38 Degrees Logo38 Degrees Logo 38 Degrees Logo

MP Holiday Watch: has your MP taken part?

August 5th, 2009 by

Our survey of MPs’ summer recess plans has got off to a good start. 31 MPs have so far completed the questionnaire giving us an idea of their plans while Parliament is closed (the full list of names can be found at the bottom of this post).

Of the 31 respondents, there are 14 from Labour, nine from the Lib Dems, but so far only five responses from the Conservatives. Among those standing up to be counted are notable names like former Minister Hazel Blears, Shadow Minister for Culture Ed Vaizey (who recommends a trip to watch Didcot Town FC) and Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, Jim Knight.

Only four of the MPs who’ve answered so far have second jobs and over half of them, 17 in total, plan to undertake some sort of voluntary work during the recess. This includes Lib Dem Paul Rowen, who’s off to help out at a Catholic mission in Uganda, as well as numerous others who sit as trustees with various British charities.

But so far, we’ve only had responses from about 5% of the Commons – to get a more accurate picture we need more. We’re planning to publish the results in full later in the summer and we can keep on adding results at least until then. Has your MP replied? If not, why not?

It’s not too late – we’ll be collecting their answers all through the recess, so get on to them from our website

They’re your representatives, and they’re answerable to you.

MPs who have responded to date: Laurence Robertson, Evan Harris, Ed Vaizey, Angela C Smith, Martin Horwood, Ian Cawsey, Lynne Featherstone, Jim Knight, Angus Robertson, Sandra Gidley, Caroline Flint, Robert Key, Jo Swinson, Richard Burden, Ronnie Campbell, Susan Kramer, Ashok Kumar, Andrew Selous, Dr Bob Spink, Charlotte Atkins, Martin Linton, John Mason, Des Turner, Paul Rowen, Roger Williams, Alistair Burt, Jim Fitzpatrick.

Posted in 38 Degrees Blog Posts

Tags: , ,

  • Gary Dunion

    It would appear that the only way to see the questionnaire is to be an MP or parliament staffer. It doesn’t strike me as all that transparent or accountable that you’re asking people to question their MPs without even telling those same people what the questions are!

  • Avizandum

    You really are a bunch of self-righteous prats!

    Parliament sits until 10.30pmon Mondays and Tuesdays, and MPs hold surgeries and attend endless constituency events at weekends. They thoroughly deserve a decent break over the summer, and should certainly not be accountable to self-appointed stalkers like you lot.

    I am not an MP, am not related to an MP, do not work for an MP and have no intention of becoming an MP. I do, however, have a visceral dislike of witch hunts and the people who perpetrate them.

    Shame on you.

    My MP has not replied, for which he should be applauded. Clearly a man of backbone – I like people who stand up to bullies.

  • http://www.38degrees.org.uk/ David

    Hi Gary,
    You can view the survey questions here:
    http://38degrees.org.uk/page/-/documents/Survey_questions.pdf

    We have previously publicised this link, but sorry you couldn’t find it.

    We set the survey up to require a parliament email address to ensure that we didn’t get false/malicious survey responses.

    I hope that addresses your concerns – thanks for commenting.

  • Neocoyo

    Avizandum, i completely dissagree these MPs deserve no time off arfter at all these people are in the position they are for a reason. we, the general public don’t get 12 weeks holiday a year in most normal jobs, so why shoud those which whom have a the most important jobs than ours have longer to do f*** all? even then we are the ones who effectively pay for these holidays! To be honest we shouldt stop at nosing around what they are doing on holiday we should watch them like it was big brother!