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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if anyone has had support from their MP?

48 replies

Mumofsend · 07/02/2021 17:53

I am debating writing to my MP for the first time for a significant issue im having. Aibu to wonder if anything can come from doing so or is it just a token-istic exercise?

Any tips?

OP posts:
GingerAndTheBiscuits · 07/02/2021 17:57

Depends entirely on the issue. They can be useful for getting another public body to act or getting an update on something if you’re getting nowhere.

UrAWizHarry · 07/02/2021 17:59

Depends on the issue and - to a very large extent - who your MP is.

My MP is a useless cunt who is solely concerned with getting as far up Boris's arse as possible and ignores any and all correspondence from his constituents. Others are bgtter.

Original poster
Mumofsend · 07/02/2021 18:03

I have two disabled children with complex needs and social care won't provide any support. I'm a very single parent and live in a LA where children's services in November were slammed by ofstead. I am trying to get a fit for purpose assessment done and support by the correct part of social care but the LA aren't interested.

OP posts:
Theworldisfullofgs · 07/02/2021 18:06

My MP is crap. Literally always replies with how wonderful everything is and how lucky we are, if he bothers replying.

Apparently some are better. Think it depends if you live in a safe seat or not.

JustFrustrated · 07/02/2021 18:07

Mine would be all over something like that immediately

shouldreallynamechangemore · 07/02/2021 18:07

I have fundamental differences with my MP but he once sorted an issue out with my bank and I got a 500 pound refund within the week. One of my previous jobs was responding to MP letters about their constituents and were told to treat them as top priority. They tend to take them pretty seriously, particularly if you are in a marginal seat

Blacktothepink · 07/02/2021 18:08

Given your update, definitely try.

shouldreallynamechangemore · 07/02/2021 18:10

If they can include any success they have with you on a leaflet it is a massive win for them! Or even if they just raise something in parliament and their constituents see that they are working for them. Go for it!

shouldreallynamechangemore · 07/02/2021 18:13

You should maybe also write to your local councillor. If they are a different party to the MP there may be some healthy competition :-)

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 07/02/2021 18:16

@Mumofsend

I have two disabled children with complex needs and social care won't provide any support. I'm a very single parent and live in a LA where children's services in November were slammed by ofstead. I am trying to get a fit for purpose assessment done and support by the correct part of social care but the LA aren't interested.
Assuming you’re in England, You need to complain to the Council. If your children are under-18 they should use the statutory complaints process which involves an independent person at stage two. Once you’ve completed the process complain to the Local Government Ombudsman. If you’ve already complained and not got anywhere go straight to Ombudman. MP not much use to you in this situation.
WeeWillyWanky · 07/02/2021 18:17

I went to my MP's 'surgery' because my brother had a learning disability and we were trying to find him supported accomodation. The social worker assigned to my brother was hopeless and months were passing by with no assessments etc Within a couple of weeks of speaking to the MP, things started moving and my brother's needs had been assessed and he was given funding.

HeronLanyon · 07/02/2021 18:21

I’ve seen a lot of news stories where mps have taken up an individual constituent’s problem. Obviously some are better than others. For good and bad reason. Eh my mp is Kier Starmer and I assume his time for such is extremely limited. But some work incredibly hard to support constituents.
Does yours have an online surgery to attend in person (online?).
Good luck op.

Livelovebehappy · 07/02/2021 18:26

Depends on your MP. I’ve contacted mine twice - once when the CSA were arsing around with child support payments, and it got them acting quicker. And another time when the electric company was taking too long with outside work which meant our street were constantly without electric for periods of time. MP stepped in with that too and got the work done quickly. But some are probably lazy buggers and won’t do anything.

islockdownoveryet · 07/02/2021 18:26

Definitely try sometimes them making enquiries could be a jolt for someone to do something.
I tried my mp once , a issue with my sen child and travel arrangements to get to school . This was at after many letters of complaint where it was told nothing can be done . The mp looked into it and said he couldn’t do anything but gradually it was resolved . My dh thinks the mps involvement helped but im not so sure . Another time I threatened to contact my mp after I complained to pals again about my son but the complaint helped and it was resolved.

Phineyj · 07/02/2021 18:28

I have written twice in recent years - once when I couldn't find suitable teacher training and once in summer last year to enquire why the pubs were open but the children's playgrounds were still shut. I.got a helpful response both times. You've got nothing to lose by emailing.

Original poster
Mumofsend · 07/02/2021 18:43

Thank you. I'm so anxious I'm going to make it worse

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 07/02/2021 18:45

Good luck, my MSP is a useless shit.

Original poster
Mumofsend · 07/02/2021 18:47

My MP is historically a bit of a tory dinosaur in a tory safe seat. We shall see!

OP posts:
Santaiscovidfree · 07/02/2021 18:49

When my exh was frankly being a twat over continuing to claim ds's CB ( claiming he lived with him) I emailed my MP.. CB wanted 10 weeks to sort it out - after the 10 weeks run on and 10 months of exh fraudulently claiming..
With a click of a finger /switch /magic wand it was sorted in a week.

Clarinet1 · 07/02/2021 18:51

Some years ago I was having a lot of trouble sorting out an issue over my Council Tax so I ended up writing to all the councillors for the ward I lived in and the local MP - quite a well known one. All were representatives of the same party which is not the one which I mainly support but they are elected to be there for all of us . The only one I got a reply from at all was the MP.

Parkandride · 07/02/2021 18:58

Mine helped with a NHS funding issue, I'd never vote for him but he was useful. Definitely give it a try

StormcloakNord · 07/02/2021 19:19

Definitely message with something like that. My MP's office, as opposed to him, were amazing with helping me get my driving license back.

MyMPwontlisten · 07/02/2021 19:37

See my username...

rainylake · 07/02/2021 19:40

Mine was pretty good at dealing with what was really a council issue, but the council were ignoring my emails. An email from her to the right department, and the problem was miraculously solved 3 days later.

Dustyboots · 07/02/2021 19:44

My MP - Labour- helped us in a significant way with a school complaint that was being ignored by the council.

It lead to big changes and made the pain our family had gone through, with the school, feel worth it.

Since then she’s helped again in other ways.

But I do wonder if she’s unusual MP in her proactive helpfulness.