IT SEEMS from some recent correspondence in your letters pages that Brent's Labour MPs are not always as good as they should be at answering constituents' letters.
Sadly, this is not the only thing they are not good at, as residents are increasingly noticing.
They are not good for example at standing up for residents' rights when it comes to a draconian ID card scheme that will cost billions of pounds that could be spent on more police officers instead.
They are not good at voting against the closure of post offices when it comes to protecting local branches in Parliament.
As a result, Brent has either already lost or is earmarked to lose over 10 branches under Labour.
They are not good at trying to explain why student tuition fees were introduced, despite not being in the Labour manifesto, or why Brent has faced financial health crises that have seen services reduced and a lot of money spent on buildings like Monks Park that offer only half the services available at the previous clinic.
Most of all they are not good at explaining why the economy is going to pot, and why residents in Brent and elsewhere must pay extortionate rises to privatised companies for gas and electric, in some cases up to a 35 per cent rise in one year, as well as the rapidly rising cost of food and other basic goods.
Meanwhile, pressure on businesses has increased, jobless numbers are rising again, house purchases have dried up and repossessions are rising under Labour's chancellor turned Prime Minister.
But there is something Brent's Labour MPs are good at, besides spouting waffle and seeking press coverage.
We all know what it is: claiming £23,000 in second home allowances because Brent is, of course, such a very long way from Westminster.
Oh, and voting against reforming the system that keeps details of their spending on perks over and above their second home allowance secret, while Brent families have to both pay for these lifestyle choices and suffer the cost of the Government's mistakes.
I can only feel that Labour MPs' skills lie in all the wrong areas as far as Brent residents are concerned.
PETER CORCORAN,
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Tokyngton.
