Jamie Reed

Jamieson Ronald Reed (born August 4, 1973)is the newly elected Labour Member of Parliament for the UK constituency of Copeland, elected in the 2005 general election. He replaced Copeland's long-serving former MP Jack Cunningham.

Mr Reed has spent a long time in the Copeland area, which includes the town of his birth, Whitehaven. Before election as an MP he worked as a Press Officer at Sellafield, a nuclear power plant in his constituency, and had served on Copeland Borough Council.

In his maiden speech, he declared himself to be a Jedi in the debate over "Racial and Religious Hatred Bill" under consideration in Parliament. Debate has occurred as to whether the comment was a subtle commentary on the debate, wondering whether one who declared his religion as 'Jedi' would receive protection for 'Anti-Jedi' remarks, or simply a joking reference to the film he'd seen shortly before making the speech and the mysterious appearance the next day of a light sabre in the space available for MPs to keep their swords in the Members cloakroom.

External links

*Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Jamie Reed MP
*TheyWorkForYou.com - Jamie Reed MP
*Text of maiden speech
*UK News and Star article about "Jedi" speech