Archive of emails with Tory party (Constituency conduct of John Howell MP)

Complaint (sent 11 March 2012 09:26:53 GMT):

Dear Sir/Madam,

I should to like to make a complaint and seek an apology for the conduct of my Henley-on-Thames constituency MP, John Howell.

On hearing about the deaths of young children and other Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, caused by aerial bombardment in recent days, I wrote the following email to my democratically empowered public representative:

Date:  10 March 2012 17:24:11 GMT

Dear John Howell MP,

What is your position with regard to the recent military assaults on parts of the Gaza Strip (UN: Palestinian Territories) by the state of Israel (Hague: “important [UK] ally”)?

What actions are you taking to see that Israel halts the military actions that are taking place in defiance of international law and basic human decency?

Only a few hours ago Israel felt it necessary to inflict this destruction and death on the Strip:
 

I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Harry Fear

Constituency resident, of XXXXX, XXXXXXX, Oxfordshire

P.S.: This is an open letter

I received the following reply:

Date:  10 March 2012 21:51:12 GMT

And what is your position Harry on the 100 rockets which have landed in Israel over the weekend? 

John Howell OBE MP
Member of Parliament for Henley
House of Commons
London, SW1A 0AA
Tel. 020 7219 6676
[email protected]

I found the MP’s reply to be of a chevalier tone, elementarily unprofessional and deeply offensive.

The MP did not extent me the professional courtesy of a proper or thought-out reply. I found the actual tone of his reply to be latently sarcastic. My two serious and genuine — nay, important — political questions, were absolutely ignored.

Is this sort of conduct acceptable? I feel not, and am thus raising your attention to this matter.

Kind regards,

Harry Fear

P.S.: I am also writing to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, and have released a public statement.

Reply (received 12 March 2012 10:07:09 GMT):

Dear Mr Fear

I am writing on behalf of the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, Baroness Warsi, to thank you for your e-mail.

We are grateful to you for bringing this issue to our attention.

As you may appreciate, Sayeeda is not in a position to intervene in matters such as these as it is up to elected representatives to  deal with their correspondence as they feel is most appropriate.

I do appreciate you taking the trouble to let us know your views, which I will be sure to pass on.

Thank you, again, for taking the time and trouble to get in touch.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver

Oliver Wells
Office of the Party Co-Chairmen
Conservative Campaign Headquarters
www.conservatives.com