MPs want to stop helping constituents with with their bin collections and street repairs

[T_i_B]

Whilst I agree that much of this is for local councillors rather then MP's, I strongly disagree with the proposal that MP's stop dealing with questions about Government policies.

We elect MP's to hold central government to account. Also worth remembering that it's MP's who get appointed ministers in charge of government departments.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11401630/MPs-want-to-stop-helping-constituents-with-with-their-bin-collections-and-street-repairs.html

MPs want to stop helping their constituents with a range of local issues including neighbourly rows, problems with bin collections and disputes with the councils about street repairs.

Other areas where MPs could withdraw support include fallings out with landlords, employers, other family members, companies that sell faulty goods and court decisions.

They could also stop dealing with questions about Government policies, preferring that they “should be directed to the government department that deals with that subject”.

The proposals are contained in a new definition of the “role of an MP” which has been proposed by the cross party Standards committee which sets out how MPs should behave.

[LeftishBrit]

1. While I see their point about not getting too involved with local 'pothole politics' which is more

the role of local councillors, they do seem to be trying to define everything as Not My Job.

I suspect that more people are going to their MP with housing and employment problems, because of cuts in local government social services - due to policies which in many cases the MPs supported. If the MPs don't want to be landed with everyone's social and legal problems, maybe they should consider voting for adequate funding for the community agencies that deal with such matters, and the local authorities that run them!

And I agree that people should be able to contact their MP about government policies. The MPs influence the government, and in many cases will become members of it. A lot of decisions are political; and expecting people to make all their contacts with either faceless civil servants or decidedly non-tenured Ministers, is not reasonable - especially as not everyone lives in or near London!

[non sociopath skin]

2. Well said, LB

The Skin