 'no person', including social care workers and pharmacists, is obliged to take part in assisted dying and can now opt out. The Assisted Dying Bill will allow terminally ill adults, expected to die within six months, to seek help to end their lives. While the legislation passed its first stage in the House of Commons last November, the bill has been subject to amendments and is no longer the same. The clause 10 amendment was put forward by the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill's sponsor the Labour MP for Spen Valley, Kim Leadbeater. The original bill stated that no registered medical practitioner or other health professional would be under an obligation to help in the assisted dying process and would not be discriminated against if they did not want to assist. READ MORE: All you need to know as the assisted dying Bill returned to Parliament | News and Star Under the clause 10 amendment, this has been expanded to say that there is no obligation on anyone to assist in the process, providing protections to any staff who may be involved. MPs ran out of time to vote on other changes so further debate and voting will continue on June 13. Carlisle MP, Julie Minns voted against the amendment and has voiced her opposition to the bill.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cumbrian MPs to debate assisted dying bill in parliament
Cumbrians MPs are set to resume debating the assisted dying bill when it returns to parliament this week. Cumbria's MPs were split on the issue when it was first voted on in parliament with Josh MacAlister (Whitehaven and Workington, Labour) and Markus Campbell-Savours (Penrith and the Solway, Labour) voting for the bill and Julie Minns (Carlisle, Labour), Michelle Scrogham (Barrow, Labour) and Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat) all voting against the bill. Opponents to changing the law have argued some people could feel pressured to have an assisted death against their will, and have called for more focus on improving and ensuring equal access to palliative care. Campaigners who are terminally ill or have watched loved ones die in pain have called the existing legislation 'unbelievably cruel' and pointed out that animals suffering severely can be legally euthanised. Since the last vote, Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, has brought forward amendments for a so-called 'judge plus' system, after hearing concerns during expert evidence sessions last month. She has now proposed a judge-led Voluntary Assisted Dying Commission that she said would give a greater role to experts, including psychiatrists and social workers, in overseeing applications. The commission would be led by a High Court judge or a senior former judge and receive all applications and reports from two independent doctors, which would then be referred to a three-member panel chaired by what has been described as a senior legal figure. MPs opposed to the Bill said the new proposals weaken safeguards, not strengthen them. Writing in this newspaper, Julie Minns MP said she could not support the bill. READ MORE: Sycamore Gap tree fellers 'were suspects' in alleged assault probe | News and Star 'While I recognise the intention behind this amendment, I don't believe it offers the same level of protection as a judicial decision,' said Julie. 'We are talking about an irreversible act, the ending of a life, and I believe the courts must remain involved. I fear this sets a dangerous precedent that could normalise assisted dying without fully understanding the long-term consequences.' Cumbrian MPs who did vote for the bill have called for the appropriate safeguards to be applied in the assisted dying process.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP welcomes new memorial honouring RAF's reconnaissance heroes
THE Labour MP for Carlisle and North Cumbria Julie Minns has said that she is 'delighted' after plans to celebrate the RAF's unsung heroes of the Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU). Julie Minns MP has welcomed the news that plans to recognise the RAF's unsung heroes of the Photographic Reconnaissance Units (PRU) have progressed to the planning stage. Announced by Veterans Minister Al Carns MP, this marks the culmination of a campaign with broad political support, with more than 200 MPs from eight parties uniting to back the call for a PRU memorial. The monument currently stands to commemorate 2,370 individuals. While research continues into their nationalities, four men from Carlisle — Rae Armstrong, Ivan Cooke, William Johnston, and Charles Ross – are known to be among them. Julie Minns MP said: "I am delighted to see my support for the campaign to commemorate those who served in the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit has helped to bring this memorial one step closer. "Due to the clandestine nature of their operations – flying solo operations, unarmed and unarmoured – the PRU death rate was nearly fifty percent. As a result, these brave men and women had one of the lowest survival rates of the war, around two and a half months. "Four Carlisle men served under these exceptionally challenging conditions: Rae Armstrong, Ivan Cooke, William Johnston, and Charles Ross. "I remain committed to supporting the Spitfire AA810 Project in establishing this memorial and look forward to paying my respects to these local men and their colleagues from all Photographic Reconnaissance Units when it is completed."
