Letter: Why Should Our MP Broadcast Her Personal Views?

Published on: 21 Jul, 2016
Updated on: 21 Jul, 2016

Rt Hon Anne Milton MP

From David Middleton

I disagree with David Smith’s view that: “…for an MP to be unwilling to say what their view is, is intolerable.”, as stated in his comment on the article Former Council Leader Side Swipes MP and Old Colleagues While Promoting Elected Mayor System,

I have had no dealings with Mrs Milton and I do not know her other than that she is our local MP.

But why, just because she is an MP, should she be required to broadcast he personal views?

When all’s said and done, the referendum was a personal vote by all of us. Perhaps she chose to remain quiet, so as not to influence other citizens, to allow them to make their own minds up from the information available in the public domain.

Some MPs and other public service officials frequently appear on TV, radio and social media, broadcasting opinions to all and sundry and mainly blowing their own trumpet to raise their profile.

My personal experience, having worked in public service for over 30 years, is that the people who quietly knuckle down and get on with the job are always more productive than the ones that are always shouting and making a fuss about how great they are.

Perhaps Mrs Milton is just quietly getting on with her job, rather than spending her valuable time in TV and radio studios or on Facebook, Twitter or some internet blog?

Responses to Letter: Why Should Our MP Broadcast Her Personal Views?

John Lomas Reply

July 21, 2016 at 3:23 pm

Is there not a convention that says members of the front benches, as opposed to backbenchers, are expected, or maybe even instructed, not to make personal opinions known publicly unless they coincide with party policy.

So maybe silence infers disagreement.
Terry Duckmanton Reply

July 21, 2016 at 5:57 pm

When we vote in a general election we do so in the hope that the person for whom we are voting will represent our views in parliament. Most of what our elected representative does in parliament will be done based on his or her personal views or those of the party to which he or she belongs.

Unless we are told what the prospective MP and party believe in we cannot know whether he or she will will correctly reflect our own views.
Martin Elliott Reply

July 22, 2016 at 2:21 pm

It’s not meant to be a personal view on a free vote. As noted above, one would hope one’s MP represents as far as possible the view of the constituency.

I think, as others have found, trying to get a real response from Anne Milton rather than a form letter from her PAs takes about three communications. Even then the response is the usual position statement from a ministry rather then her position.

Of course, this is not what you want on controversial issues such as badger culls or a full hunting ban.