MPs need to be in parliament
Posted by Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, at 08:51, Fri 24 May 2013:
Everyone will be shocked and outraged at the appalling murder that took place in Woolwich, south London, on Wednesday.
Our heartfelt sympathy goes to the victim's family.
Nothing justifies this vicious crime. It was most certainly not carried out in the name of Islam. Muslims, Christians, Jews, people of all faiths, and those of no faith, are rightly horrified at this terrible and evil action.
I'm back home in the constituency for another week, as parliament is yet again in recess. Since March, parliament has had a 3 week break for Easter, a 10 day break before the Queen's speech at the beginning of May, and now we are on another break for Whitsun.
My colleague Margaret Hodge is right that this won't impress the public. It doesn't impress me much either.
Of course, like most MPs, I'm very busy in the constituency, meeting people and resolving problems locally.
Recently, for example, I've been very pleased that I've been able to prevent two families from being evicted from their homes because of mistakes by the Council and DWP.
I've been able to ensure a pensioner couple receive the benefits they're entitled to.
And I've sorted out a problem with a road crossing outside a constituent's house.
But the main job of being an MP is to represent my constituents at Westminster.
It's my responsibility to ensure your interests are represented to those in charge of national legislation and the decisions of government ministers that affect you, and to hold them to account on your behalf.
I can't do that effectively if parliament isn't meeting.
I can't ask questions of ministers if they're not in parliament to answer them.
Since March, the Prime Minister has answered questions in parliament only 4 times.
I haven't been able to ask George Osborne about living standards, Michael Gove about education, or Vince Cable about employment.
Yet their policies are having an effect on people's lives in Stretford and Urmston every single day.
It's hard to decide if this is simple incompetence by a government that can't manage its own business programme properly, or if it's a deliberate strategy by ministers to avoid hard questions.
But it certainly isn't good for democracy.
MPs need to be in parliament. That's where our job is done.
Kate Green
Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston
Shadow Spokesperson for Equality
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Posted by Mr Clive Gibson, 14:20, Fri 24 May 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
Of course nothing 'justifies' the horrific Woolwich murder but it is a simple fact that this is the direct result of the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan by UK forces ordered by the last Labour government and the continuing military occupation of Afghanistan by NATO forces including the UK still supported by Labour. The blood of this soldier and also of the tens of thousands killed in these pointless wars is on the hands of the Labour party more than anyones!