Work

Working for individual constituents

A Member of the European Parliament’s workload differs substantially from that of a Member of Parliament or a local councillor and it is important that we do not take over their work. The first port of call if you come to us with a local problem is to refer to your local MP in case he or she is already dealing with it, which is very often the case. In these circumstances, if the right steps are being taken, the best way forward is to support their initiative.

I have twenty years of experience as an elected MP and therefore I understand the excellence of the House of Commons system of looking after constituents.  If you interfere with a case without full knowledge of the MP’s work on it, you can set the process back by laying extra burdens on hard-pressed civil servants.  My office uses the experience it has to find the best way forward for each constituent.

If it is clear that the case will be best resolved by the work of a MEP, the office swings into action, taking all the steps available to meet the constituent’s needs.

We have a proven track record of success.  Hundreds of cases are efficiently and satisfactorily pursued.  Each year we receive the best part of 100,000 emails and over 5,000 letters.  About half of these are regional. We aim to reply to every query, letter and email.

In the office there are 5 staff members and myself.  The office is usually open from 8.30am, frequently until past 10.00pm.