Join the conversation - an invitation to Mark Pritchard MP

This evening we are hosting Forest’s second Zoom meeting, or webinar.

There’s nothing formal about it. It’s meant to replicate a pub-style chat (bring your own drink!), albeit with the benefit of a mute button.

The first one, three weeks ago, attracted 33 guests from all parts of the UK and beyond and went quite well. Tonight’s registered guests include participants from Australia, the USA and the Philippines.

We’ve invited the IEA’s Chris Snowdon to say a few words and answer questions. Topics will include the menthol cigarette ban and the call by Conservative MP Mark Pritchard for restrictions on smoking outside pubs and cafes when the current lockdown rules are eased.

With that in mind, I emailed the MP for The Wrekin last Thursday (9.57am) inviting him to join the conversation. My polite (even friendly) email read:

Dear Mr Pritchard,

Forest Zoom meeting, Tuesday 19th May, 6.00pm

We were interested to read your proposal for restrictions on smoking in outdoor areas outside pubs and cafes when the government eases the current lockdown on the hospitality industry.

You may have seen our response in the Shropshire Star.

Next Tuesday, 19th May, at 6.00pm we are hosting our second online meeting on Zoom. The first attracted 33 guests online and we are hoping for a similar number next week.

The aim is to create a pub chat style event around two principal issues – the menthol cigarette ban that comes into force on Wed 20th May, and your proposal.

We have invited Chris Snowdon, head of the Lifestyle Economics Unit at the IEA, to say a few words about the menthol ban, and we would like to invite you to be our other special guest to explain the reasons for your proposal and take questions.

Our supporters are generally pretty polite although strong feelings may be expressed. However, we have control of the mute button so only one person at a time will be able to speak to this will help moderate the debate!

We would be delighted if you would join us. You don't have to be present for the full hour (6.00-7.00pm). If you could join us for 20 minutes that would be perfect. As I say, we would invite you to speak for 3-4 mins, then take questions.

I look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to have a chat on the phone you can call me on [number].

Kind regards,

Simon Clark
Director, Forest

That was five days ago. I’m still waiting for a response.

Since then I have rung the constituency office which was closed, understandably, although one might have thought callers could leave a message.

Instead a voice message invited callers to ring the MP’s Westminster office, which implied that someone in London was taking calls. I have rung the number four or five times, at different times and on different working days, and every time I got another answering machine.

On Friday and again yesterday I left a message. No response.

How hard should it be to contact a member of Parliament even during lockdown?

They are supposed to be working, after all, and they were apparently offered an extra £10,000 each to pay for additional office costs so staff could work from home, so I don't understand why someone isn't available to answer calls at least.

If no-one is physically present in the London or constituency offices why are calls to the landline numbers not automatically redirected so they can be answered by members of staff working from home?

Big assumption, but let’s imagine that Mark Pritchard has seen my invitation. Having called for smoking to be restricted outside pubs and cafes in the event of lockdown regulations being eased, why won’t he engage with the very people who will be most affected?

I appreciate that he is not my constituency MP and I accept that constituents should get priority, but it was Mark Pritchard who decided to make an issue of smoking outside pubs and cafes and that’s a national issue, not a local one. He should therefore be willing to engage with non-constituents on the matter.

What I really object to though is the fact that for four working days (including today) it has been impossible to speak to any member of Mark Pritchard’s staff because no-one is answering the phone. Nor has anyone bothered to reply to the messages I have left.

And to think that we, the public, pay these people’s salaries!

PS. A few minutes ago, at 11.00am, I rang Mark Pritchard's Westminster office for the fourth working day in a row. Straight to answer phone.

This time I didn't bother leaving a message. I posted this instead.