Letter to STG - 18th Dec 2009

The Editor
Sheerness Times Guardian (via email)

Dear Sir

I would like to assure Terence Parker that should I be elected at the next General Election I will not be a 9-5 MP. I will spend as long as is necessary to represent properly the people of Sittingbourne & Sheppey.

It is true that I have promised to commute to Westminster every day and I am surprised that Mr Parker should criticise me for wanting to be the same as the many other local people who travel to London every day. My daughter has been doing it for 18 years!

Of course the Parliamentary timetable does mean that I would be expected to be in Westminster until at least 10.30 pm on a Monday and Tuesday evening, however, the House only sits until 7pm on Wednesdays, 6.30pm Thursdays and 2.30pm on Fridays. I think I can cope with those times!

Mr Parker asks what sort of representation the people of Sittingbourne & Sheppey can expect if I am elected; let me tell him:

For a start I will not expect local taxpayers to buy me a second home in London, nor will I expect them to pay for my cleaning, laundry, window cleaning or pork pies.

I will continue to live on Sheppey and, unlike our current MP, I will not keep my address a secret.

I will always put the interests of my constituents before those of my political party.

I will be honest with people. They might not agree with my politics, but at least people will know where I stand on important issues.

Finally, let me assure Mr Parker that I will give the people of Sittingbourne & Sheppey 100% of my commitment.

Yours sincerely
Gordon Henderson
GORDON HENDERSON
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
Sittingbourne & Sheppey