Can I help?
As a member of Parliament...
...Andrew represents his constituents irrespective of their own party political preference. He believes it is his role to seek out the silent voices. He wants to make sure that those who find it difficult and challenging to speak up have someone to speak up for them
He promises to do his best for his constituents. He is of course frustrated when his efforts don't always achieve the results which he believes local people deserve. He does not have a magic formula and cannot work miracles, but with the assistance of his small band of staff, he will always do all that he can.
As an MP, Andrew will:
- Try to take into account all the many views of different people across the constituency on national issues. He likes to receive advice, opinion, information and feedback.
- Fight for a fair deal for the people and communities in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. He can raise questions with ministers, put his name forward in the ballot for debates and questions and seek answers from those Ministers who have the power to change things.
- Take up your concerns and difficulties with both national and local organisations. Andrew deals with over 13,000 contacts per annum on behalf of over 100,000 constituents who live in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Many of these cover the desperate need for affordable housing, the problems of those in receipt of tax credits and benefits, the difficulties faced by pensioners and the challenges for those running small businesses in an area like ours. He will take those issues up with local Councils and agencies as well as national and international bodies.
However, Andrew:
- Cannot intervene on local authority policy making; councillors elected to local authorities do that.
- Cannot lobby for or against a planning application. Such decisions are to be taken by those elected to that tier of Government. However, he can - and often does - take up concerns regarding procedure and fact.
- Cannot offer legal advice or support. If the ‘legal’ matters are of Ministerial interpretation or, indeed, are a policy rather than legal issue, then of course Mr George can take it up. But if you need a legal representative, a legal advocate or a legal opinion, then you need a lawyer. MPs cannot provide legal representation.
- May not always get the answer you want. He will try his best but sometimes those who make the final decision on any case have to consider it against competing objectives, interests or budgets and may not make the decision you want.
In addition, Andrew may direct you:
- to seek advice from local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, a local authority or other agencies which may be better able to assist.
- to pursue your complaint through the Local Government or the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, if your complaint concerns the administration either of a local council or of a Government department or other.
If, on the other hand, your complaint is against Andrew George MP, you could either:
- Take this up with his office in the first instance, or
- Write to the Speaker of the House of Commons, or
- Write to the Registrar of Members’ Interests.
His office could advise you on where to take your complaint, depending upon its nature.
