What Is An Mp Legally Obliged To Do, When A Constituent Writes To Them?

[Hypognosis]

In particular, say the MP is from Tory/Labour and the letter writer is a UKIP supporter.

(We can discuss other small parties later).

[mikey4444]

If the letter is a genuine one, then he ought to reply. Party affiliation is immaterial. Once an MP is elected, he represents 100% of his constituents, regardless of how they voted.

But if its full of abuse, perhaps the best place for it is in the bin ?

[ToraToraTora]

There is virtualy nothing an MP has to do under the law but MPs who are responsive in their constituencies tend to last longer. Of course there is a lot of partisan feeling but many also support their MP regardless of political Hue.

[bednobs]

or she. Women can do that now you know

[ToraToraTora]

....and as mikey correctly points out, the MP is responsible for the whole constituency. Of course mikey's constituency has just elected a conservative so perhaps he can report back later as to the performance of his new MP.

[ladyalex]

They have no legal obligation to do anything at all when a constituent contacts them.
But if they wish to seek re-election it would not be wise to ignore their supporters.

[Gromit]

They are not legally obliged to do anything. Though it is polite to acknowlege a letter, if it is antagonistic to the MPs known views, then they are entitled to completely ignore it.

[Peter Pedant]

nothing

he has as far as I can see no legal obligations towards his constituents

He certainly doesnt need to asnwer letters

I got the message when I wrote to Tom Sckville about disabled children - he was a sub-sub minister for the disabled at the time,
and the text of his reply was:

" Thank you for your letter." Your most sincerely etc etc

[Old_Geezer]

I wonder if ignoring the letter writer might not be the better option sometimes.

I know a fair few years back I wrote to the Labour MP for the constituency and the letter I received back to mine stated she had a different opinion to me. Basically she was not prepared to represent my views but going to vote for the control freakery that the government that was trying to impose at the time. Which may have been true, but it meant it decided where my next vote wasn't going.

Yes she was out next go so I couldn't have been alone in my opinion of her as our representative.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh and yes, they sometimes pass your letter to a member of their staff to reply with some kind of standard "there there don't worry your little head about it we have it all under control" type response.

If your query was important to you you need to respond stating your indignation at being treated as some kind of thicko when the problem really was they couldn't understand your plain and well stated case. Not that they actually ever do what you want; but will eventually explain why they are sorry but can't (be bothered).

[ichkeria]

It depends on theletter as what sort of reply you get:
'Dear mr Trotsky
I am a UKIP supporter can you look into the problem I am having with the council over...'
is likely to get a positive response
'Dear Ms Snooty
I am a Labour supporter and I want you to vote with labour on xx issue even tho you are a Tory because obviously I know best'
is likely to get a holding reply at best
Of course one can switch the parties around :-)

[Hypognosis]

Good replies: keep them coming.

But: did Citizen's Charter die a death? If so, in what decade? (It kicked off in the 90s, as I recall it). Platitudes, such as "your query is being dealt with", were something of a waste of paper and postage costs, weren't they?

[whiskeryron]

I once emailed Vincent Cable who I like very much with a topical ( at the time) question & never heard a dickey bird from him.

[sherrardk]

I emailed the local MP and he wrote back (posh House of Commons envelope and paper) and he wrote again when he was campaigning to be re-elected (I need him to write to me some more so that each of the kids can have a letter from the H of C). He also emails a newsletter now and then.

[Hypognosis]

So, the categories into which the MP can file incoming post items are:

1) Paid-Up Party Member - send a free gift or a newsletter
2) Party faithful - send ack; continue following party whip
3) Floating voter - send lots of bunf and/or promise to look into it
4) Opposition suppoter - send ack or casually ignore (coin toss)
5) Rabid opponent (allegiance unspecified) - pass to authorities
6) Crackpot - pin on 'funnies' section of noticeboard.


I'm sure we can work up a case to argue that they do not fit the advertised description of 'local representative' at all. They are just party apparachiks (a word I probably don't understand the full meaning of).

[mosesg]

I often used to write to my previous MP about issues, and asking how she was going to vote on certain things. Although she wasn't who I voted for, she always wrote back with an answer.

[Hypognosis]

@mosesg

Good to hear that you got your money's worth.

Care of google:
"The basic annual salary for an MP from 1 April 2014 is £67,060. MPs also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London and in their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency."

And there are 650 of them… are there 65 million of us yet?