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Original poster

Have you ever contacted your MP?

72 replies

AnneLovesGilbert · 09/02/2024 21:49

I write to mine from time to time when the government does something that annoys me and he’s always prompt in replying and I find him reasonable. I haven’t had to ask for his help with anything but I suppose I would if there was something I thought he could help with.

I was listening to the radio this morning about the huge increase in case work MPs have and the sorts of things they’re asked to be involved with - healthcare, school places which are fair enough, but also neighbourhood disputes about hedges and parking, and people contesting parking tickets.

One of them said people are using their MP’s office like a stand in for citizens advice.

I was really surprised but I don’t know many people who’ve said they’ve ever contacted theirs never mind given them a hard time because their neighbour’s annoyed them.

OP posts:
MrsPatrickDempsey · 09/02/2024 22:00

Yes. I wrote to Priti Patel and she resolved the issue promptly.

notacooldad · 09/02/2024 22:03

Yes years ago.
I was on the dole and moved into a horrible house. I was supposed to get housing benefit and the land lord was about to kick me out because hadn't paid. I was trapped in a loop between housing and another dept. This went on for a couple of months. I contacted Jack Straw and I got a letter from the houses of Parliament and the issue was resolved within days.
I'd forgotten about that until I saw the rhe thread. I can't believe how desperate my life was back then.

Floatinginvacherin · 09/02/2024 22:06

Good constituency MPs (of whatever party) are an excellent way of resolving some issues. They have staff who work full time on this stuff and know exactly who to go to for key things. We have seen absolute rockets put up various services on occasion. Councillors can also be really helpful on some things.

GreySweater · 09/02/2024 22:06

On a couple of occasions (both after a few too many drinks on a Saturday night) when I have emailed him at length to rant about our incompetent govt (his party) / state of the country etc. Never got any kind of satisfactory reply, although did get added to the Conservative Party Newsletter (which I never signed up toHmm).

goingrouge · 09/02/2024 22:06

Yeah, quite a few times. My MP is a fucking prick in a safe seat who does absolutely nothing.

mynameiscalypso · 09/02/2024 22:07

I've always been surprised how the bulk of MPs are really excellent at case work and helping their constituents, even those I find abhorrent for other reasons. Clearly there are noticeable exceptions (ahem...Nadine) but until I started working with MPs, I didn't realise quite how much time they spent on local issues which may not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things but are very important to an individual.

JustFrustrated · 09/02/2024 22:10

Yes and to my previous two.

One forgot to reply for over a year.

The second, labour, was very wishy washy and none committal.

The current, conservative, is absolutely fantastic and prompt at replying, her staff go the extra mile. She's very very involved in the community.

BumpheadParrotfish · 09/02/2024 22:10

Whenever I've written to my Tory mp the response has always been pretty shitty.

He has a whole host of outside consultancy interests which pay more for a few hours a month than a doctor's annual salary for a whole year - all the while calling them greedy for wanting a fair wage.

I'd really love to for him to lose his seat at the next election

Farwell · 09/02/2024 22:10

Yes. He never replied.
I am now a councillor for a different party and have residents regularly complain about his incompetence.

BlueWhaleSighted · 09/02/2024 22:14

Yes, my MP is a great constituency MP, and is always prompt in replying. Also good at trying to get things done for his constituency.

splitendsagogo · 09/02/2024 22:21

Yeah I once emailed mine years ago to complain about a certain known traffic problem locally, the lights were out of sync at a box junction, so they replied saying they'd told the appropriate people and looked into it. I also emailed a couple of years back to complain about the state of rubbish and dog poo on the pavements everywhere and ask for more bins or some way of enforcing the dog fouling fines as I am so sick of dodging it all every school run. They replied sympathetically but have no budget for anything. I didn't really expect them to do anything but I felt a bit better knowing that I was speaking up rather than just moaning to myself!

WinterMorn · 09/02/2024 22:27

Yes, when I was having problems with my Ukrainian guest’s visa. It was promptly solved - and it was Dominic Raab.

Cactusali · 09/02/2024 22:32

Yes. Iain Duncan Smith many years ago and before he (briefly) led the Tories. He was bloody brilliant, spent loads of time with me and was very kind. Disappointed to see what he’s become.

blacksax · 09/02/2024 22:33

Yes. I wrote to Nadine Dorries once. You won't be surprised to hear that she was fucking useless.

scaredofthefuture2024 · 09/02/2024 22:35

Twice. She never bothered to acknowledge, let alone reply.

MixedCouple · 09/02/2024 22:38

Yes recently about dental care and reappnded with blaming the labour party 15 years ago! Great. Thanks.

Then im another region where I lived contacted MP about Veoli in our area and I eidnt appreciate that. They reaponded showing their true colours. No surprise there.

KateyCuckoo · 09/02/2024 22:40

Literally no point. He isn't called Absent Adam for nothing!

Original poster
AnneLovesGilbert · 09/02/2024 22:41

Good to hear some positive experiences. Not remotely shocked that Dorries was a bit crap. She was off writing novels instead wasn’t she?

Mine is unfailingly prompt and polite by post, I’ve never met him and he’s standing down before the next election. I’ve also never spotted him in the House. I’ve felt bad wasting his time getting in touch when I haven’t had a problem that needed fixing and just wanted to get something (politely) off my chest but he still always replies.

What happens when your MP is the PM? Do they have an office just working on constituency stuff?

OP posts:
Original poster
AnneLovesGilbert · 09/02/2024 22:43

Farwell · 09/02/2024 22:10

Yes. He never replied.
I am now a councillor for a different party and have residents regularly complain about his incompetence.

Do you have to do case work, what’s that like?

OP posts:
maeveiscurious · 09/02/2024 22:44

Twice one was a national issue and I got a letter back from the head of that body.

The second one I had a issue with a local event and the no agreed and applied pressure to change it

onetwothreeee · 09/02/2024 22:45

yes
Several times .... perhaps 5 times in the past 5 years...

I always get a responce the same day, but quite often within an hour or sometimes 5 - 10 mins with a "conversation" of back and forth emails between us

I've badgered my MP about local stuff which he has then stood up and spoke about directly in parliament

Echobelly · 09/02/2024 22:46

Yes, I have expressed concern about government policy to our local MP who is a Tory but one of the more decent ones. To his credit he always writes a detailed and specific reply - he's been a popular local MP but is standing down at the next election which he was probably going to lose anyway but the Tories will lose it for sure without him.

LilBus · 09/02/2024 22:46

No never would

LuluBlakey1 · 09/02/2024 22:50

I write to ours regularly. He always replies and then , usually, follows up but it never amounts to much His hands are tied as a member of the Opposition. DH thinks I am mad but I think it's important he hears the voices of women.

cardboard33 · 09/02/2024 22:50

Yes, once. And she replied within the week via email and phone calls with updates until the issue was resolved. I know it would not have been resolved positively had she not got involved as I had been trying to sort it out myself between two government departments for the last 6 months before I contacted her. I had voted for her anyway, but she will always get my vote from now.