MPs are fond of crowing about their “mandate” as elected representatives of the country. Apparently they are here to serve, to execute the public’s will. That mandate has been in danger of being
represented as some kind of “get out of jail free” card to protect some MPs as they build (and switch) houses around the monopoly board, collecting “two hundred pounds” as they are chauffeured backwards and forwards past GO and driving the country round the U-bend.
Their greatest trick of all is to persuade the country at large that there is really no point in making a fuss, that we can’t do anything about it, certainly any better, and it probably doesn’t matter much anyway. The governance of Great Britain does matter and it is high time that politicians were shown that the general public has a vote – and a voice – even in the countryside.
The stench emanating from Westminster may well be reminiscent of the tragic odour of burning stock that punished the countryside during foot and mouth but something can be done about the Honourable Members’ metaphorical pong. The countryside in general and agricultural and sporting interests in particular have been treated with contempt and we must ensure that there are political consequences.
Opposite is a list of those MPs who have repeatedly used their position to put the urban boot into rural life by sup-porting the Hunting Act and signing up to potentially damaging Early Day Motions relating to shooting, snares and hunting. Let local candidates know that your vote is affected by countryside issues and use that vote to effect change.
Make sure that you are registered to vote, are able to get to the polling station or have organised a postal vote. This time there can be no excuses for not making ourselves heard.
To find out how you can help visit www.vote-ok.co.uk
NAME Constituency Majority
● Graham Allen Nottingham North 12,171
● David Amess Southend West 8,959
● Janet Anderson Rossendale & Darwen 3,676
● Norman Baker Lewes 8,474
● *Roger Berry Kingswood 7,873
● Tom Brake Carshalton & Wallington 1,068
● Annette Brooke Mid Dorset & Poole North 5,482
● Martin Caton Gower 6,703
● Jeremy Corbyn Islington North 6,716
● David Crausby Bolton North East 4,103
● Jim Cunningham Coventry South 6,255
● Edward Davey Kingston & Surbiton 8,966
● Jim Dobbin Heywood & Middleton 11,083
● Frank Doran Aberdeen North 6,795
● *Jim Dowd Lewisham West 9,932
● Angela Eagle Wallasey 9,109
● Michael J Foster Hastings & Rye 2,026
● Roger Gale North Thanet 7,634
● Sanda Gidley Romsey 125
● Patrick Hall Bedford 3,383
● David Heyes Ashton-under-Lyne 13,952
● Paul Holmes Chesterfield 3,045
● *Kelvin Hopkins Luton North 6,487
● George Howarth Knowsley North & Sefton East 16,269
● Glenda Jackson Hampstead & Highgate 3,742
● Brian Jenkins Tamworth 2,569
● Alan Keen Feltham & Heston 6,820
● Andrew Love Edmonton 8,075
● Judy Mallaber Amber Valley 5,275
● John McDonnell Hayes & Harlington 10,847
● Andrew Miller Ellesmere Port & Neston 6,486
● Stephen Pound Ealing North 7,059
● Gordon Prentice Pendle 2,180
● *Gwyn Prosser Dover 4,941
● John Pugh Southport 3,838
● Joan Ruddock Lewisham Deptford 11,811
● Bob Russell Colchester 6,277
● Adrian Sanders Torbay 2,029
● Jim Sheridan Paisley & Renfrewshire North 11,001
● Dennis Skinner Bolsover 18,437
● Geraldine Smith Morecambe & Lunesdale 4,768
● Phyllis Starkey Milton Keynes South West 4,010
● Andrew Stunell Hazel Grove 7,748
● Mark Tami Alyn & Deeside 8,378
● Jon Trickett Hemsworth 13,481
● *Robert Wareing Liverpool, West Derby 15,225
● Steve Webb Northavon 11,033
● David Winnick Walsall North 6,640
● *Mike Wood Batley & Spen 5,788
● Anthony D Wright Great Yarmouth 3,055
● David Wright Telford 5,406