MPs are elected to the House of Commons to represent the interests and concerns of all the people who live in their constituency (called constituents), whether they voted for them at the General Election or not. The House of Commons is made up of 650 MPs, each representing one constituency. South Cambridgeshire constituency has approximately 84,000 constituents and my role is to represent them to the best of my ability in Parliament.
MPs consider and vote on legislation and use their position to ask government ministers questions about current issues. They split their time between working in Parliament and working in the constituency. In Parliament, MPs spend their time fighting for the interests of their constituents, attending debates, scrutinising and voting on legislation, and attending meetings. In the constituency, MPs hold advice surgeries for their constituents to come and talk to them about local issues and problems, attend meetings and community events, as well as visiting local organisations and businesses.
Strict Parliamentary protocol dictates that Members of Parliament should only take up issues raised by their own constituents. I can therefore only help you if you are a resident of the South Cambridgeshire constituency, and you can check using your postcode on my homepage here.
How does an MP help with a problem?
MPs can help with a problem by:
- Writing on your behalf to the relevant department or official.
- Writing on your behalf to the minister concerned with that facet of policy.
- In some cases, an MP may be able to raise a matter in the House of Commons, where it will be officially recorded
Many problems can be solved in this way, but sadly not all of them will be - the department or minister may not be able to provide the answer you seek. Please be aware that if the decision has been made in the correct way, there may be little further support I can give at that stage.
If you are unsure as to whether I can help, please do telephone my office on 020 7219 8089 for advice.
EDMs and Debates
As a rule, I do not sign Early Day Motions as they are not an effective means to achieve a change in policy and cost the taxpayer considerable sums each year with no useful outcome. I am, however, happy to attend debates as requested if diary constraints allow.