³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

While most of the nation was watching England beat Slovenia, the focus this afternoon for a handful of MPs - and for yours truly - was a Commons debate about the Cumbrian shootings.

It was called by the Copeland MP Jamie Reed, three weeks to the day after the horrific events in his constituency, and a few days after the final funerals of the victims.

And a very sober, passionate and, at times, emotional debate it was.

In his opening speech, Jamie Reed, made a strong condemnation of some of the media coverage.

While praising the local media, the MP was scathing about some of the behaviour of the national newspapers.

He even compared the behaviour of the Press to the infamous Sun coverage of the Hillsborough disaster.

He talked about journalists making up stories in the absence of facts, and being prepared to wave chequebooks around to gather "dirt".

The MP said he will be writing to the Press Complaints Commission and the National Union of Journalists to register his feelings.

But he also wanted to highlight other issues.

In particular, he said the tragedy had emphasised the need for local services to be protected.

He pointed to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven. The community was promised £100m by the last government to rebuild it, but the Coalition has so far frozen that funding.

He asked for that to be resolved as soon as possible.

There were powerful contributions from Cumbria's other MPs too.

In particular, from Penrith and the Border's Rory Stewart who chose the debate to make his maiden speech.

That was unusual because MPs usually want to do that in the full chamber while this debate was held in the much smaller and less grand Westminster Hall.

Instead of the grandeur then he made a very good and passionate speech about the area he represents, and the need for the Cumbrian police force to remain in place and not be merged with Lancashire Constabulary.

Inevitably though the debate did turn to the gun laws.

No conclusions were drawn, other than the need for a sober, but thorough review to see if any changes could have prevented the murders of the 12 people killed on June 2.

But the Tynemouth MP Alan Campbell, a Shadow Home Office Minister, talked about the need for all areas to be considered, including GP assessments of licence applicants, and the possibility of guns bought for sport being controlled in registered clubs.

The Home Office minister James Brokenshire promised a full Commons debate on gun laws before the Summer recess.

And he promised to pass on the concerns about the funding for the West Cumberland Hospital.

In the end, of course, we may never know exactly what led Derrick Bird to cause so much carnage.

But Cumbrian MPs are determined to ensure that any lessons which can be drawn from that day of murder and mayhem three weeks ago are considered carefully and thoroughly by their colleagues.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• |
• |
• - What's this?