Replies from your MP
Author
Discussion

W12GT

Original Poster:

4,250 posts

244 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
As a first for me I wrote to my MP this week. I received what o seem to be a very generic Tory reply. Which got me wondering…..

Are people willing to share their replies? Wondering just how controlled the message is out of the Conservative constituencies. This is the reply I received…

Thank you for contacting me with your opinions on the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and the various recent media reports of parties taking place in the Downing Street garden. As you will be aware, I have had many conversations while out in the constituency and received messages from constituents on this issue, both in support of the Prime Minister and criticising him.

While I have read all correspondence sent to me, my position on the Prime Minister and this issue has not changed since these allegations were first reported, and I will continue to advise that we wait on the findings of the report produced by Sue Gray, which will be published soon.

I would like to reassure you that my position on any party found to have broken the social distancing or Covid guidance rules in place at the time it was held has not changed. As I have said previously, any event found to have broken the law at the time would be completely unacceptable and, should it be found that any event that broke the rules we all adhered to took place, I will be pushing for a severe and appropriate punishment for those responsible.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has previously provided assurances that no rules were broken and that he did not organise any parties in Downing Street that would have contradicted Covid guidelines. Nonetheless, I was pleased to see his apology to the House on Wednesday 12th at the beginning of Prime Minister’s Questions.

I realise that these reports are providing yet more disappointing news for those of us who have sacrificed so much throughout this pandemic, but I want to continue to thank everyone who has played their part in our successful fight against Covid-19 through vaccination and isolation and hope that we continue to follow the guidance that has us in the strong position we are now in.

As mentioned earlier, I will continue to wait for the report that will be produced following the independent investigation by Sue Gray before calling for any further action to be taken. As in all cases, we must ensure that evidence-based facts behind any allegation are established before calling for action to be taken, and it is of course only right and proper that this remains the basis for our legal system. I assure you that once the results of that inquiry are published, if it is found that any laws were broken I will demand that those found responsible are disciplined in the strongest possible way.


Thank you for contacting me regarding this important matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch if I can provide any further assistance.
Kind regards,


Gagan


Gagan Mohindra MP - PPS for the Home Office
Member of Parliament for South West Hertfordshire
House of Commons | London | SW1A 0AA
Proud to represent communities including South Oxhey, Moor Park, Croxley, Chorleywood, Sarratt, Belsize, Flaunden, Chipperfield, Bovingdon, Felden, Berkhamsted, Rickmansworth, Wigginton, Aldbury and Tring

anonymous-user

77 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
Typical backbencher party stooge. My local MP is the same, will do, think, say whatever the whip wants him to do. Shameless. I live in one of the poorest, most deprived wards in his constituency but all he does is post nonsense about which businesses he’s visited and retweet CCHQ. Not. A. fking. Clue,

Derek Smith

48,812 posts

271 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
I've written three times to my current MP. The same MO is followed every time.

I get an auto reply initially within 24 hrs. No complaints there, although it's done just to say that they respond to every email within 24 hrs.

The wait for an actual reply has gone up each time, from two to four weeks, but on the first two times the reply was essentially the same. I was thanked for my letter and then given drivel about something almost, but not quite entirely, on another matter. A glutton for punishment, I tried a third time, this time suggesting that if she did not answer the three questions I asked, I would take that as meaning she doesn't want my vote.

The generated a different reply. The wordage must have trebled, with more paragraphs than questions asked. It ran to two sheets of, rather flamboyant, headed notepaper. A poor précis of my questions was quoted before each answer, but she avoided the subject, and rather unsubtly.

She has a large majority. It’s regarded as a safe tory seat. However, the demographic is changing, and so might voting habits, although she don’t care it seems.

anonymous-user

77 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
I've decided now it's pretty much a waste of time writing to my local MP no real understanding of the issue or just fires it off to the relevant Gov dept etc for a response.

I was on the other end for a few years, i used to draught the replies for a gov minister if an MP or 'Ministerial support unit' question/letter came in then get it fired back for onwards sending back to the constituent, once several people had 'checked it' biglaugh

They used to sometimes hand write a few slimey words at the end of the facts.

stitched

3,813 posts

196 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
My initial letter was returned requiring I provide proof I lived in the constituency, my reply pointing out my MP did not was not worthy of a reply.
My second letter, having 5000 signatures from residents, has oddly enough generated a reply, so hopefully she will be questioning Sir Whittys knighthood and subjecting him and others to police review.
Breath not being held here mind.

Stick Legs

8,307 posts

188 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
My letter:

Dear Mrs. Pow,

I am writing to you as a life long Conservative voter and concerned member of this party.

I must urge you as my MP to please consider the interests of this party and this country and send a letter to the 1922 committee sharing the lack of confidence I and many other Conservatives have in the ongoing debacle that is Boris Johnson’s leadership.

I thank you for your hard work in our constituency and believe that the country’s best interests are served by a Conservative government that has proven to be compassionate, dedicated, unflinching and successful in the face of huge challenges.

This success may yet be squandered on maintaining the reputation of a man who is unworthy of the cost.

Yours respectfully,


Her reply:

Thank you for contacting me.

Over the last week I have engaged with many constituents about the May 20th, 2020 ‘party’ in Downing Street. I appreciate all the comments and concerns that have been shared with me.

The level of anger the reported ‘party’ in the garden, has caused, together with other reports of alleged events, is palpable as I know so many people have endured difficult and tough challenges over the last two years, including losing loved ones, being separated from family, and a myriad of other sacrifices. I am especially sorry for the upset this has caused to some individual constituents, with these reports bringing back particularly painful memories.

At PMQs last week, the Prime Minister rightly apologised. I know many people remain unhappy by his apology which is why I welcome the ongoing investigation into these allegations which will establish all the facts and report back as soon as possible. This is an independent investigation and is being led by the highly respected civil servant Sue Gray. The Terms of Reference of the investigation make clear that where there are credible allegations of gatherings, these will be looked at. It has been confirmed that this includes the allegations relating to November and December 2020 as well as 15th and 20th May 2020. It is right that we wait for the outcome of this investigation. If wrongdoing is established, the Government have been clear that appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

As MPs, we have a vital responsibility to set an example, and that goes for those working for the Government too. Some constituents have asked me directly and I can absolutely confirm that I was not invited, nor attended any events in No 10 during lockdown. I have done all I can to observe the difficult but necessary restrictions since the onset of the pandemic and I share the anger across the country caused by these reported events and am very frustrated at their undermining nature.

I, as well as my constituency team, remain determined to continue to help Taunton Deane as we have done steadfastly since the onset of the pandemic. Indeed, we have continued to deliver on the priorities of the area. I also remain utterly focused on my work as Environment Minister. Over the last two years I have, with my team, delivered the Environment Act which is the largest piece of legislation to go through Government in two decades and will have a beneficial affect for us all. I will continue to do all I can to help ensure we leave our environment in a better state for future generations.

I am following developments on these reported events and like you, await the outcome of the investigation and then I will consider what actions are necessary.

Thank you again for contacting me.
Kind regards,

vaud

58,032 posts

178 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
stitched said:
My second letter, having 5000 signatures from residents, has oddly enough generated a reply, so hopefully she will be questioning Sir Whittys knighthood and subjecting him and others to police review.
I suspect these go to the bottom of the pile as you risk looking like a conspiracy loon in the eyes of the constituency office. (not my view but I can imagine that is where it goes... along with Blair as a war criminal, etc)

longblackcoat

5,047 posts

206 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
Dear Nick,

Thank you for your message.

Whilst Dominic's position on the PM can be found here https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/dominic-raab... - I will certainly reinforce your views with him when I see him next week, and I know that he and I share your frustrations on this issue.

With best wishes,

Ian Riley
Senior Caseworker to the Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab
Member of Parliament for Esher and Walton

scenario8

7,613 posts

202 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
My MP is a Junior Minister (quite the feat considering his very brief time in Parliament and near absence of experience in public life before unseating a sitting MP. Who can explain that fast track record?).

I’ve penned two emails in recent months, my sole contacts with my constituency MP in all my years. Both emails were polite, relatively brief and invited a response. Neither generated a response.

FWIW my degree is (in part) in Politics, I worked for a short period in the Palace of Westminster and I don’t consider myself a complete twunt so the absence of any response disappoints me somewhat.

<Shrugs>

crankedup5

10,917 posts

58 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
I wrote to my MP about a week ago and still awaiting a response. Bury St Edmunds Tory safe seat.

rjfp1962

9,076 posts

96 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
Emailed mine last weekend... No reply as yet from the Chief Whip in Sherwood.....!

Kermit power

29,622 posts

236 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
Whilst he may often be the butt of jokes on the News Quiz, I have to say that Chris Grayling always responds quickly (and did so pretty quickly even when he was a Cabinet Minister), generally doesn't send out obvious boilerplate waffle and by and large actually answers the question.

Maybe this explains why he is no longer a Cabinet Minister? hehe

Lily the Pink

6,698 posts

193 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
I wrote to mine at the beginning of last week. No response received yet.

I have written to him a couple of times since he was elected and eventually have received responses which read very much like they will have been written by Central Office or the relevant department, rather than by him or his staff.

Boringvolvodriver

11,320 posts

66 months

Friday 21st January 2022
quotequote all
Mine had another email from me earlier in the week. He is normally pretty good at getting back to me and I know from a doorstep conversation I had with him in December 19 that he is not a fan of Johnson.

No reply as yet but he probably knows from my previous emails that the Tories will not get my vote again unless they can demonstrate competency.

GT03ROB

13,987 posts

244 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
quotequote all
I have emailed my MP once. I sent the email at around 4am in the morning.

By 7am I had a response, saying he agreed totally with my views, did I know he had said similar recently pointing me to where he had said it & committed to continue to push the point.

Rock solid Tory seat.

Sir Desmond Swayne.

blueg33

44,785 posts

247 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
quotequote all
No reply from mine. Safe Tory.

Scrump

23,731 posts

181 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
quotequote all
I emailed my Tory MP last year.
Received a very personal email response from his assistant a few days later and a few weeks after that received another email letting me know what the MP had found out.

A few months later another email telling me of progress on the issue.


CoolHands

22,240 posts

218 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
quotequote all
I’ve had 2 replies from a local Tory mp. And zero replies from 2 letters (email) I sent to that useless Dawn Butler. Funnily enough though her auto email response did include “First elected African-Caribbean woman to become a UK government minister” in her signature. She’s not the first black Caribbean, nor the first black Caribbean woman; but is the first African-Caribbean woman! She had to make sure she found something unique she could shoehorn into her sig.

Louis Balfour

28,176 posts

245 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
quotequote all

Our MP used to be Ken Clarke and he proved useful more than once. Not always, but he generally made an effort.

His replacement, Ruth Edwards, not so much.


The Mad Monk

11,058 posts

140 months

Saturday 22nd January 2022
quotequote all
longblackcoat said:
Dear Nick,

Thank you for your message.

Whilst Dominic's position on the PM can be found here https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/dominic-raab... - I will certainly reinforce your views with him when I see him next week, and I know that he and I share your frustrations on this issue.

With best wishes,

Ian Riley
Senior Caseworker to the Rt. Hon. Dominic Raab
Member of Parliament for Esher and Walton
Same MP as me.

I have considered writing to him about various things. I might do it and see if I get the same response as you.

I can't see DR ever running for PM!