I was sent this link by a reader of this blog (Thank you, Paul!).
The People-Power Index aims to assess an MP’s openness and responsiveness to constituents. I would regard it as much as an interesting first attempt rather than a definitive study but, interesting it certainly is.
Of 650 MPs my own lies at #52 which is pretty impressive – I’m not sure I rate him quite that highly but …
Wayne David, Caerphilly (Labour) is top of the list and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, The Cotswolds (Conservative) is bottom of the list. Let’s take that a bit further: of the top 50 MPs then 33 are Labour, 16 Conservative and 1 ‘other’. Of the bottom 50 MPs then 10 are Labour, 36 Conservative and 4 ‘other’. Just saying…
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A very odd algorithm, Caroline Lucas at #171. Lower than a couple of Sinn Fein MPs who don’t even sit!
take a good look at the methodology section… much of the ranking goes to constituency work the link is here: https://www.change.org/l/uk/the-people-power-index-methodology
and within it, atthe bottom of that page, there is a link tot the actual data, area by area assessed, in online spreadsheet, so you can take a look by party by category, etc…….
This explains how it is possible for an MP who never attends Parliament to achieve a high ranking but doesn’t invalidate Richard’s comment that it is a very odd algorithm if that’s the result it delivers.
A good MP certainly should be active within her or his constituency but we elect them to represent us in Parliament so if they are doing nothing on that side of their duties that should push down their rating significantly in my view.
Ours at 626 scores about right for our experience of our Conservative M.P.
My MP (Chi Onwurah) comes in at number 19 on the list. I am generally satisfied with her as an MP but a little frustrated by the fact that whenever I contact her the response always comes from one of her staff and never from her. I appreciate that in a front bench role, she has heavy demands on her time but I’d have thought that as a minimum she could sign the response – it is after all her views I am seeking to know/influence. I also find that she (or rather her case-worker) has a tendency to sometimes refer any questions (e.g. about policy regarding upland shooting estate management) to the relevant minister without always expressing her own view on the matter so I sometimes feel my enquiry has only been partially dealt with.
I’d be interested to know what the experience of others is when they contact their MPs.