Wakefield angry residents (WAR)

I have just been checking on Parliamentary protocol in respect of MP's from another constituency, involving him/herself in an issue or matter of a neighbouring constituency. I came across a very useful 'Standard Note' submitted to the House of Commons Library by Richard Kelly in January 2009.

I was basically hoping to catch new MP Alec Shelbrooke out a little in respect of his public and vocal involvement in Newmarket, which of course does fall outside his constituency... what I did found out was quite interesting!

It would seem that if Alec Shelbrooke MP has been approached by people living in his constituency, which I suspect he indeed has, then getting involved in this matter would be within excepted protocol and etiquette BUT he should have been keeping Ed Balls MP 'informed' of his intentions and any actions taken, speeches made, media interviews etc, on an issue not in his constituency but of concern to his constituents! I wonder if Ed got a note from Alec after his Radio Leeds interview or indeed any correspondence on this matter, as the etiquette urges he should have done/do?

However, this section in the note really made me smile, dedicated to the issue of planning matters.

Quote: "2.3 Other issues

Planning

Nevertheless, there are obvious drawbacks to becoming involved in matters which may pit one constituent against another. The authors of How Parliament Works, which is a highly regarded guide to Parliament written by clerks, wrote the following
A new MP is always warned by colleagues not to take up planning cases; planning has its own machinery at both local and national level, and the applicants and the objectors are usually all constituents; to favour one is to disadvantage another.33[/i'"

I wonder if I should e-mail Alec a copy of this Standard Note!