MPs are accountable to their constituents and that is exactly as it should be.

These days, some MPs still hold weekly surgeries where those constituents have a chance to quiz their representatives in Parliament and raise any issues of concern, but the fact is many do not do so nearly as regularly as that.

Of course, Parliament is extremely demanding at present, with the ongoing debate about Brexit taking up huge swathes of debating time as the United Kingdom faces the very real possibility of a “no deal” departure.

However, this is not just of concern for MPs, for such an outcome could have significant repercussions for businesses and individuals across the country.

This is why regular engagement between Members of Parliament and constituents is so important and plays such a key role in democracy.

However, you should not be expected to pay for the “privilege” of doing so.

Yet this is exactly what people wishing to attend a “Question Time” style event in Wealden later this month will be expected to do.

The event features Conservatives Amber Rudd (Work and Pensions Secretary and MP for Hastings); Henry Smith (MP for Crawley); Nus Ghani (MP for Wealden who will chair the debate), plus MEP Syed Kamall and Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne.

Entry to the event is £10 for adults and £5 for the under-18s, but why not make it free?

The decision to charge has been criticised by Labour MPs including Peter Kyle and Lloyd Russell-Moyle.

In this instance, they have a point.