I work for an MP, AMA

[DemandingandUnreasonable]

It’s not totally like ‘The Thick of It’ but bits of it are not too dissimilar.

In terms of campaign emails, the most emails we have received since the election have been on the topic of Assisted Dying.

In terms of casework, SEND provision is a big one, as is housing, roads and local councils. We do get responses from the local authority, but we don't have a magic wand to make them do what we want. Our caseworkers will keep flogging until we get somewhere, and responses to our office do tend to be quicker than to individuals, but we can't force them into action.

Does your MP know what a woman is (narrows it down to about 4 in Labour).

Why do so few MPs (if indeed any), seem to care about the victims of grooming gangs?

@DemandingandUnreasonablewhy are you in parliament so often as a constituency based employee?
Follow up question, will you ever grow tired of using the secret underground entrance? I never have.

So basically then yes, they copy and paste set responses to some Qs from constituents?

If it’s Bridget Phillipson you work (I don’t expect you to say yes or no!) I was at primary school with her and I can remember she wanted to be an MP even then, can you tell her I feel so proud of her when I see her on TV or in the papers.

I’m GC, so before I voted for them I made sure that they did know what a woman is. Interestingly, we have had next to no correspondence from constituents about this issue.

Do so few care? Not been my experience. YMMV.

I lead for my MP on a couple of areas of special interest, so when they are chairing meetings about these I go down.

I still get giddy being in Parliament, although some of the office buildings are a bit less exciting!

It’s not copy and paste, but yes, if it’s a generic campaign email you will generally receive a more generic reply than someone who has written their own.

Do they actually do anything useful? Why does it take weeks to get a reply to emails? And why are they then formulaic responses which don't actually address the point?

How engaged are they in what is happening in Gaza? Do you receive a lot of correspondence on this?

Exactly.

Our office receives about 200 emails a day, about 10 phone calls and about 20 paper letters. We also get walk-ins but this is less consistent. We employ a triage system so if you contact us with an urgent issue you will be prioritised. All casework is responded to within 5 working days but usually much quicker. We do try to respond to campaign emails within 10 working days but there are 4 of us and two are part-time so sometimes the time does slip if someone is on leave etc. Recess helps us catch up a bit.

We tend to get a flurry, so we will get 20 or so of the same email, then it will quiet down.

My MP is engaged but realistic as to the levers that the British Government actually has available.

Well if any do actually care they are keeping it well hidden.

I wish the Labour Party this time were braver and less right wing-they are pushing people towards Reform, and they need to grow backbones.