LETTER: MP still chooses to remain silent

I was interested to read an article (MP criticised as '˜unprofessional' by disabled woman after Twitter spat, March 24) concerning local Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames. It was reported that Sir Nicholas had blocked a disabled constituent, Kerryn Groves who lives in Lindfield, from his Twitter account after receiving a tweet from her criticising his decision to vote for cuts to benefits affecting the disabled.
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He is quoted as saying, rather pompously, that he does not consider Kerryn’s comment as ‘serious’ because she used the social media platform to contact him. Which begs the question that if Twitter users with legitimate comments are deemed an intrusion, why does Sir Nicholas have an account, @nsoamesmp, in the first place?

Sir Nicholas is reported to have said: “If she is serious about wanting to engage with me she needs to write to me at the House of Commons.” Well, that is exactly what I did on March 18, carefully following the instructions provided by Sir Nicholas’s website explaining how to contact him via email. I also provided my home address and telephone number. I have yet to receive a reply.

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Since I wrote asking politely for Sir Nicholas to explain his thinking behind supporting the cuts, the Government’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, resigned in protest at the decision and Prime Minister David Cameron then announced a U-turn, admitting it had been a mistake to target the disabled.

Sir Nicholas, meanwhile, chooses to remain silent. I wonder why?

John Osborne

Brock End, Cuckfield

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