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Service User Parliament MPs get down to business

Two of CMG's recently elected Service User Parliament MPs have been busy getting their campaigns underway in the New Year and meeting with their local parliamentary MPs.

CMG's Service User Parliament was created in 2010, with the aim of enabling service users across CMG to discuss important issues and give feedback on their services via their region’s elected service user MP.

Ena Baker from Tall Trees wrote two letters to the MP for Bexhill, Gregory Barker, telling him about the Service User Parliament and what she hopes to achieve as MP for the West Sussex region. Gregory responded to both letters with positive praise for Ena and her campaign and Ena is now arranging for him to visit her service so that she can discuss local issues with him directly.

Ena has been keeping a diary of all her activities since she was elected which includes putting a billboard up at her service, organising her monthly MP surgery times and printing campaign t-shirts and leaflets. When Ena recently saw some Bexhill councillors holding a campaign at her local shopping centre she approached them to have a chat and ask for advice on her MP activities. However, they had none to offer – as they remarked she is already doing a fantastic job.

Ena is thoroughly enjoying being an MP and has lots planned for the future including making visits to all the local CMG services to find out what matters to them.

On Friday 28th January Sophie Cowderoy (MP for the Kent and Essex region) invited the MP for Hornchurch and Upminster Angela Watkinson to her service The Ridgeway to talk about local public transport. Sophie discussed with Angela the recent issues she and other tenants were having with customer service and accessibility for wheelchair users on the local buses, which was having an impact on their community access. Angela responded with a promise to follow this up with the bus company’s Chief Executive as well as liaising with her colleague in Romford to deal with these transport issues at a local level. Both Sophie and Angela have agreed to stay in touch to keep each other updated on progress.

Speaking on the day, Angela Watkinson MP said:

“People with disabilities want to be as independent as possible. Using public transport is an important part of being able to take part in community activities.”

Talking after Angela’s visit, Sophie Cowderoy said:

“It’s nice that she is sorting it out because it will be nicer to travel on the buses.”