MP is working for the majority

Further to the letters published on October 25 regarding Chris White’s Westminster Briefing on Shades nightclub, I really wanted to respond as I interpreted his briefing quite differently. Of course Chris White communicates with local councillors of all parties but he does not make the final decision on how they vote, just as he voted against his party on Syria and the Lobbying Bill which is what the majority of people of Warwick and Leamington wanted him to do. The decision on Shades was a blow for local democracy because the people who live and work and worship in the area where the nightclub is located feel that they did not have their voices heard. I have no objection to Shades myself but I live in Sydenham. If they built it right next to where I live, where I take my daughter to play, or my place of worship - I would certainly feel differently.

I have been actively involved in the campaign to protect our local children’s centres over the last few months and Chris White met with local parents over the summer to discuss what services were crucial to us. Following on from this meeting, I have been lucky to see his work behind the scenes where he has been negotiating with councillors and council officers to ensure parents are actively involved and consulted in the new service delivery. I was surprised at what a difficult task this actually is and privileged to see how tirelessly Chris works on behalf of our interests.

We will never all agree on every policy (again I have no issue on HS2 because I don’t live near it and I work frequently in London) but Chris’s job as our MP is to represent the views of the majority of his constituents. I don’t want an MP who constantly complains and blames others; I want an MP who communicates and negotiates across parties and across authorities for the most effective solution for Warwick and Leamington. And Chris White is certainly the latter.

Sarah Windrum, Mathecroft, Leamington