AIBU for being annoyed at this letter from an MP?

[Rasapa]

I have name-changed for this for reasons which will become evident later.

Anyway (deep breath). My db goes to a club. A member of staff who works for a member of Parliament goes to same club. They are in a junior role. My db has made jokey comments about politics to this person (NOTHING abusive, sexist or racist).

A letter arrived last week from the MP (actually it was on his behalf NOT written or signed by him at all) from a person who works in his office telling (that's how it seems to me) my db not to approach this person about politics again.

I am offended by this; just feels like an abuse of power. I dunno AIBU?

[lurkedtoolong]

I doubt the MP knows anything about it. Seems the staffer is being a twat.

[DinglebertWangledack]

He can't just tell your brother who he can and cannot speak to, I would be annoyed though. Yanbu.

[unclefluffy]

Where was the post mark? London or constituency? Copy the letter and write to the OTHER office (i.e. if the letter came from Westminster, write to the constituency) and vice versa. Address the letter to the MP. Ask the MP if he/she thinks this is OK and whether she/he knows what's being written on their headed notepaper.

Sending the letter to the other office would be in the hope of avoiding the staffers involved, btw - otherwise they would see the letter and 'lose' it.

[BobbiFleckmann]

post it on the MPs social media site(s) and ask for their comment?

[Naysa]

If I was your brother, I would be writing to the MP in question asking him if he is aware that this letter has been sent on his behalf and if he can provide a comprehensive list of conversation topics that have his approval that can be discussed with the member of staff in question.

[Rasapa]

Not London. I'm going to lay low on this thread; but this does not mean to say I'm not reading. I'm not anti-authority, but in my view, the only person who can TELL another adult who they may (or may not) talk to is the police/judiciary. Or maybe I'm over-reacting.

[yellowbrickrd]

Not overreacting at all. What does you db think about it? I expect the MP would be furious at someone abusing their position and his notepaper in this way.

[yellowbrickrd]

*or her notepaper!

[TheCrackFox]

The staffer seriously needs to toughen up if he/she wants to have a in politics.

Write to both the MP's offices as he probably doesn't have a clue that this letter has gone out.

[cumfy]

Copy the letter to the MP via www.writetothem.com/.

It has almost certainly been illegally written on the MP's headed notepaper and they will be sacked.

Weird.

[cumfy]

^illegally written by the staffer

[cumfy]

CrackFox a life cleaning toilets more like.

[Dawndonna]

A definite abuse of power by the staffer. An m.p. wouldn't have the time and would be used to the political banter.

[TiaMariaandSpringCleaning]

Agree with others that the MP is highly unlikely to know anything about this and it should be brought to their attention.

Whatever idiot thought this would be a good idea or a laugh may well have done it before and may do so again. Its an abuse of their position (and the trust of the MP if they don't know about it) I'd definately write to the MPs office to complain (fluffy's idea of writing to the other office is excellent)

[cumfy]

Can you scan the letter and stick it in photos ?

[MarinaIvy]

Concur that the MP wouldn't have known about this, and that the staffer in question will probably be sacked for abusing his position.

Keep us updated!

[WhereYouLeftIt]

I agree, the MP is unlikely to be aware of this abuse of their headed notepaper. It really should be brought to their attention. Perhaps with a 'I shall bring it to the attention of the press if no response is forthcoming'. That should ensure no staffer can bury/lose it. They deserve to have the fear of God put into them.

[LadyPessaryPam]

Send it to [email protected]

I am sure he will exploit it to make the sender look like the twat they are.

[lurkedtoolong]

This is exactly the reason why some decent MPs have got such a bad reputation, they employ jumped up arseholes who get away with treating constituents badly and no-one lets them know.

Of course there are arsehole MPs who deserve their own bad reputation

[Curioustiger]

Yanbu. I hate that kind of thing. It's a clear attempt to abuse the position. You may not wish to answer but how did they even get your address,? Are there data protection issues here as well?

[Rasapa]

Well, my db wrote to the MP on another (innocuous non-controversial) issue. The MP wrote back and in the same post this letter arrived. So two letters: one about the innocuous issue another about this 'don't talk' issue arrived at same time.

It strikes me that the staffer was reminded of my db's presence and took the opportunity to write this 'don't talk' letter at the same time (?)

[Rasapa]

By the way, what the actual expletive is somebody who is so thin-skinned wanting a career in politics anyway?

I concur that I believe that the MP has no idea about this; most are -superficially at least -charming and would have found a better way to deal with this.

[cumfy]

Sorry, but you're drip-feeding.

Are there any other relevant pieces of information ?

Guido Fawkes is a good idea.

[MidniteScribbler]

Talk to the MP concerned about it, they can't send that sort of letter in any official capacity.

But it does sound like your DB might have been a bit of a prat to this person. He maybe should consider who he is talking to and what he says when he wants to make jokes or statements. It's a bit like the acquaintance I know who makes disgusting comments to a gynocologist friend of mine. Inappropriate, unncessary, and really not funny.