Some MPs want to stop helping constituents with local issues?

MPs want to stop helping constituents with a range of local issues including street repairs, potholes, bin collections, local authority issues and community issues www.streetrepairs.co.uk has learnt today.

The proposals are defined in a new definition the “role of an MP” which has been proposed by the cross party Standards committee which sets out how MPs should behave.

It came amid widespread concern about MPs barely meeting for half of the working week because of a lack of new legislation from the Government.

The report into the "Standards System in the House of Commons", published on Tuesday the 10^th of February, suggested the job description should be prominently displayed on Parliament’s website, and in voting booths at the general election.

The MPs said that “the parliamentary website should be amended to give a clearer picture as to the role of an MP, and one which is not so focused on the constituency role”

The MPs said "it would be beneficial if wider public understanding of the role could be achieved”.

Colin Mahoney founder and developer of Street Repairs, a national street and road fault reporting system said “What utter tosh, we have been working very closely with many MP’s who wish to engage with their constituents on a local level http://streetrepairs.co.uk/for-mp-s. Some forward thinking MP’s have experienced firsthand how our software and website systems can dramatically reduce administration whilst increasing engagement with their constituents. It’s not rocket science, it’s the smart use of technology, after all we do live in the 21^st century and MP’s are elected by constituents to do their bidding”.

Mr Mahoney went on to say, “we have invested our own time and resources in making Street Repairs available to MP’s right across all parties. Our systems give constituents the ability to make detailed reports to local authorities about issues such as potholes, street lighting defects fly tipping and much more. The feedback we have received from MP’s using our systems is outstanding and we will continue to roll out our systems to every MP”.

One MP Jake Berry said “I'm thrilled to be working with Mr Mahoney and the Street Repairs team to get more of our roads fixed. Potholes are the number one issue people complain about to me when I’m out across Rossendale and Darwen.”

Ben Wallace, a Conservative MP, said: “We are there to serve and part of our role is to help our constituents when they have no other voice. The relationship between an MP and their constituent is a very personal choice and a one size fits all rule could rob the constituent and MP of that relationship.”

Charles Walker, another Tory MP, said that some clarification was needed. The MPs also decided that MPs who are accused of breaking parliamentary rules will continue to be judged by their colleagues, not ordinary members of the public! Mr Mahoney continued to say “are these MP’s not living in the real world? As far as we understand they work for the public and not their friends. It amazes us that in an election year these comments from a committee who has not grasped the concept that if it wasn’t for the public vote they would not be in a job. This can undo the hard work of MP’s who really want to make a difference”.

But Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the committee on standards in public life, said MPs had “chickened out of addressing the real issue of accountability”. He said: “All other professions have a majority of lay members and are chaired by lay members. I can see no reason why the same arrangements should not apply to MPs.

“But on their committee the lay members do not even have a vote, and that will not change under these proposals. It is a very modest change indeed, and I’m afraid it will not persuade people that MPs have understood the problem and got to grips with it.”

The committee also suggested it could intervene before the independent parliamentary standards commissioner completes probes, to tell her how rules should be interpreted.