Letter: A Standard Response Received from Angela Richardson

Published on: 4 May, 2022
Updated on: 9 May, 2022

Angela Richardson and Boris Johnson

From: Mike Dent

vice-chair of the Guildford Liberal Democrats

See also: Will Our MP Keep Her Word Regarding Support for the Prime Minister?

Here is the response I received from our MP, Angela Richardson. It is word for word identical to the response she has sent to other constituents.

Dear Mike,

Thank you for taking the time to write to me about recent developments surrounding the Prime Minister.

I would like to thank all of my constituents across Guildford for continuing to share their views on this important matter with me.

We have all been forced to make hard sacrifices over the past two years, and I share the frustration and anger of constituents across Guildford who have lost loved ones, struggled with mental and physical health, and were unable to celebrate occasions that meant a lot to them and their families.

It should never be the case that any Government falls short of observing the very rules that they have introduced to keep us all safe. Therefore, the news that the Metropolitan Police has issued a Fixed Penalty Notice for breaches of Covid lockdown rules to the Prime Minister is disappointing.

It is helpful that with the Met’s action, we are further along the line of establishing the facts in this matter and Sue Gray is still to publish her final findings, which I expect to be published once the police have concluded their investigation.

I have been consistent in the view that no one, not even the Prime Minister, is above Parliamentary scrutiny or observance of the customs of the House. I abstained on the Owen Paterson vote and have always stated my clear belief that MPs should be held to the highest standards.

Last week, I was in the Chamber and prepared to vote in favour of the motion debated in the House to refer the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee to investigate the circumstances of the statements that he gave to the House a few months ago. I believe that it is important and right that all the facts are established in a fair and transparent manner. The motion in question was passed without a vote, however, please be assured that I intended to support the motion if pushed to a vote.

I still hope that, following this investigation, the Prime Minister will take the important step of correcting the record of what was said to the House in December 2021 regarding parties in 10 Downing Street.

I will continue to hold the Government to account, as a critical friend, on the issues that matter most to the people across our communities and continue to work to achieve positive outcomes for residents across Guildford, Cranleigh and our villages.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Best wishes,

Angela Richardson MP

Share This Post