REGARDING JT Onslow’s letter (The Argus, November 29), there is only so much misinformed nonsense about the work of MPs that can pass without comment.
Mr Onslow seems to think that because he can only see a small number of MPs in the chamber on the Parliament Channel we have all bunked off. The truth is that most MPs probably spend less than 5% of their working day in the chamber itself.
Today, I spent an hour participating in questions and joined more than 400 colleagues to vote at 10pm.
In between, I had six separate meetings and chaired a summit on financial services as well as dealing with the 170 emails I received today alone, scores of letters and telephone messages.
That is why I am writing this letter and dealing with all the other piles of work in my office at 11pm and will be here late most nights this week.
Oh, and last Friday and Saturday I started on constituency duties at 8.15am and returned home just after 11pm, none of which involved bunking off or seeing anything of my family.
During all this time I can follow proceedings in the Commons and Lords on the TV monitor in my office.
If Mr Onslow wants us to spend all our time sitting through debates in the chamber, when does he expect us to attend to all the other stuff constituents rightfully expect of us in the 70 hours plus a week most of us put in when Parliament is sitting?
I have come to learn in this job that we should not expect recognition but at least some basic facts would be welcome.
Tim Loughton MP
MP East Worthing and Shoreham
House of Commons
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