Makings of a good constituency MP

Published: 11 March 2010

• YOUR report about the forthcoming parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and kilburn – Tamsin Omond – quotes her as saying that “…the votes we are going to capitalise on now wouldn’t harm any other party, as they are people not currently voting” (Roof protester bids to go in front door, March 4).
However, in her interview with the Evening Standard (February 25) this “high- profile climate campaigner” resorted to a campaign against Glenda Jackson, the current Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate. As a constituent of Ms Jackson I have found her a very hard-working and conscientious MP.
She avidly raised my own complaints with the relevant minister or department and took the time and effort to forward me their reply as part of her own attempt to address  those issues. 
Moreover, Ms Jackson maintains strong links with her constituency through local surgeries and community meetings where members of different parts of her constituency raise and discuss both private and public problems, or issues which may affect their life in the community.
The dedication and effectiveness of MPs is not, and should not, be judged by meaningless  statistics of the number of times they may have attended parliamentary sessions (as  the Evening Standard’s interview suggests).
A good MP is the one who is dedicated to deal with and represent the members of his or her constituency.
I would probably be happy for the “climate campaigner” Ms Omond to insulate my home, having learnt from her interview with the Standard that this is going to be her campaign’s strategy and  single-issue manifesto.
However, she could rest assured that, along  with many other constituents of Glenda Jackson, I would show her the door when she  starts canvassing for her ego-trip campaign.
RUTH TENNE
Goldhurst Terrace, NW6