Last month, I wrote to the candidates standing in the General Election for my constituency, including the Green Party's Andrew Cooper, to enquire into their stances on key issues - you can see my letter here. Three weeks later, when Mr. Cooper had still not responded, I sent the letter again, asking for a prompt reply. Mr. Cooper did reply on this occasion, and here is what he said:
There are 9 candidates in my constituency, including the usual suspects, plus Workers Party and 3 independents. At the weekend I wrote to the 7 who had individual email addresses (so not WP and Liberals, who only provided websites) using a shortened and slightly toned down version of your letter. I'm genuinely interested in the independents' responses, as from their public statements I've got no idea where they stand on this issue, but so far have had no response from anyone. Actually, from their public statements I've got no idea where any of the candidates stand on this issue, as they're all busy avoiding it. Talk about elephant in the room - it's as if the biggest issue in the last 4 years had never happened, and the sooner we can wipe our memories clean in preparation for the upcoming repeat performance the better.
Thanks Mike, sadly no response seems to be a common response. Of the 5 candidates in my constituency (Tory, Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Reform) only the Reform candidate (Susan Laird) replied promptly and comprehensively (I will share her response soon). Lib Dems replied quickly, but as you say, not the candidate themselves, just generic, rather vague and wishy-washy, party response (much more courteous than Cooper though!).
Cooper responded three weeks late after being prodded, and Labour and Tory haven't responded at all.
I will be very interested to hear what responses, if any, you receive, and as you say, it is utter madness that so many (nearly all) candidates completely avoid what should be the central issue of this election - that we were plunged into a totalitarian hell that betrayed every democratic principle and human right this country is supposed to be founded on, and that caused horrific and irreparable harm to millions, including killing quite a lot of them. And yet... crickets! It's therefore critically important we let these "representatives" know - repeatedly - they will not get away with it again.
He really demonstrates the arrogance of the mainstream political elites. They are owned by the same controlling forces giving the illusion of choice. A plague on all of them.
And a subscription from me as well, Miri - you are truly a hero and your work is so valuable. The fact that Cooper could send a response like that speaks volumes about him and his party - human-hating communists, all of them.
Well done for trying, but I think you can draw conclusions from his (non) reply. I think you correctly point out his lack of understanding that an MP is responsible (as far as possible) to represent all constituents. I followed up 2 Independent candidates and the Reform candidate. The latter made Radio 4 news today asking when a Ms Abbot would be Deported? Probably not a recent comment. The independents were a) a single issue candidate and b) a thinly disguised ultra lefty looking for a platform.
Interesting - we contacted every MP who supported mandatory vaccination given that it didn't stop infection (let alone the ethical considerations) - we got this from Rob Roberts ex-Conservative MP who had previously been suspended for making repeated unwanted sexual advances to a male staff member "I have no desire or indeed requirement to explain myself to you. Please don't email me again." People need to wise-up about the rotten state of many in the political class. He is running in Clywd East as in independent 2024.
Thanks Alex, very interesting. The seething contempt these people hold us in is marked, and Roberts has explicitly declared what Andrew Cooper strongly implied - that they are not required to explain themselves to us - when in fact that is precisely what the tenets of their job require them to do. They are public servants who (as the website one contacts them through asserts) "work for us". It is imperative we keep - loudly and publicly - reminding them of that fact.
I wrote to three candidates in my area. 2 independents and the Reform candidate. I received a very detailed response from one of the Independents and nothing from the other two.
And THAT deserves a subscription. Keep holding these snakes to account!
Thank you, Beca, and I most certainly will!
There are 9 candidates in my constituency, including the usual suspects, plus Workers Party and 3 independents. At the weekend I wrote to the 7 who had individual email addresses (so not WP and Liberals, who only provided websites) using a shortened and slightly toned down version of your letter. I'm genuinely interested in the independents' responses, as from their public statements I've got no idea where they stand on this issue, but so far have had no response from anyone. Actually, from their public statements I've got no idea where any of the candidates stand on this issue, as they're all busy avoiding it. Talk about elephant in the room - it's as if the biggest issue in the last 4 years had never happened, and the sooner we can wipe our memories clean in preparation for the upcoming repeat performance the better.
Thanks Mike, sadly no response seems to be a common response. Of the 5 candidates in my constituency (Tory, Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Reform) only the Reform candidate (Susan Laird) replied promptly and comprehensively (I will share her response soon). Lib Dems replied quickly, but as you say, not the candidate themselves, just generic, rather vague and wishy-washy, party response (much more courteous than Cooper though!).
Cooper responded three weeks late after being prodded, and Labour and Tory haven't responded at all.
I will be very interested to hear what responses, if any, you receive, and as you say, it is utter madness that so many (nearly all) candidates completely avoid what should be the central issue of this election - that we were plunged into a totalitarian hell that betrayed every democratic principle and human right this country is supposed to be founded on, and that caused horrific and irreparable harm to millions, including killing quite a lot of them. And yet... crickets! It's therefore critically important we let these "representatives" know - repeatedly - they will not get away with it again.
Great persistence Miri! It seems The Greens in Huddersfield were really scraping the bottom of the barrel to find a candidate like Mr Cooper!
He really demonstrates the arrogance of the mainstream political elites. They are owned by the same controlling forces giving the illusion of choice. A plague on all of them.
Go Miri! 🪧
And a subscription from me as well, Miri - you are truly a hero and your work is so valuable. The fact that Cooper could send a response like that speaks volumes about him and his party - human-hating communists, all of them.
Thanks very much, ABV, very much appreciated. And you are absolutely right about Cooper / his party.
Great letter (yours, not his!!).
Well done for trying, but I think you can draw conclusions from his (non) reply. I think you correctly point out his lack of understanding that an MP is responsible (as far as possible) to represent all constituents. I followed up 2 Independent candidates and the Reform candidate. The latter made Radio 4 news today asking when a Ms Abbot would be Deported? Probably not a recent comment. The independents were a) a single issue candidate and b) a thinly disguised ultra lefty looking for a platform.
Interesting - we contacted every MP who supported mandatory vaccination given that it didn't stop infection (let alone the ethical considerations) - we got this from Rob Roberts ex-Conservative MP who had previously been suspended for making repeated unwanted sexual advances to a male staff member "I have no desire or indeed requirement to explain myself to you. Please don't email me again." People need to wise-up about the rotten state of many in the political class. He is running in Clywd East as in independent 2024.
Thanks Alex, very interesting. The seething contempt these people hold us in is marked, and Roberts has explicitly declared what Andrew Cooper strongly implied - that they are not required to explain themselves to us - when in fact that is precisely what the tenets of their job require them to do. They are public servants who (as the website one contacts them through asserts) "work for us". It is imperative we keep - loudly and publicly - reminding them of that fact.
I wrote to three candidates in my area. 2 independents and the Reform candidate. I received a very detailed response from one of the Independents and nothing from the other two.