On Monday 27th March, Caroline Ansell, the Eastbourne MP called on the Government to criticise her Council and it was very clear that her Government agreed with Caroline. One wonders if the call and the response are correct, and of course given that the Government has made many mistakes will Caroline Ansell admit the Government failures? Indeed here in the blog and also in the Argus Newspaper yesterday (Monday 3rd April) I wrote about the Illegal Migration Bill. There are many challenges associated with that Bill and the rejection from most of the Conservative MPs including Caroline Ansell was to vote against all but one of the voting Clauses for the Bill. One wonders if this sort of discuss about Eastbourne can be treated exclusively when there have been many other issues? The Illegal Migration Bill debates took place on the same day as Caroline was criticising her Council but sadly she did not contribute to the debate on the Bill! So here is her question and Lee’s answer.

Caroline Ansell: Local elections are fast approaching, but my local council has said that, from now until 4 May, I can continue to send in casework but it cannot reply. I will not know whether the council has lifted eviction orders or responded to dangerous damp conditions—the list goes on. I champion my constituents’ situations, but that will compromise what I can do to support them. Does the Minister agree that the council’s ruling is wholly disproportionate?

Lee Rowley: Yes. Eastbourne council is wrong. The pre-election period does not stop councils from responding to Members of Parliament, and they should do so.