You couldn't make it up!!
Since everything this lot touches turns to crap, it's maybe just as well Swiss Des is only part time. If he did a full 40 hour week he could cause chaos and despondency.....wait a minute.....he did!
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Yours was fine Tigs.. I just hate my spineless 2 faced toadish cur of an MP so much that your version was far too civil for him.
Its a good site, you can be e-mailed whenever (for instance) the words Royal Air Force are mentioned, and receive the transcripts. Straight from the horses mouth etc.
Its a good site, you can be e-mailed whenever (for instance) the words Royal Air Force are mentioned, and receive the transcripts. Straight from the horses mouth etc.
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Maybe Swiss Des thinks running the MoD is like making love to a beautiful
woman.
First you have to pretend to be interested in her concerns and desires. You need to make her think you have only her best interests at heart.
Then you have to give the impression that you are spending more time thinking about her than anything else in your life.
You try to seduce her with promises of gifts and tell her how much you value her trust and loyalty.
And then, when her defences are low and she's at her most vulnerable...........
Get behind her and give her a good sh***ing
woman.
First you have to pretend to be interested in her concerns and desires. You need to make her think you have only her best interests at heart.
Then you have to give the impression that you are spending more time thinking about her than anything else in your life.
You try to seduce her with promises of gifts and tell her how much you value her trust and loyalty.
And then, when her defences are low and she's at her most vulnerable...........
Get behind her and give her a good sh***ing
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Nice one Len.
hell the swear barrel's filling up fast. Would've ordered a bigger one if the RN hadn't bought them all.
Did like Lord Guthrie's quote : 'Can he really understand how serious the situation is...' Well actually Chas, I really don't think he does. That's the fugging problem ! Damn, another pound gone...
hell the swear barrel's filling up fast. Would've ordered a bigger one if the RN hadn't bought them all.Did like Lord Guthrie's quote : 'Can he really understand how serious the situation is...' Well actually Chas, I really don't think he does. That's the fugging problem ! Damn, another pound gone...
Chaps,
A general strategic point, not related to any specific issue: cut'n'paste letters to MPs are not a good idea, or at least not as good as using one's own words. See here for reasons.
A general strategic point, not related to any specific issue: cut'n'paste letters to MPs are not a good idea, or at least not as good as using one's own words. See here for reasons.
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Fair point, although we'd be writing MPs across the entire country I imagine.
This though, annoyed me.
"MPs rather naturally take a sudden influx of identical or similar messages with a large pinch of salt, since they know that what they are seeing is stuff from a minority of constituents who are either impassioned/neurotic about the topic concerned.."
Are they really saying that they trivialise for instance, the feelings of some locals up in arms about the closing of an A&E? Perhaps they would rather take more notice of one man who is annoyed about dog poo on the pavements because thats easy to deal with, presumably.
Politicians - out of touch these days? No way!
This though, annoyed me.
"MPs rather naturally take a sudden influx of identical or similar messages with a large pinch of salt, since they know that what they are seeing is stuff from a minority of constituents who are either impassioned/neurotic about the topic concerned.."
Are they really saying that they trivialise for instance, the feelings of some locals up in arms about the closing of an A&E? Perhaps they would rather take more notice of one man who is annoyed about dog poo on the pavements because thats easy to deal with, presumably.
Politicians - out of touch these days? No way!
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Well, here was my short but sweet reply. Can't use too many big words though, he is a politician after all.
"I read with some dismay that the S of S for Defence is currently employed within 2 roles. I know that you have already highlighted this issue in Parliament and would ask that you keep doing so.
It is nothing but a blatant insult to the dedication and commitment of all the members of the Armed Forces that their S of S allocates a mere 40% of his time to a job of this magnitude.
Please ask the PM when was the last time that a wrong decision by the Scottish Office cost someones' life."
Just as a matter of interest, Defence minister or not, how many MPs, of any ilk, have ever served in uniform?
"I read with some dismay that the S of S for Defence is currently employed within 2 roles. I know that you have already highlighted this issue in Parliament and would ask that you keep doing so.
It is nothing but a blatant insult to the dedication and commitment of all the members of the Armed Forces that their S of S allocates a mere 40% of his time to a job of this magnitude.
Please ask the PM when was the last time that a wrong decision by the Scottish Office cost someones' life."
Just as a matter of interest, Defence minister or not, how many MPs, of any ilk, have ever served in uniform?
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Letters to MPs
Hello
Many many years ago I worked for an MP as a researcher, and the advice not to use `cut and paste' type letters is sound, although back in the days I was doing this, it wasn't cut and paste but photocopied letters that were the issue!
The writetothem website is probably underestimated the size of the problem for MPs when it says that they only get 50 letters a day - that was probably what MPs were getting 20 years ago and now with the advent of email and numerous websites urging people to write to their MP, their daily correspondence is much bigger.
As a consequence, a MP finds himself having to prioritise the 'case work' that they have. Because of this, someone who takes the trouble to compose a letter / email is always going to be viewed in a better light than a cut and paster simply because they have taken the time and trouble of doing this, whereas they know a cut and paste job can be done quickly, and so they tend to assume that the issue is more important to someone who as composed their own letter.
And not least, composing a letter allows you to personalise it, and explain why this is an important issue that they should address. MPs are asked to get involved in a large number of issues, and the demands on their time are such that they will only be able to directly involve themselves in a small number.
A further problem is the political issue associated with this. If a Labour MP takes it on, thy are challenging the Government, so there is a potential risk to their career. If it is an opposition MP then they are going to be pitting their wits not against an individual, but against the might of the MOD when it comes to defending the minister against the opposition then everything will be deployed in the minister's defence, and the last thing that the MP will want to do is make himself look foolish as a consequence.
The best way to get a response is to end the letter by saying that you will be phoning his constituency office to make an appointment to meet with him to discuss this further. Ensure that you do (and that when you make the appointment you let them know that you wish to discuss the contents of the letter) and when you meet with him make sure that you are fully briefed on the issue and can explain why his help is needed, what you need him to do and why it is important. And, even if he is a Labour MP, be totally unpartisan about it.
I'm sorry that this is a long post, and I'm sorry if it appears to be defending MPs who don't seem interested in their constituents - it isn't meant to be. Most are, however, very busy (despite what the media claim and seek to portray) and if you are to get a result from dealing with an MP you need to know how to approach them to get that response.
Many many years ago I worked for an MP as a researcher, and the advice not to use `cut and paste' type letters is sound, although back in the days I was doing this, it wasn't cut and paste but photocopied letters that were the issue!
The writetothem website is probably underestimated the size of the problem for MPs when it says that they only get 50 letters a day - that was probably what MPs were getting 20 years ago and now with the advent of email and numerous websites urging people to write to their MP, their daily correspondence is much bigger.
As a consequence, a MP finds himself having to prioritise the 'case work' that they have. Because of this, someone who takes the trouble to compose a letter / email is always going to be viewed in a better light than a cut and paster simply because they have taken the time and trouble of doing this, whereas they know a cut and paste job can be done quickly, and so they tend to assume that the issue is more important to someone who as composed their own letter.
And not least, composing a letter allows you to personalise it, and explain why this is an important issue that they should address. MPs are asked to get involved in a large number of issues, and the demands on their time are such that they will only be able to directly involve themselves in a small number.
A further problem is the political issue associated with this. If a Labour MP takes it on, thy are challenging the Government, so there is a potential risk to their career. If it is an opposition MP then they are going to be pitting their wits not against an individual, but against the might of the MOD when it comes to defending the minister against the opposition then everything will be deployed in the minister's defence, and the last thing that the MP will want to do is make himself look foolish as a consequence.
The best way to get a response is to end the letter by saying that you will be phoning his constituency office to make an appointment to meet with him to discuss this further. Ensure that you do (and that when you make the appointment you let them know that you wish to discuss the contents of the letter) and when you meet with him make sure that you are fully briefed on the issue and can explain why his help is needed, what you need him to do and why it is important. And, even if he is a Labour MP, be totally unpartisan about it.
I'm sorry that this is a long post, and I'm sorry if it appears to be defending MPs who don't seem interested in their constituents - it isn't meant to be. Most are, however, very busy (despite what the media claim and seek to portray) and if you are to get a result from dealing with an MP you need to know how to approach them to get that response.
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Gents some of you are bleating about the armed forces getting a second job as well.
As 60%of your operational capacity is from the TA I would suggest they already have.
It also means Mr part time Brown is the perfect man for the job.
Now despite the fine work you are doing on behalf of the government not many people, other than relatives and the odd right wing celeb really give a toss, not an insult just a fact.
The solution would be to leave , stop bleating and join the TA. Part time work as a soldier and civvy job of your choice, and u still get to shoot at foreigners. Or just leave and they would have no one to fight their dirty little middleclass war.
Hope this helps.
As 60%of your operational capacity is from the TA I would suggest they already have.
It also means Mr part time Brown is the perfect man for the job.
Now despite the fine work you are doing on behalf of the government not many people, other than relatives and the odd right wing celeb really give a toss, not an insult just a fact.
The solution would be to leave , stop bleating and join the TA. Part time work as a soldier and civvy job of your choice, and u still get to shoot at foreigners. Or just leave and they would have no one to fight their dirty little middleclass war.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by bushbolox; 7th Dec 2007 at 16:04.
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If he's being paid by the defense budget then that must be his primary job, which makes scotland his secondary duty.
We all know that if you want to get promoted, its your secondary duties that count. Performance in your primary role is often neglected, so what does he care.
I wonder if he's running a girl guides knitting group on a sunday, and MP in charge of the tiddlewinks club?
We all know that if you want to get promoted, its your secondary duties that count. Performance in your primary role is often neglected, so what does he care.
I wonder if he's running a girl guides knitting group on a sunday, and MP in charge of the tiddlewinks club?
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f27bmaw
I don't doubt this is good advice, but there are 2 significant problems:
1. Many members of the armed forces are effectively disenfranchised - I would guess that a good 50% don't even have a vote any more because they aren't registered. I would guess that most constituency staff look at the electoral roll when receiving letters and I presume they discount those who aren't.
2. Of those who do maintain the vote, the easiest way is to stay with one constituency throughout your time (the one you were in before joining). Unfortunately, though, this will normally mean you are hundreds of miles away from the constituency office such that what you suggest is simply not practicable.
It was suggested some time ago on this forum that the best way to get the attention of a particular MP (eg SoS Def), was for us all to register as voters in his/her constituency. If 50% of the RAF registered, that would be about 20,000 people, enough to scare most MPs sh!tless. Can't recall if there was some reason this wouldn't be allowed though...
STH
The best way to get a response is to end the letter by saying that you will be phoning his constituency office to make an appointment to meet with him to discuss this further. Ensure that you do (and that when you make the appointment you let them know that you wish to discuss the contents of the letter) and when you meet with him make sure that you are fully briefed on the issue and can explain why his help is needed, what you need him to do and why it is important.
1. Many members of the armed forces are effectively disenfranchised - I would guess that a good 50% don't even have a vote any more because they aren't registered. I would guess that most constituency staff look at the electoral roll when receiving letters and I presume they discount those who aren't.
2. Of those who do maintain the vote, the easiest way is to stay with one constituency throughout your time (the one you were in before joining). Unfortunately, though, this will normally mean you are hundreds of miles away from the constituency office such that what you suggest is simply not practicable.
It was suggested some time ago on this forum that the best way to get the attention of a particular MP (eg SoS Def), was for us all to register as voters in his/her constituency. If 50% of the RAF registered, that would be about 20,000 people, enough to scare most MPs sh!tless. Can't recall if there was some reason this wouldn't be allowed though...
STH
