What do our MP's do for us?

[garinda]

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

These figures don't surprise me in the least, it just makes me very suspicious of the figures Garinda quoted. Obviously there are different angles of looking at things but with all the major employers that have left the area I know which figures make more sense to me. Suppose it is just how the figures are wrapped up.

Basic information unemployment graph, in census years.
Hyndburn Lancashire through time | Work and Poverty Statistics | Census Unemployment by Sex

Male unemployment graph 1931 - 2001, although that doesn't show the many traditional textile jobs done by women in the area.
Hyndburn Lancashire through time | Historical Statistics on Work and Poverty for the District/Unitary Authority | Rate: Male Unemployment

Decline in manufacturing jobs 1841 - 2001.
Hyndburn Lancashire through time | Historical Statistics on Industry for the District/Unitary Authority | Rate: Manufacturing

Rise in service industry jobs in the area, for the same period. Note the massive rise from the mid seventies until present day.
Hyndburn Lancashire through time | Historical Statistics on Industry for the District/Unitary Authority | Rate: Services

Some historical information is hard to come by, as the borough in it's present form, with changed boundaries, didn't come into existence until 1974.

[garinda]

Therefore, according to all the facts and figures, Hyndburn has less unemployment now than we did in the last two recessions of the late seventies/eighties, and the one in 1992/3.

[jaysay]

This is a very interesting thread, there are two types of MP there is a constituency MP and here is a Government MP Greg has been a constituency MP save the time he spent in the whips office early on. Ken Hargreaves was always a constituency MP because he only had an interest in working for the people of Hyndburn.

An MP can do very little, if say a firm like Rist's want to close a factory, they can talk to the management but at the end of the day it is they who make the final decision.

I don't have much idea how Greg worked for the community, I can only say that over his stint at Westminster I have contacted him on quite a few occasions and always received a full detailed reply, which is what I would expect from my MP.

I had more of an insight into the work carried out by Ken as I was involved. I often smile when I hear critics attacking the long holidays that MPs get, they may not be in Parliament, but they sure as hell ain't st on a beach soaking up the rays either. Ken had just the normal 2 weeks like everybody else, but the rest of the time he was working in the community as I'm sure Greg has done too. although Ken was in a different position than Greg,(he was single) Ken also worked every weekend as well often meeting people at his own home, or if need be making home visits. I would say that unless you have actually had the need of help from your representative at Westminster you are very unlikely to appreciate just what their contribution is to the local community

[Gayle]

That's an excellent post Jaysay and conveys exactly what I was thinking. Obviously, I don't know Ken but I am aware of his standing in the community and the respect that people of all parties still have for him. I don't know Greg an awful lot better but I have seen him in action and I am able to pop in for a chat if I want.

I've always said that Greg is a local MP rather than a career MP which is basically what you've said. He'd rather work on individual issues for local people than be someone who is in politics just to get as much power as possible. Unfortunately, some people see this as a negative and like their MPs to be more high profile.

I was told the other day that Greg can't have done much for Hyndburn because his face isn't in the paper very often!!!! This came from a fairly staunch labour voter who is considering changing his vote at the next election. I tried to explain all that an MP does and why there's no need to have the glory of having every single success in the paper but it didn't wash. So it would appear that to be doing something you actually have to be seen to be doing something!!!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Gayle

That's an excellent post Jaysay and conveys exactly what I was thinking. Obviously, I don't know Ken but I am aware of his standing in the community and the respect that people of all parties still have for him. I don't know Greg an awful lot better but I have seen him in action and I am able to pop in for a chat if I want.

I've always said that Greg is a local MP rather than a career MP which is basically what you've said. He'd rather work on individual issues for local people than be someone who is in politics just to get as much power as possible. Unfortunately, some people see this as a negative and like their MPs to be more high profile.

I was told the other day that Greg can't have done much for Hyndburn because his face isn't in the paper very often!!!! This came from a fairly staunch labour voter who is considering changing his vote at the next election. I tried to explain all that an MP does and why there's no need to have the glory of having every single success in the paper but it didn't wash. So it would appear that to be doing something you actually have to be seen to be doing something!!!

If all the person you mentioned wants from a M.P. is someone who constantly photographed in the newspapers, and is happier promoting themselves locally, rather than the area's interests at Wesminster, perhaps that person should change who they vote at the next election for after all.

He, or she, sounds like the dense electorate any party would be glad to attract.

They sound almost as foolish as the person who I used to work with, who never read any of the candidates policies, but decided who to vote for based on who had the nicest face.

Pity he wasn't voting in St. Andrew's ward the other year.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Gayle

That's an excellent post Jaysay and conveys exactly what I was thinking. Obviously, I don't know Ken but I am aware of his standing in the community and the respect that people of all parties still have for him. I don't know Greg an awful lot better but I have seen him in action and I am able to pop in for a chat if I want.

I've always said that Greg is a local MP rather than a career MP which is basically what you've said. He'd rather work on individual issues for local people than be someone who is in politics just to get as much power as possible. Unfortunately, some people see this as a negative and like their MPs to be more high profile.

I was told the other day that Greg can't have done much for Hyndburn because his face isn't in the paper very often!!!! This came from a fairly staunch labour voter who is considering changing his vote at the next election. I tried to explain all that an MP does and why there's no need to have the glory of having every single success in the paper but it didn't wash. So it would appear that to be doing something you actually have to be seen to be doing something!!!

That's the only problem these days Gayle, its not what you do, but what your seen to have done, I have often said, that irrespective of political allegiance any one being prepared to give up their time to work for the community they live in, deserve a big thank you form everybody, because working for the general public is one of the most thankless jobs you could have. The trouble is you can't satisfy all of the people all of the time, your damned if you do and damned if you don't. People never hear of phone calls at 7am on a Sunday Morning or 11pm on a Friday night and believe me it does happen on a regular basis

[Margaret Pilkington]

Personally, I would prefer an MP to be doing the work of the constituents, rather that giving self publicising interviews and photo calls to the newspapers.
I have never had the need to contact our MP, so I can only go by what other people have told me....and it all seems to have been positive stuff.

Good post by the way Jaysay!

[cashman]

Originally Posted by jaysay

This is a very interesting thread, there are two types of MP there is a constituency MP and here is a Government MP Greg has been a constituency MP save the time he spent in the whips office early on. Ken Hargreaves was always a constituency MP because he only had an interest in working for the people of Hyndburn.

An MP can do very little, if say a firm like Rist's want to close a factory, they can talk to the management but at the end of the day it is they who make the final decision.

I don't have much idea how Greg worked for the community, I can only say that over his stint at Westminster I have contacted him on quite a few occasions and always received a full detailed reply, which is what I would expect from my MP.

I had more of an insight into the work carried out by Ken as I was involved. I often smile when I hear critics attacking the long holidays that MPs get, they may not be in Parliament, but they sure as hell ain't st on a beach soaking up the rays either. Ken had just the normal 2 weeks like everybody else, but the rest of the time he was working in the community as I'm sure Greg has done too. although Ken was in a different position than Greg,(he was single) Ken also worked every weekend as well often meeting people at his own home, or if need be making home visits. I would say that unless you have actually had the need of help from your representative at Westminster you are very unlikely to appreciate just what their contribution is to the local community

good post jaysay, i never used Ken or Greg personally as i never had the need, but aware of quite a few who have, ALL have had nowt but praise fer both of em when they called em, so that was the basis i said i did not despise Ken, was hard but i do call as i see. both men gave of their best fer the community when asked simple as.