Annoyed With My MP

System

missile wrote: »

I have no doubt some work hard, but I would suggest most do not. Many rarely meet with constituents other than at election time and very rarely seen in the house.

I don't think this is true. I think the majority work hard and there are just an isolated few that take the mickey. The way the press is these days any MP who slacks will soon get reported on. For instance David Milliband has been subject to bad press as he's done nothing in the last year but line his own pockets!

missile

goater78 wrote: »

I don't think this is true. I think the majority work hard and there are just an isolated few that take the mickey. The way the press is these days any MP who slacks will soon get reported on. For instance David Milliband has been subject to bad press as he's done nothing in the last year but line his own pockets!

I do not know on what you have based your opinion?

May I suggest you review the records for poor attendance, those identified for tax avoidance, expenses abuse, investigated by the police for fraud and common assault, taking back handers etc and you might form a different opinion.

Who is your MP?

I am not sure whether you think Milliband deserves the bad press or not?

There can be no doubt there are many who do>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2011/01/why_did_mps_make_false.html

System

missile wrote: »

I do not know on what you have based your opinion?

May I suggest you review the records for poor attendance, those identified for tax avoidance, expenses abuse, investigated by the police for fraud and common assault, taking back handers etc and you might form a different opinion.

Who is your MP?

I am not sure whether you think Milliband deserves the bad press or not?

There can be no doubt there are many who do>
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2011/01/why_did_mps_make_false.html

That blog post is almost 2 years old.

Its only a small minority that misbehave and they obviously are the ones that the press pick up on. As a percentage I imagine the total number of bad MP's is very low. If they misbehave then they answer to the people and can be voted out at the next election.

Saying all MP's are on the fiddle is another one of those weak arguments that is given out by people who don't really know what they are talking about.

I currently move between my 2 homes so technically have 2 MP's. The one I voted for last time was Graham Brady, although I probably will register at my other address for future voting.

Ms_Chocaholic

Just an update .... I received a letter from my MP today and he confirmed he will make some enquiries on my behalf, don't know why he couldn't have just emailed me back though to let me know.

Also to add .... my MP is one of those who was totally above board in the expenses scandal.

Andy_L

qetu1357 wrote: »

I think you are right, there should be a service level agreement stating by when they will get back to you.

I emailed Eric Pickles today and got an automated reply stating this

"Thank you for your email to the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Our aim is to consider the issues you raise and to respond within 15 working days.
If we feel that the issues raised do not fall within the Department's responsibilities, we will try to transfer your email to the relevant government department and ask that they reply to you directly.
DCLG Contact Us Team"

However that looks like you were emailing him as a Minister rather than as a constituancy MP so he has the whole resources of the Department to process your query rather than the (IIRC) 3 staff an MP is entitled to/funded for

Ms_Chocaholic

Just to clarify, my MP is a Cabinet Minister

missile

goater78 wrote: »

That blog post is almost 2 years old.

Its only a small minority that misbehave and they obviously are the ones that the press pick up on. As a percentage I imagine the total number of bad MP's is very low. If they misbehave then they answer to the people and can be voted out at the next election.

Saying all MP's are on the fiddle is another one of those weak arguments that is given out by people who don't really know what they are talking about.

I currently move between my 2 homes so technically have 2 MP's. The one I voted for last time was Graham Brady, although I probably will register at my other address for future voting.

Before you critiscise most people for being ignorant, perhaps you should look at the man you voted for:

Graham Brady does not seem to be working "very hard" for you?

Has spoken in only 10 debates in the last year — well below average amongst MPs.
Has voted in 76.22% of votes in this Parliament - average amongst MPs
Had to repay expenses claimed for his second home
Claimed £148,379.31 expenses - including £10 for a milk frother
He is one of the 25% of MPs who were exposed for paying family members with tax payer's money

Some MPs take their responsibility a little more seriously, e.g. James Morris, Halesowen 96% attendance record.

Some have a very poor record, e.g. Khalid Mahmood, Birmingham Perry Barr 41%

Others may soon be in jail > http://www.birminghammail.net/news/uk-news/mps-expenses-former-labour-minister-282441
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1194293/Scotland-Yard-moves-Four-MPs-peer-face-criminal-investigation-expenses-fraud.html

I imagine the total number of bad MP's is very low.

:rotfl: an indication of the scale of the abuse of the system, around 180 MPs have joined an undignified scramble to pay back almost £500,000 in wrongly-claimed expenses.

gregg1

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Emailed my MP last Friday regarding an issue I wanted him to look into, not heard anything from him yet so re-emailed again this morning.

His Twitter account however seems to be regularly updated though.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :mad:

When I needed to get help from our MP it took a while for him to get back to us. Call his London office and his constituency office and leave a message with his assistants. They flit between the two so you should get hold of him eventually.

If it's any consolation, when we eventually got hold of ours, he worked a bloody miracle to sort out a problem which had seemed unresolvable and saved us thousands of pounds so it could be worth keep trying.

System

Being an MP is not just about speaking in parliament. Graham Brady is head of the 1922 committee which I imagine takes up quite a lot of his time. I personally have had no dealings with him but he is a popular man in the constituency.

I am confused why you are bringing up examples of good MPs who work hard to disprove my argument that MPs do work hard?

I believe there are around 650 MPs? You've come up with about 5 that are bad seeds. To prove your assertion that "most don't work hard" you need about another 321 examples!

gregg1

missile wrote: »

I have no doubt some work hard, but I would suggest most do not. Many rarely meet with constituents other than at election time and very rarely seen in the house.

I think you may be wrong there. The MP's I know of all hold surgeries every week or so at their constituencies for people to go and speak to them.