Neil Interviews David Howarth MP

Neil:  Hello, this is David Howarth and he is the MP for Cambridge.  He has come along to have a chat with us.

How much time you spend being an MP?  Is it a 9 to 5 job ?

David:  I think that it is a lot more than 9 to 5.  I go to Parliament 4 or 5 days a week, and it is a full day there and can be many, many hours.  When I'm not in Parliament, the rest of the time, I'm in Cambridge, in my constituency, going to meetings, talking to people, writing letters.

Neil:  What does being an MP involve?

David:  The main thing in Parliament is discussing what the law should be and voting about what the law should be.  There will be ideas for new laws or getting rid of old laws and we talk about it, we have discussion and debate.  At the end of the debate we have a vote on what the new law should be and what it shouldn't be.  That's the main job.

Outside Parliament, I go to lots of meetings, talk to my constituents, answer lots of letters, and try to help them.

Neil:  What do you do to find out the views of the people you represent?

David:  People are writing to me, and emailing me and ringing my office all the time.  That's the main way that people get their views across to me.

And then I talk to people.  I get the train in to London every day, with lots of people from Cambridge.  I walk around Cambridge whenever I can.  I talk to as many people as I can.

Neil:  Why do you think it is important to vote?

David:  It's very important to vote.  We are a democracy, and that means that the people govern the country - not the government.

The people choose the government.  This is how we can all take part in the government of our country.  Voting is the main way in which we do that.

Neil:  How do you think we can get people with disabilities to be more involved in politics?

David:  I think that it's important to get more people with disabilities involved in politics.  We need to make sure there are no barriers in the way.  One of the big barriers is the fact that too many decisions are taken in London and not locally. The more that decisions are taken here in Cambridge by local people, the more that people can take part.

And for people with disabilities, we have to ask the obvious question: What would help you to take part more?

Neil:  Do you have a message to people with a learning disability to encourage them to vote?

David:  I think that everyone should register to vote.  Especially people with learning disabilities.  Everyone should make sure their name is on the list.  And so they have the chance to have their say about what kind of country we live in.

Thank you very much Neil, for inviting me.  It's a pleasure and an honour to be invited to be on your website which I'm sure will be great success.