what a curious notion Piglet! if you were a Party Member you could have discussed your concerns with Jim at the numerous Social Events, Branch Meetings and General Committee Meetings held by the local Party, pull the other one!
We in the Labour Party are well aware of the challenges we face, there is no such thing as a "safe" seat.

I have done exactly what you suggest but nothing changes.

Please advise what Social events are held as I am not aware of any in Lewisham West. Lewisham East yes but not Lewisham West. There is a difference.

How do you feel about campaigning for someone who does not give constituents the service they expect?

I'm not impressed with Labour's efforts and even less impressed with the Tories. I have no idea who the Tory candidate is for the Lewisham West seat, what they stand for, why I should should vote for either of them? On the other hand, I hear so much about Alex Freakes (Lib Dem) you'd think he was already our MP!!!

Hello Dylan, I do not know Piglet's situation, nor do I know much about Mr O'Dowd. I can say I was a Labour Party member for many years and gave a large commitment of time and effort in three general election campaigns. I have not been a party member for many years. I have lived in this seat for five years. After a very unsatisfactory and frankly rude response from Steve Bullock to corresponence expressing concern about traffic speed, road crossings and local traffic management issues I forwarded the correspondence to Mr O'Dowd via the Local labour party offices to find out his views. I recieved no reply. Perhaps this was a mistake/error/oversight but the impression I was left with, as someone who has a lot of sympathy for Labour, was that these two representatives had little sympathy for my views, as one of their constituents.

Piglet, you've been seen through, stop digging, please.

It would however be good to clarify the position of MP's when Parliament is dissolved as it is now ie are they getting paid, and are they still meant to be getting involved with constituents casework etc? That might be considered inappropriate by the election bods.

Yes, they still get paid during this month. I heard Lembit Opik say so on Radio 2 yesterday lunchtime.

I emailed him last week and got a full reply the next day.
Admitedly it was for an organised campaign - against pub closures - and they are easier to answer than personal issues. But clearly his office is functioning.

Just to add my 2 pen'orth: I live off Sydenham Hill, just one street into Southwark so while I am technically in Tessa Jowell's constituency, my children go to Eliot Bank, a Lewisham school, we go to Forest Hill library, a Lewisham library and would go to Forest Hill pools if they ever open. :o)

I contacted Mr Dowd's office about a matter in his constituency and never received a reply; in stark contrast to Ms Jowell's office, which runs like a well-oiled machine (I realise she is a minister, so you'd expect this perhaps).

I'm not making party political points (Dylan :o) ), or drawing party political conclusions. I am not particularly impressed with the current Labour party, or Ms Jowell (voting to rush the new The Digital Economy Bill through the Commons before the general election) but praise where it is due - she/ her office has been very good at communicating with a local constituent, and I am sorry that Piglet has not received a similar service from his/her local MP - again, irrespective of party etc etc etc.

I used to live in West Norwood and as a Constituent of Tessa Jowell's I contacted her office regularly. Emails were replied to within a few days and the telephone was answered during office hours.

Tessa Jowell's constituency is much larger and more complex than Mr Dowd's so how is it that Tessa can provide an excellent service compared to Mr Dowd?

Look at the salary bill for Mr Dowd's staff. What do they do all day bearing in mind all his staff are based in Forest Hill. There are no members of staff based at the Commons.

Piglet, I would think that your best option was to go round to 43 Sunderland Road and ask to see Jim and demand an answer to his non responses. And also of course to the question you posed of him in the first place. Better than wasting your valuable time on here I think?

Roz

Your suggestions are silly and could I suggest you do something more productive with your time such as voluntary work?

Woah there!

Well, Piglet, as you have spent 12 out of your entire se23.com history of 15 posts on this thread complaining about Jim's administration and, well, everything else about Jim Dowd , I thought that you might want to cut through the chase. But yes, how silly of me to suggest your doing something practical.

Roz

And you have spent all your time stalking my messages and making silly remarks and suggestions. Perhaps you are bored!

Still waiting for you to advise how one gets in touch with Jim via the House of Commons.......................................

I find it curious that the Labour Party Faithful on this thread are more ready to sling mud at Piglet than to defend the poor record of the MP who is asking for re-election.

I agree Ivor.

Perhaps Roz is Mr Dowd!

Facts on this website are very interesting:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/jim_dowd/lewisham_west

I repeat I am a Labour Party member.

I'm getting a strange sense of deja vu...

Michael

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Piglet, I wonder why you bother to post here when you interpret people's responses and genuine attempts to assist you as 'stalking'? That is, before we all cottoned on to you and Ivor. Perhaps you could also explain why advice to actually go to the constituency offices is
'silly'. But then we know that you are not really seeking a solution here. Perhaps thats why you don't get satisfactory answers to your questions?

As for the link, what's interesting is the information that Jim seems to have responded to constituents within 2/3 weeks. Not bad really especially as this particular site tends to focus more on what MP's don't achieve rather than what they do. As for poor record, I can't actually find one, and its all relative anyway. One bad year does not a bad MP make,especially when there has been poor health. So I'm not sure how you think this information supports your arguments.

As we all know the guy has been very ill and as I see it has done fantastically well for his constituents considering everything and is one of the few MP's who has managed to retain some semblance of a good reputation when so many have been found wanting this year. And no, I haven't always agreed with him either.

Piglet, why don't you post your question to him on here and we'll all have a go at trying to answering it for you.: