How Can I Help?

Everyone has the right to contact their local MP to discuss issues affecting them but there are specific areas they can deal with. MP's will generally only act on behalf of their constituents, so please check you live in Leyton and Wanstead:

MP's are more able to help you with issues that Parliament or government are responsible for, such as:

> Tax (but not council tax as this is set and paid to your local authority).
> Hospitals and the National Health Service (not local social services).
> Benefits, pensions, national insurance.
> Immigration.
> School closures and grants (not day-to-day school problems like governors or the local education authority).

Some issues are not the direct responsibility of Parliament or government.

In these instances, you should first contact either your local council or your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau before considering contacting your MP.

These are issues such as: 

> Council tax.
> Private problems with neighbours, landlords, employers, family; or companies who've sold you faulty goods.
> Decisions made by the courts.
> Issues that are the responsibility of your local council, ie, dustbins or street repairs.

> I do my best to secure a full response to your letters
> I acknowledge all emails from constituents.
> I hold regular surgeries and visit elderly, disabled and other constituents at home if they have difficulty coming to see me.
> I maintain a constituency office at 877 High Road Leytonstone,  for constituents, which is on major bus routes.
> I keep constituents informed of my local and Parliamentary activities.

"I work in Parliament four days a week, holding the Government to account for the laws that affect my constituents' lives.  So that I can represent them properly, I need to stay in touch with what they are thinking, and their hopes and aspirations.  I usually keep Friday and the weekend as days for my constituency work, and I hold regular street surgeries around the constituency on Saturdays.

However, I do often meet with local community groups and schools during the week and such groups often visit me in parliament.

I receive hundreds of letters, phone calls, emails and visits every week.  I send thousands of letters to constituents, companies, government agencies, the council and many other people and organisations on behalf of the people I represent.  My professional staff works with me to chase up cases and ensure that my constituents are properly listened to and treated with respect.

All I ask in return is that my staff are treated with courtesy and respect."