Letter: Hardest working MP

Sir,

No matter what Angus MacNeil does, his critics in the Labour Party say it is wrong. If he is in the Western Isles he should be at Westminster, if he is in Parliament he should be back on our islands. They moan that he communicates too much with constituents via Twitter or that he never talks to people. If he uses modern technology he shouldn't or why is he not keeping up with changes. They are happier challenging him as a person than discussing his policies.

Mr MacNeil is the hardest working MP these islands have had. Below is further evidence of the issues he has taken up in parliament.

Direct connectivity of UK airports to emerging markets for tourism
The number of direct flights from Scottish airports to emerging economies.
What assessment the Government has made for 90% 4G geographical coverage of the Outer Hebrides.
Plans for repair to Hebrides Range buildings on St Kilda, which were damaged by recent high winds.
What funding has been allocated to the Citizens Advice Service in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16
Whether the UK Border Force has reached any understanding with individual Scottish fishing boats regarding the employment of crew members who are not UK citizens.
What plans the Chancellor of the Exchequer has to devolve air passenger duty to Scotland
How many staff and managers have left the Maritime and Coastguard Agency headquarters since 2013.

To support their argument, Labour activists don't give a Labour MP as a role model. They use Alistair Carmichael, a LibDem. A person who helped the Tory government implement their austerity programme. They don't use Jim Murphy the Scottish Labour leader who was clearly ineffectual over the past year, or Gordon Brown who seldom attended parliament.

Maybe the truth is that the local Labour Party have nothing to offer the people and are only able to take issue with Angus MacNeil as a person.

Archie Harper

27 Shulishader

Point

Isle of Lewis

Letter: Hardest working MP

5 May 2015