Archive of email to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (Conduct of John Howell MP for Henley-on-Thames)

Dear Sir/Madam, I seek your advice on pursuing official channels to seek an official apology for the conduct of my constituency MP, John Howell. It recently came to my attention that several aerial bombardments had resulted in the death of young children in the Gaza Strip in the Middle East; Israel carried out these bombings. Given that the policy of the Conservative Foreign Minister is that the Israel is ‘an important ally’, I felt it appropriate and elementary that I would write to my Conservative MP to (a) alert him to the happenings; (b) ask him to assert a political position on the happenings; and (c) ask him to assert his power to seek an end to the violence. I thus penned the following email:

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 XXXXXX, XXXXX, Oxfordshire

P.S.: This is an open letter

I was shocked to receive this 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 have since made a complaint to the Conservative party, in which I expressed my grave disappointment and grievance. I found that the tone of the MP’s reply was chevalier; that the lack of meaningful reply was elementarily unprofessional; and that (given the loss of infant life) his message was deeply offensive. I am writing to you because I feel that the MP has gravely neglected his professional obligation in communicating appropriately and professionally with serious constituency concerns. We must surely seek higher standards of conduct in a democratic political society. Kind regards, Harry Fear

Reply, received 16 March 2012 11:27:02 GMT:

Dear Mr Fear

Thank you for your email of 11 March seeking advice about seeking an official apology from Mr John Howell MP. I have been asked to respond.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is able to consider complaints where the complainant has provided sufficient evidence to justify an inquiry into whether a particular Member has breached the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament and its associated rules.

You may find the following leaflet which sets out the Commissioner’s remit and working practices helpful. https://www.parliament.uk/documents/pcfs/procedural-notes/pcfscomplaintsleaflet.pdf You will also see from this that there are a number of exceptions to the Commissioner’s remit. He is unable to inquire into the expression of a Member’s views or opinions, or into policy matters. The Commissioner would not, therefore be able to look into this matter.

I am not aware of any parliamentary channel by which you could require a Member to apologise in this way.

Yours sincerely,

Heather Wood
Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests