Have you ever had a conversation with your MP?

Question

If so, what did you talk about - did they give satisfactory answers, or did they leave you more confused than before?

If not, why don't you? It's quite a liberating feeling, venting ones frustrations at the very cause of them, as well as being your God-given right, of course!

Be interesting to see the responses to this.

FAO Fontkinetic - luckily, the people who do know who and what an MP is are the people I was hoping would respond - ie people who know what they are talking about.

Answer 1

My MP is the father of my daughter's friend, so I know him quite well.

Never felt the need to go to him with any complaints or issues (yet) though.

I might pop along the road later and give him a mouthful just to see what it feels like!

Answer 2

My MP canvassed me in 2001, but didn't say much. I saw him at the hustings in 2005. He does all the conventional things.

Trucker, unfortunately MPs do need protection at surgeries. They get some maniacs going there. A few years ago a mentally insane man tried to kill the MP for Bath and actually murdered his agent.

Also, I am interested about the respondent who went into the bars in Westminster at 16. The amount of alcohol drunk by MPs is a scandal (although I believe less than in the past), and is used by the Whips as a means of control so that they vote for (or against) the government instead of representing their constitutents properly. Living in the middle of London, they haven't caught up with the rest of the UK where few people drink during the working day, not least because so many people drive to work. It is time there was a public outcry for the bars and restaurants at Westminster to be shut until the House has risen for the day. And when they are open they should voluntarily conform with the provisions of licensing law.

Answer 3

My local MP when I was at school was my best mate's dad. When we were 16, 17, 18 he used to let us into the Houses of Parliament where they have six bars and I had many conversations with him over countless beers paid for by you, the tax payer (I no longer live in the UK, it is a corrupt war mongering nation).

My mate's dad was a bit of a perv so most of the time we'd just talk about chicks but other than that the subjects tended to revolve around rugby, his inherently rascist attitudes and his utter disdain towards his wife.

I can't say that I ever vented my frustration as such but I did chunder on the Paisley carpet of the Long Bar just outside the House of Commons once.

Answer 4

Unfortunately yes!

It was Simon Hughes (Lib Dem) at the local A & E on a New Years Eve at approx 3am. I was with my boyfriend waiting for treatment after he had been assaulted.

Simon Hughes marched over, held out his hand, introduced himself and attempted to engage us in small talk. We were polite but not really in the mood to converse on the pros and cons of the government of the day.

Needless to say, it was a very short conversation.

I have since met and spoken to a number of MP's in the course of my job and socially. They tend to drink quite a lot so conversation can be somewhat haphazard and always self obsessed.

Perhaps I've just met the wrong MP's...

Answer 5

Never have. My MP is a London Cabbie - I would really rather have the 'Artful Dodger' a lawyer a QC for my MP - someone who has no difficulty reading a letter, which seems to be a problem with my MP who never responds. Waste of time going to his surgery then!

NOTE TO - PaulineM - you can e-mail your Congressman or woman via their website. Think you go via the House of Reps or Senate something like that. You put in your zip code and it tells you who your rep is.

Answer 6

I live in Canada and once sat at a round table meeting with the mayor of my town to discuss teenage habits and the things that we like to spend our free time doing. When the meeting was done the mayor agreed to put a skate park in town. Another time the Mp that wanted to be, came to my door and started talking to me about working and stuff like that, I told him I was not only in a union but had spent time as a rep, turned the questions around and found he was more interested in getting to the next door. Liberals!

Answer 7

Yes i've had a fair bit of contact with my MP and previous MP (British Parliament), my constituency and regional MSPs (Scottish Parliament), and 2 of Scotland's MEPs (European Parliament).

It's not difficult to speak to MPs and MSPs, they all have surgeries in their constituencies every few weeks and anyone can just turn up. Can also email, write or telephone them. Most are pretty good at responding.

Answer 8

My cousin is an MP and he is OK in private but get him in a room with non family and he switches on the insincerity and bullshite.
Most of the family have witnessed this and are appalled. He doesn't seem to realise he's doing it.

Answer 9

First of all, you're assuming that everyone knows what a MP is. Secondly, what the hell does MP stand for? MP= Multiple People, Married Professor, Many Preditors, Million People, etc etc etc

Answer 10

In the U.S., it's just as difficult to talk to a Senator or Congressperson, if you're not of the ruling political party as they are...same thing as in our state legislatures...

Maybe you'll have better luck w/ your MP(whatever British Commonwealth country you're in)...