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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed off that the local MP of a party which I do not support is opening our school's summer fete...

52 replies

Strix · 16/03/2010 09:35

It doesn't matter which party. It's the last one I'd like to see win the general election. I don't think our school should be offfering PR opportunities to ONE political party in the run up to the general election. (fete is in June)

OP posts:
wannaBe · 16/03/2010 13:53

do you really think that someone's name on a fete flier will influence how people vote?

pagwatch · 16/03/2010 13:54

the shame has stayed with me these years...

"Phil"

"yes young man"

"see that girl over there. Well you're a good looking guy and she is a good looking girl and I was wondering....."

Arrggghhhhhhhhhhhhh.............

Original poster
Strix · 16/03/2010 14:37

OK fine. IAMBU. I accept the unanimous vote.

As for my understanding of what a contituency MP does, you are probably right. I am a foreigner and probably don't have a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities.

And, technically speaking, I am not in his/her constituency. But, the school is.

Anyway, I shall shut up and move on... Thank you for your replies.

OP posts:
pagwatch · 16/03/2010 14:40

Strix
you should check it out if you are here permanently.
A good constituency MP can be bloody marvellous - whatever party they bat for.

And you never know when you may need one.

Granny23 · 16/03/2010 14:51

Strix - I am with you up to a point. I accept that fete opening/attending is expected of the local MP but do think the fete organising committee should have chosen someone else in an election year. If the sitting MP gets the boot at the election the school will start off on the wrong foot with the new MP. Once an election is called you do not have a sitting MP - you only have CANDIDATES until the voting has taken place.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 16/03/2010 14:56

There are actually really strict guidelines about this - he would not be able to open it once the election was called until after the election.

Rockbird · 16/03/2010 15:44

Why will the school start off on the wrong foot? I'm assuming they have put it in the MP's diary. Doesan't really matter who that MP is and I'm sure if it changes the newbie would be delighted to do a bit of post election schmoozing

It is an unfortunate choice alright but then they might not have had an alternative. It might have been the MP or Bob Carolgees and Spit the Dog

JustAnotherManicMummy · 16/03/2010 15:53

Personally I make all my voting choices with a very strict formula:

Volumes of fetes opened times divided by the number of hairs visible on the comb-over.

Whoever has the greatest number gets my vote.

The only exception to this is the "How much do I like his tie factor?" A factor less than 3 triggers an automatic veto of the candidate regardless of his fete/comb-over ratio scoring.

I find all that policy and manifesto stuff just so complicated and tedious for my poor little head.

So OP you are definitely NOT being unreasonable. I take it no one had the courtesy to canvass your party preferences before making the selection?

Original poster
Strix · 16/03/2010 15:58

Are you seriously suggesting that advertising has no impact on the way peopl vote?

OP posts:
Rockbird · 16/03/2010 16:10

No, but one small MP at a small school fete for the required 7 minutes attended by the usual half a dozen parents is unlikely to have much effect on British political history

Original poster
Strix · 16/03/2010 17:21

Hey, EVERY vote counts.

OP posts:
Rebeccaruby · 16/03/2010 19:12

The local MP is supposed to do things like fetes; school prize givings; supporting charities; giving awards. I'd be more worried if your local MP couldn't be arsed had more important Westminster business to attend to and never bothered with this. And yes, you can work hard for your constituents whatever party you belong to.

BoggleJunior · 16/03/2010 20:30

Our school's local MP couldn't be arsed. Invited him last year and didn't even get a response!

Megglevache · 16/03/2010 20:34

You could always egg him and get lots of extra press for the school/party. Win-win.

GypsyMoth · 16/03/2010 20:37

maybe other local schools have the other mp's opening their fetes??

maybe its evened out that way?

Fluffyone · 16/03/2010 20:45

YABU, he's your local MP.

Tripoli · 17/03/2010 09:44

The MPs who can't be arsed, do they have a large majority so they don't need to?

tkband3 · 17/03/2010 10:12

Our local MP (who is a great constituency MP, but is not from the party I would vote for) attends our May Day celebration every year and helps to judge the children who've dressed up and suffers enjoys the dancing and singing . A couple of years ago, the celebration clashed with an election (not a general one though) and we were all surprised, but quite impressed that he still came. This year, our May Day celebration will fall on May 5th, so highly likely to be the day before the election - I wonder if he'll still come...

It won't make any difference to how I vote, but then my vote won't have any effect on the result in the constituency. But that's part of the problem with the political system in general isn't it? You don't vote for your specific constituency MP, whether or not they are effective on your behalf, but for the party you want to see govern the country (or for the lesser of the evils, depending on how you view things).

I would be surprised though, if the school mentioned the MP's name on the flyer for the summer fete - I organised ours last year and, even if our MP had attended, I'm not sure I would have viewed it as a particular selling point . Now if we'd had Philip Schofield, I might have thought differently...

5Foot5 · 17/03/2010 13:34

Tripoli: "The MPs who can't be arsed, do they have a large majority so they don't need to? "

Maybe in some areas but I don't think you can take this as generally the case. Our MP has a HUGE majority (unfortunately) but turns up regularly at all sorts of events.

IngridFletcher · 17/03/2010 13:40

I was given a raffle prize by Thatcher at a local fete when I was about 3 or 4. She wasn't prime minister then but was party leader and obviously our MP (not voted for by my parents!).

I didn't warm to her and the toy fell apart.

reallylostitnow · 17/03/2010 13:59

ha ingrid fletcher! brilliant post re thatcher. she made everything fall apart. your toy was only the beginning. And cameron continues the trend with his cuts and half truths.

Granny23 · 17/03/2010 14:23

Yes Cameron is pathetic with his 'half truths. Cannot go for the BIG BLATANT LIE like Tony and Gordon.

Pikelit · 17/03/2010 15:00

Sorry to divert but if Cameron comes to any local event in the run-up to the election, I shall find it very difficult not to order a large wet fish in advance. For the face-slapping.

To get back onto course, as someone has already stated, once an election is called, a state of purdah exists. During which the activities of candidates are strictly limited precisely because they are not allowed to go electioneering in the guise of "supporting" local causes. Not that they won't have been electioneering their heads off anyway from the day they were selected as parliamentary candidates.

tallulahbelly · 17/03/2010 15:14

I agree with Alouise - it's a fabulous opportunity to engage in political debate.

My sister's MP is the odious and well-fed Eric Pickles.

Last year she enjoyed discussing MPs' expenses with particular focus on his own.

By the end of the school/village fete season she was impressed that such a fat man could move so fast whenever he saw her.

She can't wait for him to start canvassing

Original poster
Strix · 17/03/2010 15:31

I think I'll just avoid the school fete this year. It will save me some money. I do lots of other things for the school. Missing one event hopefully won't make me a bad parent.

OP posts: