Just had lunch with a group of media-savvy MPs.
Conversation really perked up when one of them said he replies to emails from constituents with a "proper" posted letter in an envelope. It turns out that others all did the same.
So for all the online sneering it appears that snail mail still has something to offer - to politicians at least.
The MPs felt that constituents felt that their issue was being treated more seriously if they got a typed reply on crested and headed paper.
They also reckon that dictating a letter allows them to give a more considered reply and avoids getting drawn into an emailing duel (of the type which will be familiar to bloggers).
Emailers get an acknowledgement straight back asking them to send their postal address (this also helps MPs to confirm that the messager really is one of their constituents.)
Of course free postage for MPs may also help to keep the letter alive.
Fair play to my MP John McFall, (West Dunbartonshire, Treasury Select Chair) - he sent a letter to me 7 days after I emailed him. I was courteous to him for the hard work he puts in for the constituency, but notified him that there was little chance of me voting Labour with GB at the helm! Knockabout stuff nonetheless.
Posted by: jaxx 9 May 2008 00:10:44
Posted by: machiavelli 8 May 2008 12:09:29
I see. And which constituency do you represent?
Posted by: T.J. from Ireland 8 May 2008 13:39:13
MPs postage is not free, it's paid for from their office expenses.
Or do you think that they should have to fund their stationery as well? How about pay their parliamentary staff wages out of their own pocket?
I take it Sky News correspondents claim expenses and use free newsroom facilities?
Posted by: machiavelli 8 May 2008 12:09:29
Maybe we can get this blog in the post on headed, crested, ivory Sky paper ? What do you say ?
On a more serious note, I love the pictures you use in the blogs but never see a credit for the images you have used. I am a photographer myself and would like to know why not ?
Posted by: Isabelle, Harrow 8 May 2008 08:46:24
I was under the Impression that most M.P.’s didn’t, or couldn’t write anyway. After all!! Isn’t that what they receive huge expenses for? to enable them to hire staff to do that type of work for them. The M.P.’s input being an ‘X’ or a pre-signed scrawled signature.
Snail mail has the added advantage of slowing down any necessity for a quick reply, just in case a case of ‘jittering or dithering’ kicks in.
It also puts me in mind of a friend of mine from Manchester, who wrote a strong, angry letter of complaint to his local M.P. regarding the inaction of this M.P. to a particular problem he was experiencing.
He duly received a ‘Form’ letter back; thanking him for his communication, and also advising him how best to join the local Labour party. Which at that moment in time would have been the furthest thought from his mind?
Posted by: T.J. from Ireland 8 May 2008 06:33:41
I love letters, too. I do have some of those lovely House of Commons headed letters from my MP, Jane Kennedy,who has always been most efficient and with a comprehensive response after sending to the appropriate minister/s for their answers, also.
As much as I love my computer, an email has to be really quickly returned to be effective.
You expect to wait for a letter but not an email, so the tendency is, if you don't get a quick response, you think either the person isn't computer literate (not cool,lol.) or they can't be bothered.
There is nothing quite like a good fountain pen and quality writing paper.
My daughter wasn't taught cursive handwriting at school but it is back on the agenda at schools, now, as my 12 year old granddaughter writes very carefully and neatly and now has a penpal, which suprised me as I thought penpals were a thing of the past.
Posted by: carol-ann livepool 7 May 2008 21:16:02
Madnurse
Like you I like to see neat, well written letters on a quality paper.
Your lucky, if you receive emails from your grandchildren, I usualy get unreadable texts with winks and funny faces.
I just put money in a card for my grandchildren now, as they thought I was an old fuddy duddy, because I sent book tokens.
They no longer read books.
One of them got me to join facebook "it drove me mad" and had to delete the programe after a month.
I tell myself I have an excuse for not reading so much now, having to go back and read the last sentence, not remembering it, before moving onto the next lol.
Post offices as we know them will, I believe, close down because of the computer.
Being disabled I have to admit I find it easier, using one that is in our local out of town Asda.
Email is encouraged by almost all companies now, "I will put it in the post" I offer, but am told "can't you email it".
Iv'e lost tract of who owns and runs the post office.
It is expensive and complicated now, with having to have cards and letters measured.
If we don't want to go back and nationalise the industry,
which is not and shouldn't be an option, What can be done without major surgery?.
Posted by: neither/niether 7 May 2008 20:18:19
I prefer proper post as opposed to electonic mail.
When my children were growing up, they always sent a thank you letter to those that gave a present at Christmas and birthdays.
Now when my great grandchildren receive a gift from me, they always send an Email which often, I need to get translated, as they use a lot of text abbreviations.
I don't think you can beat a well written letter on good quality paper with copperplate handwriting, it is a dying art.
I just hope the MPs use the Royal mail rather than a private postal service to send their letters to people.
With the Post Office and Royal Mail, it really is a case of use it or loose it!!
Posted by: Madnurse 7 May 2008 17:05:32
I also meant to say that during the postal strike, the Tax Office gave the public no leeway for late receipt of tax forms - which were sent through the post! I had to send mine back Recorded Delivery (which cost me a fortune) to make sure it got there before I was fined.
Posted by: Liz, Suffolk 7 May 2008 16:24:48
E-mail isn't that good. I sent one to William Hague about 2 months ago and I'm still waiting for a reply!
Posted by: Liz, Suffolk 7 May 2008 15:57:14