Letters To MP's...Tips?

elainebadknee

Hi All

I just wondered if one decided to send a letter to an MP how to go about it? I mean do you list your whole story and why you feel he/she may be able to help?

I just wondered as im not much of a letter writer and obviusly if you write about 3 pages about your condition is that as effective as a summary of how you tell your story.

Any tips would be good...

Ta

Elainex

dorcas

Hi EBK,

Your letter will depend very much on what your purpose is in sending it....if it's a complaint about services then it's likely to be a summary about the issues that affect you and how they were/ were not dealt with by the service provider.

If it's more complex then yes it might be helpful to give a bit of history first and then describe in more detail what happened. Dates are important so writing about the circumstances in chronological order can be easier for the MP to follow.

5 things to guide your thinking..When, Who, What, Where, and Why things happened (in your opinion).

I wrote to MP last year about how I'd been poorly dealt with (in my opinion) by jobcentreplus and my employer over the support I needed to return to work. I gave a brief outline of my disability and then a chronology of what happened and what I thought had gone wrong. At that time I didn't want my MP to intervene but when I did so later he knew exactly what had happened, who to contact and was very helpful.

Good luck Elaine...if I can help let me know, or send me a pm if you'd rather.

Iris x

elainebadknee

Hi Iris

Well I am thinking about it now as I feel my tribunal will not go in my favour. If that happens then thats when I would contact my MP. I guess i really feel strongly about ATOS and the way they conduct themselves and chip away at the genuine people who need help with benefits, whilst the ones who know how to play the system, how to find the loopholes will just get wiser and more knowlegdeable.

Id love to be more involved with some action somewhere, not saying march (more like limp)LOL:-) All I can say is god help Silver Spoon Born Cameron and Nick Clegg (I voted for that git in the election and they have backtracked 180 degrees) if one of their lesser well off relations ever needed to apply for ESA/DLA...

Thanks for offer of PM, may well do so...

TA

Elainex

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Iris x[/quote]

carola

Hi Elaine

I have sent you a PM. I've copied and pasted the email I sent to a few of the MPs, Scottish First Minister etc.

One MP called me today to advise he has written to DWP asking explanation etc.

Obviously, my email won't be totally relevant to you however sometimes it helps to read others to get you off the starting block. There is nothing as daunting as a blank canvas!!

Good luck Elaine.
Carol

marion1952

Hi Elaine

Just a thought .. are you taking someone with you - someone who can take detailed notes of the interview??

Hi Carol

That's great that the MP contacted you. I wonder if he/she would (eventually) raise a 'question ' about the decison in Prime Minister's Questions? The question and answer would then go on the official record via Hansard ... (just a thought)..
These 'decison makers' need as much bad publicity as possible..


Marion

elainebadknee

Hi Marion

When you say interview do you mean tribunal? I am allowed to take someone with me however another member on here stated when they took thier daughter to an ATOS medical and they took out a notepad to make notes they were stopped and told to do it on a sheet of white paper that they could see upon leaving premises.
If I was sneaky enough I would love to slip a dictaphone machine in my bag but im too honest for that malarky....
Elainex

dreamdaisy

Don't be. They're not honest, they don't play by the rules, why should you? DD