The former MP for Copeland is among those to pay tribute to the Queen following her death – describing Her Majesty as a “remarkable” person.
Jamie Reed said he was fortunate enough to meet the monarch at Buckingham Palace, shortly after becoming the Labour MP for Copeland, and in Whitehaven when she visited in June 2008.
He said: “The first time I encountered her genuine warmth – alongside Prince Phillip – was during a Buckingham Palace reception for newly elected Members of Parliament.
“The Queen mingled amongst the guests in a relaxed way. Her ability to put people at ease was remarkable and natural; calm and unforced.
“Irrespective of her role as monarch, her personal qualities shone. She was a remarkable person and a formidable, fiercely bright individual of huge capability.
“To wander amongst strangers, aware of your own role and significance, making each new face feel valued and welcome requires an unusual talent. Without doubt, Queen Elizabeth II was unusually talented.
“A few years later, I was privileged to welcome her to Whitehaven. It was a sitting day in Parliament, and she was aware of this as we were introduced, jokingly asking if I had encountered any difficulty in escaping the government whip.
“It demonstrated a deep knowledge of government process and culture; she understood the difficulties of escaping the Whips’ clutches and enjoyed the joke at my expense in a gently mischievous way.
“What appears simple is anything but. Her understanding demonstrated a grasp of the mechanics of government that served all of us well. Constitutionally, she understood the role of sovereign intimately. Objectively, she observed her duties more effectively than any British monarch to date.
“As I greeted her, she didn’t know that only a few hours earlier, a timetabling error saw the overnight sleeper from Euston leaving earlier than advertised, abandoning me in London with no other means of transport and unable to return to Whitehaven. No available car rental, no flights, no trains.
“To cut a long and mortifying story short; in 2008, a taxi from Euston to Carlisle cost £847. I wouldn’t have paid it for any other public figure.
“Throughout seven decades of tumultuous change, we should recognise the unique status of the Queen as a role model for women. Inexplicably, the cause of women’s equality has to keep being re-fought around the world, including in Britain.
“In our own community, the gender pay gap between men and women stands at 15per cent. As our female head of state, the Queen served to contrast against this injustice.
“We rightfully mourn the passing of a remarkable public servant with a commitment to the public good, a desire to do good and a determination to live the values she spoke of.
“From the advent of rock ‘n’ roll and the beginning of the atomic age to the end of the Cold War and the rise of the internet; she lived a life of service. We mourn her passing as we face extraordinary challenges. In the process, we ask ourselves if we are still the country her example represented.”
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