Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected by constituents to represent their interests and concerns in the House of Commons. MPs consider and can propose new laws as well as raising issues that matter to you in the House. This includes asking Ministers questions, attending debates, or stopping by Parliamentary drop-in events hosted by campaign groups or charities.

MPs generally split their time between Parliament and their constituency. For instance, I’m normally working in Parliament Monday to Thursday and in the constituency Fridays and at weekends.

In line with strict parliamentary protocols, Members of Parliament are generally only able to deal with issues raised by people who live in their constituency. To check if you are one of my constituents, please follow this link to enter your postcode. 

In the constituency

In their constituency, MPs often hold a ‘surgery’, where people can come along to discuss any matters that concern them. I hold drop-in surgeries in many locations around Bedford and Kempston, you can find more information here. 

MPs also attend local events, visit schools and businesses, and meet with a wide range of people in the constituency. This helps to gives MPs further insight and context into issues affecting their constituency that they may wish to raise in Parliament.

What I can do for you

When a constituent writes to me, there are several ways in which I can try to help.

Who I write to depends on what a constituent raises with me. For example, if someone has an issue with their housing association, I can write to the housing association directly on their behalf. However, it is important to note that many third-party organisations are not obliged to respond to MPs, although I find that most usually do.

I can also assist constituents with all matters for which central government is responsible, such as:

• Queries involving the HM Revenue and Customs Department.
• Issues dealt with by the Department for Work and Pensions, such as benefits or pensions.
• Issues dealt with by the Home Office and HM Passport Office, such as visa application updates or urgent escalations.
• Issues dealt with by DVLA or DVSA.

As there is a strict parliamentary protocol preventing MPs from responding in full or taking on casework on behalf of non-constituents, it is important that correspondence to an MP includes your full postal address.

Oral or Written Questions

Once a month each Minister from each government department answers questions from MPs in the Chamber of the House of Commons. There is a limit to the number of questions that can be asked, and MPs are selected in a ballot. This means I am not guaranteed to be able to ask questions as often as I would like. I can also table written questions to government departments, with the answers to these questions later published in Hansard.

Adjournment Debates

MPs may be able to raise a constituent’s issue in a half-hour Adjournment Debate. To get an Adjournment Debate, MPs must be successful in a ballot or have the subject chosen by the Speaker of the House of Commons. The debates are usually the last business of the day, and a government Minister responds at the end of the debate.

Letters to Ministers

I can write to Ministers directly to put forwards policy questions that constituents may want to raise. Letters to Ministers are useful for raising niche or complex policy areas that require further research and a more substantial answer than those typically given to oral or written questions. Therefore, Ministerial responses to these letters can take a bit longer to receive. 

Council Matters

I do not have any jurisdiction over local council decisions. This includes issues like temporary accommodation and bidding on the housing register, parking, potholes, overhanging trees etc.

I can certainly write to Bedford Borough Council on a constituent’s behalf and ask that a problem is investigated or an issue reconsidered, but I cannot force or influence any specific action or change in policy. 

In the first instance, I always recommend that constituents contact the Mayor or their local councillor directly. Your local councillors are your elected representatives within local government, and they are best placed to support constituents with council-related issues. You can find out who your local councillor is here.

What I cannot do:

As a member of Parliament, I am unable to assist with issues that fall outside of my remit, including the following:

• An MP is unable to settle private disputes with neighbours or employers, nor can they help in family arguments.
• I cannot settle disputes with companies who have sold faulty goods. 
• An MP cannot interfere with decisions made in court or during legal proceedings. For example, I cannot appeal speeding fines or become involved in employment tribunals.
• Similarly, MPs cannot give legal advice or representation.
• An MP cannot overrule planning decisions.
• An MP cannot appeal school fines or school allocations.

I will always try to assist you using the channels that are available to me. However, if I can’t take your case forward I will explain the reasons why and signpost you to alternative avenues for help or advice.