My Day at Parliament – Lobbying for the Feed in Tariff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 22, 2011 -- Tuesday 22nd November was due to be a very important day for anyone in the Solar industry. It was (quite frankly) a let down?!

Not through lack of support (from people within the industry), or lack of organisation. Far from it – there was a great turn out from some very passionate people (despite many not being able to attend due to their unscheduled “busyness”, bought on by our Government’s recent proposals), and it was well organised.

The reason for the (certainly My) disappointment, was purely down to our MP’s…

Tuesday was chosen because it was, apparently, the day when MP’s were often found in Parliament, and also (although I think it was luck than judgement?) there is due to be a debate about the FIT cuts on Wednesday 23rd? A perfect day, one would assume?? Mondays aren’t good? It would appear that it is a shopping day – My local MP was seen wandering around M&S that day!!??

The day started at The Emmanuel Centre, where we heard some interesting speeches, and the “protocol” was explained. It all seemed straightforward – Apparently, anyone can go to Parliament, and “lobby” their MP. You simply queue up, fill in a green card, and hey presto you get to speak to your MP (or if he/she isn’t available, you speak to one of their “people”)…

This, we all did….

Prior to this, I did a little research around what an MP’s role is?? Apparently, they “work for their constituents”?

After an hour queueing, we I duly filled in the green card, and handed it in… I waited, waited, and waited some more! The tannoy system in Parliament is totally inadequate! It was almost impossible to hear who’s name they were calling out??

After an hour, I decided to go to the info desk, to see if I’d missed my name being called out – the assistants on the desk couldn’t tell me?! They couldn’t even tell me if My MP was in the building?! (I thought, “what if there’s a fire? How would they know which MP needed to be rescued?”)…

After another 10 minutes or so, I decided to go to the public gallery, to see if he was there??

Unfortunately he wasn’t, but then again, there weren’t many MP’s at all! Around 30?? Interestingly, the debate was on fuel allowance for pensioners (clearly not that important to our MP’s?)..

At around 17:30 (3 hours in total), I decided to leave…

Some people, of course, did get to see their MP’s (although many of them looked too young, and didn’t seem to know what anyone was talking about? So, one must assume that they weren’t MP’s?), and voice their concerns. Although the blank looks from the “representatives” told it all??!!

Overall, a very disappointing day??

What really annoys me is this::::

MP’s are Public Servants, we pay their wages, and they “work” for us? We’ve voted them in…

What gives them the right to, effectively, ignore us? OK, My MP may have not have been there? But, surely, someone, somewhere, in that building, would know that, and would have been in a position to tell me this, without me having to queue up for over an hour, then wait for over an hour without news???!

Imagine that in the private sector?

OK, people will say how busy MP’s are etc. etc. But, heh, they get paid well enough, have some good perks, they chose to do it, but ultimately, their job is to “serve their constituents”? If they can not deliver that basic requirement, then they should give it up???

Besides, don’t have a process that is supposed to give us this opportunity, if you can’t fulfill it??

Come on MP’s, sort it out!!!!

I would love to hear of any experiences others may have had on the day?? Hopefully, they were better than mine?

Barry Nutley can be contacted on 0845 437 4484 or email info@viridisec.co.uk
Web - http://www.viridisec.co.uk

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