FUMING AT MY MP!

I've been exchanging emails with mine (Nigel Beard) since mid December. Here's his latest one to me, dated 18th Feb, after a series where I'd seemed to be gaining ground by pointing out how each reply contradicted something he'd said earlier:


Dear Mr. McGlade

Thank you for your 11th February email on the Licencing Bill.

I have put substantial effort into getting to the bottom of the implications
to the Licencing Bill on behalf of many constituents like yourself who have
written to me about it. I am still awaiting some of the latest
clarification and when I have that I will look most carefully at what you
say and the full range of replies I have received already from the Minister
on various points.

Thank you again.

Yours sincerely

Nigel Beard MP


And guess what appears in the local freebie dated 26th February?

But Bexleyheath and Crayford MP Nigel Beard told the News Shopper he believes groups like the veteran's club singers and Morris dancers will be safe. He said he had taken up the issue with Culture Minister Kim Howells, who has assured him for community centres. villiage halls and similar places, the cost of a licence will be negligable. Some venues could even be exempt.
"Nobody is knocking a knees-up" he said. Nor will anyone be put in jail for testing equipment in a music shop, bell ringing or Morris Dancing, though these are among the lurid stories which have circulated."

He added "The Government has not been taken over by killjoys and Puritans."


Any suggestions for the next step? I've already had half a page in that paper two weeks ago. My proposed course at the moment is to wait for the Lord's debate tomorrow and then write to the paper again, but it seems fairly thankless.