Charles Walker

[LunaHeather]

I wrote to him last week and got a reply, which he seems to have personally addressed and signed, which surprised me.

He isn't my MP.

I didn't realise that this week he's actually asked people to write, I was worried in case I was bugging him.

But he has asked...So I thought I'd flag it up in case other MNers wanted to write.

mobile.twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1362406296390164482

There's just something comforting in knowing they're not all lockdown fanatics in there.

Well he is a twat, isn't he? Does he understand the situation with the virus or is he deliberating being an idiot?

And I live the thought that "ten years of cuts to welfare services" Tories give a flying fuck about mental health. Opportunist.

"Well he is a twat, isn't he?"

There are 650 MPs. One, just one, stands up in The House and describes the struggles that some of his constituents (and, this OP suggests, those beyond) are having with a year of lockdowns and restrictions. And you call him a twat.

If you are coping with the current situation OK, that is wonderful. But there are many, many who are not. Some have already killed themselves in despair. Many are taking drugs, prescribed or not, to try to handle the situation. Some are harming themselves or those around them. They are entitled to representation in parliament too.

Thanks for giving the post a bump.

Thanks for posting OP.

@Downriver

Well he is a twat, isn't he? Does he understand the situation with the virus or is he deliberating being an idiot?

Wow so very rude and ignorant. He is not a twat. He is the voice of millions of rational human beings in this country that are being silenced by people like you calling us twats and idiots.

I am not the rude and ignorant one. We need rationality, not kneejerkism that says I wish I wish I wish this virus would go away. If I close my eyes, maybe it will......

And this week I lost a friend, who suffered from long COVID. So don’t talk to me about suffering.

I think he is great and speaks for pretty much everyone I know!

A friend lives in his constituency & says he is a good MP. And she’s a remainer.

I’m sure it was Charles Walker that complained in parliament about heavy handed police.

Here

Charles Walker: Woman 'robbed of dignity' in Parliament arrest www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-55059316

He used to be my MP (and my neighbour) and I have a lot of respect for him. He is absolutely right when he says that mental health is being downplayed in lockdown. I know of three suicides in lockdown 1, including one in his own constituency. Thank goodness that someone is speaking up.

Good for him for speaking up. Good to get some balance and perspective.

Oh this Charles Walker, you mean, who has made a misery of life for working poor people, yes, the one who gives zero fucks about anyone not a well heeled Tory.

How Charles Walker voted on Welfare and Benefits #
Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed Show votes
0 votes for, 8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2014.

Consistently voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes
14 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012–2018.

Consistently voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
51 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2012–2016.

Consistently voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2012.

Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
0 votes for, 15 votes against, between 2011–2016.

Almost always voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices

Yeah, he really cares about mental health!!

He's a voice of reason in this madness, thank god!

I like what CW is saying.
He maybe wrong - I may be wrong to agree with him.
But we need someone to promote those ideas & make those arguments.

For me, it's like putting someone on trial for a supposed crime (or holding under scrutiny the virus response strategy).

You can't know if the right decisions were made ultimately if someone hasn't robustly argued why it might be a very wrong set of decisions. We CANNOT get to an end point which is a one we can all have confidence in without scrutinising the situation hard in meantime.

Opportunistic hand-wringing. If he cares about the vulnerable, is he lobbying for the UC uplift to be kept in place? Getting sick doesn't do much for one's mental health and nor does it sell cocktails, in my experience. Nice labradors, though.

Any fool can shout no. If unsubstantiated and just dog whistling, what value is it!

ismympaprick.co.uk/mp/charles-walker

@TravellingTilbury

Thanks for posting OP.

Glad I did. I wasn't sure but I thought there might be some MNers who want to contact him - in a positive way.

I wasn't expecting a reply as I'm not his constituent.

I think some posters are missing the point. You may or may not like a particular MP. You may or may not agree with his stance on any issue in the past.

But this issue is the suffering of many people due to lockdown/restrictions. They have contacted their MP - as is the right of each of us - and have the right to expect that their concerns are raised in parliament.

It seems unlikely that the residents of only one constituency in the country are contacting their MP with such concerns, but only Charles Walker is raising them in parliament. You may question his motives, but he is responding to his constituents' requests. Unlike other MPs who are not, and perhaps should have their motives for deciding not to questioned.

amici I am on good terms with the local MP as he has helped campaign on local things

His response to my queries on this has been something else. He hasn't exactly apologised but after I pointed out he had been downright childish in one response, he has started being more polite.

He did tell me "I cannot imagine England having a lockdown, please don't worry about it" about three hours before the announcement, so I do think MPs are maybe kept in the dark?

My MP is similar Luna. Usually v good but during the last issue, completely off the mark with her responses. And certainly not raising issues in parliament.

@Downriver

Oh this Charles Walker, you mean, who has made a misery of life for working poor people, yes, the one who gives zero fucks about anyone not a well heeled Tory.

How Charles Walker voted on Welfare and Benefits #
Almost always voted against spending public money to create guaranteed jobs for young people who have spent a long time unemployed Show votes
0 votes for, 8 votes against, 1 absence, between 2011–2014.

Consistently voted for reducing housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have excess bedrooms (which Labour describe as the "bedroom tax") Show votes
14 votes for, 0 votes against, 4 absences, between 2012–2018.

Consistently voted for a reduction in spending on welfare benefits Show votes
51 votes for, 0 votes against, 3 absences, between 2012–2016.

Consistently voted for making local councils responsible for helping those in financial need afford their council tax and reducing the amount spent on such support Show votes
4 votes for, 0 votes against, in 2012.

Consistently voted against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability Show votes
0 votes for, 15 votes against, between 2011–2016.

Almost always voted against raising welfare benefits at least in line with prices

Couldn't give a shit if he used to rob grannies, hes expressing the opinions of his constituents which many MPs daren't do!

He speaks for millions of people out there and giving them a voice.