Come back Harry

there wasn’t much to forgive 😉

By contrast – my first response from Ms Engels:

Thank you for your email which has finally come to me rather round the houses.

I have received a number of emails via the Writetothem website, but I have no record of receiving anything from you, so I’m sorry that this is the first time you have received anything from me.

I send an acknowledgement of all correspondence received (whether by email, fax or post) and try to reply as quickly as possible. I reply to all correspondence, whether it is supportive, hostile or in between.

As you are aware, having been elected only in May this year, it has taken quite some time to find, rent and set up an office in Eckington, to get a room in the House of Commons and to employ people. This is not an excuse, only a reason for why I may not have been as quick and efficient as I would like to be in responding. As far as this goes, I hope that things can only get better.

To the main points of your email:

ID cards I share many of your concerns on ID cards – particularly the issue of forgeries and cost. I’m not sure off the top of my head when the bill is coming before the House of Commons again, but I’ll find out and get back to you. But there is still time to make changes and amendments.

Rebelling I hope that I will never vote against my whip and Party. I feel very strongly that I was elected as a representative of the Labour Party and as such should not pick and chose where to support and where not to support. Had I stood as an Independent candidate in the General Election, I would not be an MP today. There are certain issues, such as ID cards, which were part of the national Labour Party manifesto on which I was elected, so I would certainly not ‘rebel’ – especially not on this issue. I also think that by the time something comes to a final vote, it is too late to do anything. The time for discussion and persuasion comes much much earlier. An effective MP presents a good case and achieves change because the arguments are right – and those arguments are to be had now on ID cards, not on the evening of a vote.

I know that this is not what you want to hear, but I thought you’d rather have a truthful if disappointing response.

I’m happy to expand on any of these issues.

Please also let me know if you would like me to send you more details of the ID cards bill and at what point it is. The House of Commons provides excellent briefings and I’d be more than happy to send them to you if you send me your postal address.

Thanks for your email and sorry again for the delay in replying.

Best wishes

Natascha Engel

I don’t really know where to start. The thing that strikes me most clearly is that I was under the impression MPs were elected to represent their constituents. Not going to happen here is it?

I am considering my response.