This is not the sort of thing that MPs should say:

Labour’s fight to regain the support of the electorate took a less conventional turn this week as David Clelland began an epistolary battle with one dissatisfied voter.

Mr Clelland, who has represented the people of Tyne Bridge in Newcastle for 23 years, has written to one resident informing him that he had no desire for his vote in the future.

“I accept your offer not to vote for me again,” he wrote, in bold defiance of the usual conventions that exist in communications between elected representatives and their electorate. “I do not want your vote so you can stick it wherever best pleases you.” (The Times)

We are your bosses – and your customers – you arrogant shithead. You only do your job and have your responsibilities at our discretion.

As for anyone who works in a service role, there is one simple rule: be polite. Disagree with people all you like, but be polite about it. What you certainly don’t do is tell them to “stick” anything anywhere. And I feel no sympathy for him. Want to vent? No problem. Just do it in private.

MPs should not write anything that they do not mind being published. They should reply to constituents letters telling them why they agree of disagree with them, and try to win them over – even if they have no chance of actually doing so. After all, if they can’t justify what they do, they damn well shouldn’t be doing it.

Let’s just hope that David Clelland MP is told “stick your job” by his constituents.

Image: David Clelland