Do Politicians Ever Reply?

[Willtheyeverreply]

DD has been very down about something in school. It's not something she can change, but I said to her that if she feels that strongly, she could write to MPs responsible for education/ shadow MPs etc highlighting her opinions.

She wrote a great letter. We looked up the correct MP's (and the PM) names and addresses and she sent seven letters.

This was weeks ago and she has not had one reply. Now in addition to being totally turned off school, she's disillusioned with politicians (I know, not unusual these days).

I thought that they had to reply, even if with a little acknowledgement note. AIBU to think that this is a pretty poor show.

Does anyone out there know whether they do have to reply anymore?

It can take months but they should be replying. Follow up with the details of your previous letter.

I have dealt with MP correspondence in a previous role and it can take 3-4 months to get together a response and get out to a constituent sometimes and there are definitely backlogs at the moment!

This sounds odd to me. I used to be a civil servant. We often received letters from children and ministers always took them seriously and replied personally (by which I mean that the civil servants drafted the replies but they were signed by the minister).

In general the best approach is to write to your own MP and ask them to take it up with the minister concerned, so I'd recommend that she does that.

They tend to but it's usually pretty pointless and bland.

My husband wrote a ranty letter to our local MP once and she wrote a similar rant right back - I wish I still had it. She went on about how tired she was and how difficult the work was and what a toll it was taking on her family!

I know that some MPs say they’ll only respond to letters from their constituents and not others beyond that (or at least prioritise their constituents and reply to others later) - could that be part of it?

I can only speak for my own MP but I have emailed more than once and always had a reply and this is an MP who doesn't have the best public image

Maybe try emailing too

@Sparklesocks

I know that some MPs say they’ll only respond to letters from their constituents and not others beyond that (or at least prioritise their constituents and reply to others later) - could that be part of it?

Thanks. Maybe.

I might suggest to her to alter and address one to our local MP.

The usual process is to email your own MP and they would follow up with the relevant ministers. In the main, MP’s are firstly bound to reply to their constituents, so make sure your address is included on the letter.

As PP suggest, write to your local MP as well - they will respond faster. You could even get her to say "I have also written to the ministers and I still haven't had a reply".

If you sent letters to Ministers at the House of Commons that will also take longer as they'll have to forward them to the department if it's about their ministerial role.

A relative of mine once emailed a group of relevent MPs and Jeremy Corbyn about a travel issue during covid. Jezza replied within a few hours and basically was responsible for getting her back to the UK during COVID, she wasn't a constituent, just a fan of his.

Maybe try him.

My MP responded within days however my circumstances were horrific at the time.

Depends on the MP.

My MP is a useless prick who, if you get a response, will have cut/paste it from some standard letter which, if you are extremely lucky, may bear a slight passing resemblence to the topic in hand.

Seven days isn't a long time to be honest, and it will depend on the individual MP.

Mine is way too busy searching out populist photo opps to respond to most emails, although I dare say her team monitor urgent or 'red flag' communication.

I don't think this is a party politics thing, just about what's important to an individual MP.

@SirensofTitan

I can only speak for my own MP but I have emailed more than once and always had a reply and this is an MP who doesn't have the best public image

Maybe try emailing too

I wonder if we share the same one

I have written to mine several times. He/his Constituency Team have stepped in to help with a number of specific HMRC related issues my business was experiencing.

I've also written whinging emails several times about Government shenanigans and always had a personal, non generic reply directly dealing with the points raised.

For someone who's often vilified in the Press, mine is a pretty decent Constituency MP

They get thousands of emails and letters every day. My MP always replies to me and usually very quickly. But I always end my email with what I'd like him to do about it, so it's easy for him or his staff to pick up and quickly deal with it. I'm usually asking him to raise my issue with the relevant minister of state or contact the DWP on my behalf and write something that can be easily forwarded on.

Some MPs are shocking for never getting back to constituents though.

IME only if they agree with your stance. And it won't tend to be them, it'll be one of their staff replying on their behalf, with a fairly stock response.

Dennis Skinner used to reply very quickly and sorted my problem.
Toby Perkins phoned a Nurse friend very quickly in response to her email to help her.
Current Tory MP in Bolsover responds to DGS but isn't ver helpful.

I’m a chronic letter writer and my MP always replies.

@Punfreeusername

Seven days isn't a long time to be honest, and it will depend on the individual MP.

Mine is way too busy searching out populist photo opps to respond to most emails, although I dare say her team monitor urgent or 'red flag' communication.

I don't think this is a party politics thing, just about what's important to an individual MP.

It was "weeks." I'd say almost a month.

Definitely try the local MP - they’re only bound to respond to constituents. Like the idea from a PP to mention no response from the Ministers (especially if local is same party) and see if that triggers anything.

I did ministerial correspondence management/drafting in a previous life and like @Fifthtimelucky the letters from children were in a sort of secondary priority queue to make sure a decent response was received.

Former intern here - we werent allowed to do anything other than reply saying write to your own MP.

She can go to your MPs surgery. Might be a quicker way to engage.

My local MP responds to everything both I and my partner have sent, with a personal typed letter and a tailored answer, and always unfailingly courteous and politely put. This is responses to emails and letters - always a letter in response. On such diverse subjects as Brexit, environmentalism, and protecting women giving birth in hospital from product reps having access to them (this was a thing a while ago).
All of which is pretty useless as it's Jacob Rees Mogg. He did agree on the product reps though!

If you write directly to a minister at their department then you should get a response from an official at their department eventually. It won't go anywhere near an actual politician.

If you write to an MP who isn't yours at their constituency address, you won't get a response.

If you write to your MP and ask them to forward the question or issue to the relevant department you will get a response from a junior minister or the Secretary of State if your MP is in Cabinet or otherwise very senior. It will have been written by an official for them but they should have given the reply a once over before it's sent.