So what will you be asking politicians about?

[EggcentricaGallumbits]

When they knock on your door?

But constituencies are huge - lots of canvassing has to be done by ordinary party members.

And even then, as Granny23 says, there aren't enough pairs of legs to do as much canvassing as would be ideal. Money is good, because if a party has a lot of it it can bus more people into where they're needed to canvas. Otherwise they pay their own fares, obviously. But there's no substitute for pairs of legs... [tired legs emoticon].

John Redwood probably spends most of his time helping out in some less safe neighbouring constituency. But that's (our current) democracy for you...

But vesela - John Redwood wasn't 'helping out' elsewhere, he was there, sitting in his car in my road and sending someone else first to ask if I wanted to talk to him. So maybe it saved him a few wasted minutes, but it certainly didn't make a good impression....

oh well then the useless

I'd like to know why the man from the Tories who knocked on my door today appeared to note my house number after I'd made it clear I wasn't interested in his literature and would be voting Labour.

I wish I'd asked him why he thinks two trustafarians who've never had a real job are in any way fit to run a whole country.

so they can mark you down as not needing any targeted literature/any more calls.

Me and my friend were discussing this today after we passed John Prescott campaigning in the street (yes really).

And six hours later, I still don't have a single question that I would like to ask any of them other than "why should I trust you to do what you say you will?" It is all so much spin and saying what they think we want to hear and I really despair for the future, regardless of who wins. Ho hum.

My MP is Labour, so I'd like to ask him how often he has voted against the Government.

Because, I don't believe anyone could agree with the Gov. every time. There has to be something that they would disagree with.

So basically I want to know if her genuinely represents me, or his party.

WhereYouLeftIt

You can find out how rebellious yuor MP is at

www.theyworkforyou.com/

Can also find out how they voted on certain big issues (Iraq, etc) and can see how their expenses compare to their peers.

I want to know why my niece can't get a place in a school within walking distance, why I may not have a job when I'm finished university, why hospital closure is the only way to save money and why no one mentions the £97 billion they intend to spend on trident nuclear weapons!! Did they not see the USA and Russia agree to stop further nuclear weapon advancement. Why not spend that money on decreasing class sizes, improving teachers education, promoting employment and helping our elderly....sorry rant over lol.

The purpose of knocking on doors is to identify people who will vote for them so they can make sure you have voted/ offer you a lift to do so. Political activists know that they should try to keep a canvasser busy so they have less time to identify their supporters.

So ask a lot of questions and they'll think you vote for their opposition and move hastily on . Don't ever expect a straight answer from a politican, they are adept at evasion and misrepresentation.

What are MPs actually responsible for?

How much can one individual MP actually do? I can't help feeling that a lot of these questions are actually out of the control of the MPs themselves?

Could they kindly go away

Nothing else There is nothing that they can say that would satisfy my concerns and needs or desires.

Unless Johnny Depp has just become a politician, then I would invite him in...

Tableof3 - Whittington has just had a maternity unit revamp. But it's facing the axe, along with Whittington A&E, as NHS managers look around for something to cut to save money. You can read all about it here:
whittingtonmum.wordpress.com
WhittingtonMum has been very busy haranguing politicians for the last few weeks, along with lots of others. There is a thread about it on this topic here somewhere.

Pavlovthecat - Johnny Depp hehe. Bring on that trend from the US where first you are a handsome film star and then a politician ...

Well, if the MPs are hearing a lot of the same questions/sentiments on the doorsteps, they'll prob. pass it on in some way...

but what tatt said - canvassing is research so parties know how to target their resources/ who to knock up on election day/who wants a poster etc. So if they have you down as a hardline supporter of the other main party in that constituency and unlikely to be swayed, they won't target you with any more stuff. (If they know you're a supporter of the third party in that constituency they might, though, in an effort to squeeze that vote).

It's not designed in itself to change people's minds, although they obviously try to create a good impression when doing it.

sorry if this is obvious...

Why they can never answer a straight question with a straight, unabigious answer prefering a more rarified version of "Yeah but No but..." which, when they've finished speaking leaves you none the wiser

...and if possible more annoyingly, why, when you ask them a question such as "Are you going to raise taxes to pay for " they reply "I tell you who isn't going to raise taxes the " They're all the same! Say what you think man (or woman)!

"What are MPs actually responsible for?

How much can one individual MP actually do? I can't help feeling that a lot of these questions are actually out of the control of the MPs themselves? "

GrendelsMum They still have a vote (whether they choose to use it ) The MP's have some say and should exercise their say on behalf of their constituents - that's why we vote them in. I want to know that they will take account of their constituents opinions when they vote, instead of being slaves to the whip.

If it's the current MP - why he's still living in Council Accomodation, despite earning at least £67,000 a year. Surely someone else needs that property? And why he has to spend so much money every year on printing (during the expenses scandal I checked out his expenses - mostly printing flyers. BORING).

I'd ask some foreign policy stuff, and erm, don't know.

If the BNP guy comes around - why the hell is he campaigning in a building where most of the residents are immigrants. How stupid is he? And then I'll kick him in the nuts. And be arrested. Oh well.

I want to know why tinted lenses for mearles irlen syndrome arent available for children on the nhs.The cheapest pair available to us parents of these unfortunate children is £110. not cheap esp as I have 2 children who need them. the politicians say its up the the education system to work with these kids to solve their problems.. hello, its their eyes which need the help as well.!!!

Gah - I'm too disillusioned. Though it is a very handy time to ask for those little jobs that need doing (can someone come round to clear away the empty methadone bottles at the bottom of our street please?....)

Qn 1 "What, in one clear sentence, do you believe the job description of local MP is?"
Qn 2 "And what exactly qualifies you for this?"
Qn 3 "Since the age of 18, how many times have you voted and for what parties (and why)?"
Qn 4 "What are the key issues on which you disagree with the party line?"
Qn 5 "Where do you stand in terms of having relatives working for you?"
Qn 6 "What are the 3 proudest moments of your employment career to date, as opposed to your political career and your personal accomplishments?"
Qn 7 "When was the last time you made a stand against anything in a public forum?"

(sitting MP's only)
Qn 8 "How many times did you address the house in the current parliament, and on what issues?"
Qn 9 "Have you ever voted against the whip, and why?"

what is classed as low, middle, or high income?

Anyone know?

I need to know before i can make up my mind as to what will benefit me and my family the best.

well a while ago middle/average incomes were about £24K. So low might be... below £10000? and high... £40ooo? possibly.