I agree 100% Les and as a Labour Party member we are desperate for change but will be stuck with Dowd if he is re-elected.
The other day I met Heidi Alexander who is the Labour candidate for Lewisham East. I explained the problems constituents have in contacting Mr Dowd and that the telephone is never answered despite the 100k salary bill. She was very sympathetic to my concerns. Shame we can't have Heidi in Forest Hill.
Lewisham West has always been a safe seat.
Forest Hill wasnt always a safe seat for Labour and judging by the lack of Vote Labour posters in peoples windows this year, I'd suggest things may change. Perhaps Mr Dowd knows that and cant be asked.
So far I've been extremely disappointed with all candidates in our area. No one seems to be trying that hard to get my vote.
All I know is that Jim Dowd has responded to every letter I sent him. Admittedly I have not written to him recently.
Piglet are you sure you actually live in Lewisham West, Jim's Consituency? this is could explain a lot of things, or is it all porkies?
"squeak piggy squeak" !
Dylan
Oh yes I do live in the constituency.
I met Heidi at Lewisham Town Hall not on my door step!
I wrote to Jim Dowd on a local issue and got a response no problem
I know because he referred to it in his letter, that he has been ill and he apologised for being slow in responding
Piglet - I noticed that you joined in April - new here are you ?
I know that all three main parties and some of the others encourage activists to use local blogs. Are you associated with a political party ?
Redalways
Yes I joined in April (how clever of you to notice) and yes I am a member of the Labour Party.
Yeah? and I'm a young conservative!!!!!!
tripandfuschia - maybe the reason you're not getting a reply from Mr. Dowd is that all your correspondence is going to a mysterious MP called "O'Dowd".
I saw the Labour campaigners out in force in front of Smith's this lunchtime, why don't you all go and pose them your question in person?
I must add my twopenceworth in favour of Heidi Alexander. She used to be Joan Ruddock's PA until a couple of years ago, so I'm sure she knows all about answering MP's correspondence. She, I can confirm, was always hyper-efficient in my experience of working with her, and a very nice person too. I see her going very rapidly up the greasy political pole - watch this space and remember, when she the Labour leader in a few years' time, I told you so...
By the way, I am NOT a member of the Labour party (well now, there's a surprise!)
shz400 I so agree, I have worked with Heidi and she is just great! she has been a brilliant Deputy Mayor for Lewisham, she certainly deserves to win in Lewisham East.
I had no idea she was standing for MP, but it doesn't surprise me! Told you so....
Is Bridget Prentice being put out to grass?
Bridget Prentice MP is not re-standing in Lewisham East.
If Heidi is elected it will be a breath of fresh air.
Shame we can't have a breath of fresh air in Lewisham West & Penge!
So Piglet, did you utilise , as a Labour Party member, your opportunity to challenge your MP directly and go along to the PPC selection meeting at Sunderland Road last year to raise your concerns about Jim Dowd and his poor administration, in your case at least? And assuming you did, what was the general reaction to your concerns?
Have you also written to the Constituency chair and expressed your concerns?
So Roz when are you going to supply the stats I asked for and how it is possible to get in touch with Jim at Westminster when non of his staff are based there and he is rarely there.
You seem to be very selective about what you respond to.
I think Jim should call it a day. Not sure who main opposition will be with new boundaries but has been Labour to long ( I believe since 1992 ).
I agree Brian.
It would be good to know what he has achieved over the past couple of years and why does he feel the need to cling on to his safe seat.
Local Labour Party folk do not want change. Status quo seems to be the norm.
How many times has he voted against the Government I wonder.
Brian
I think the most important question is how many times has he actually voted bearing in mind his attendance in the Commons is a rare occurance!
I'm glad you too have finally met each other, will give the rest of us a break. Keep going....