MP should practice what he preaches

IT was instructive to see our local MP John Glen on the BBC Politics Show recently.

He was emphatic that it was the duty of a sitting MP to represent all of his constituents equally.

One can’t help remembering his previous TV denigration of those Salisbury citizens forced to rely on foodbanks because of their lifestyle.

This past week he voted against another group whose lifestyle obviously does not meet his definition of equality by denying them the right to a gay marriage.

So much for representation.

TINA CRANMER, Amesbury

Comments(8)

reasonedhuman says...
9:10am Thu 28 Feb 13

I agree - on the matter of Gay marriage I feel our MP voted with his opinion of the subject and not that of his constituents.

Surely he is there to represent us and not his bigoted and outdated views?

I know not all will agree with me so in such circumstances maybe our MP should conduct a street survey of the residents of his constituency and then vote with the same response of the majority. A sample of say 2,000 would representative. I would rather pay towards that than travel expenses.

FreeBornJohn says...
2:42pm Fri 1 Mar 13

I agree as well. For Mr Glen to vote against marriage is appalling and shows how out of date and bigoted his views are. Of course gay people should be allowed the same legal protection and rights vis a vie marriage as everyone else, this is so self evidently true that I need not explain it. The only thing that matters regards marriage is love (call me sentimental). Gay people fall in love just like straight people.

Mr. Glen however is upper class, wealthy and as a result, out of touch. He probably has not, like I have had to do, make decisions as to whether to turn the heating up and hence give buy less food or not.

He is part of what I can only describe as the most corrupt and incompetent government in my lifetime. Stroll on 2015.

FreeBornJohn says...
2:45pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Sorry, one more thing, Mr Glen earns more in allowances and expenses than my family in a year. How can that be right. And why does he not commute up to the smoke like the rest of those Salisbury residents who work in London?

SONIA Best says...
12:12pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Was it ever in the Conservatives manifesto to introduce gay marriage.
No

Why has this become such a big issue ,with everything else going on around us.
Call me Dave is just after votes ,I doubt he will win the next election

karlmarx says...
6:25pm Sun 3 Mar 13

"The Conservative MP for Salisbury, John Glen, has said that he will not be “bullied into cutting ties” with a charity that sponsored an event which included discussions of “curing” homosexuality.

Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), had co-sponsored the 2009 “Judaeo-Christian
event ‘Sex and the City: Redeeming sex today’ which included talks on “mentoring the sexually broken” from speakers including Jospeh Nicolosi, president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality and author of books on how to clinically “treat” homosexuality"

Enough said?

Sustainer says...
11:04am Mon 4 Mar 13

"Mr. Glen however is upper class, wealthy and as a result, out of touch." says FreeBornJohn.
I don't usually spring to our MP's defence as he is perfectly capable of doing that himself but this comment is so ridiculous as to warrant an intervention.
John Glen's grandfather was a policeman in Salisbury and his father runs a small market garden. Hardly 'upper class' in the traditional and sneering sense used here. If you define it as hard working and family orientated, which is what our MP is, than I have no doubt he would take it as a compliment.
The comments on gay mariage appear to reflect the belief that anyone who has concerns over this rushed law must be a bigot or homophobe which is also untrue. My concern centres around the natural desire for everyone to be equal under the law. We all were already as the Civil Partnership Laws rightly provide the same protections and obligations. Interestingly, heterosexual couples can't opt for a civil partnership so not completely equal!
Likewise in the new marriage law for homosexual couples adultery or non consummation are not grounds for a divorce where they are for heterosexual couples so not equal there either. There are many other anomolies and until they have been debated and resolved instead of being rushed in hoping all will be well in the future I would rather not see the law come into effect. Bad law does no one any favours. Get it right and society will benefit.

rantone says...
7:47pm Tue 5 Mar 13

John Glen did support Naomi House and Jack's Place in talks with the Prime Minister for funds to be directed to disabled children who attend this Hospice. Full marks for this . There is not an MP who could ever have complete support from the electorate on all topics - that is why we can discuss and disagree openly. Just hope this remains the way.

Grampie says...
10:57am Wed 6 Mar 13

Sustainer wrote:
"Mr. Glen however is upper class, wealthy and as a result, out of touch." says FreeBornJohn.
I don't usually spring to our MP's defence as he is perfectly capable of doing that himself but this comment is so ridiculous as to warrant an intervention.
John Glen's grandfather was a policeman in Salisbury and his father runs a small market garden. Hardly 'upper class' in the traditional and sneering sense used here. If you define it as hard working and family orientated, which is what our MP is, than I have no doubt he would take it as a compliment.
The comments on gay mariage appear to reflect the belief that anyone who has concerns over this rushed law must be a bigot or homophobe which is also untrue. My concern centres around the natural desire for everyone to be equal under the law. We all were already as the Civil Partnership Laws rightly provide the same protections and obligations. Interestingly, heterosexual couples can't opt for a civil partnership so not completely equal!
Likewise in the new marriage law for homosexual couples adultery or non consummation are not grounds for a divorce where they are for heterosexual couples so not equal there either. There are many other anomolies and until they have been debated and resolved instead of being rushed in hoping all will be well in the future I would rather not see the law come into effect. Bad law does no one any favours. Get it right and society will benefit.
Well said regarding his background, but he went to private schools, earned a lot of money doing something that nobody seems to know what before he became an MP, owns a flat in London, lives in the Avon valley, earns over £62,000 a year and claims over £24,000 a year in housing allowance (Accommodation expenses). if you were on £71 a week job seekers allowance, you would say he was "Upper Class"

I do not think he is "Upper Class", but he has not been plagued with scrimping and saving.

As for the issue of gay marriage, not permitting it hurts those couples who want to demonstrate their love in the traditional way. It does not hurt anyone else. Let them get married in church and concentrate on bigger issues in life

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