Putting party above welfare of constituents

SOME of the poorest people struggling to balance household budgets in Beverley and Holderness have been badly let down once again by their MP Graham Stuart, the very person who should be defending their interests.

He was re-elected less than two years ago on a manifesto that promised constituents he would protect pensioners from rising inflation by keeping what is referred to as the “triple lock”.

Boris Johnson broke that promise and Mr Stuart voted to support him. So pensioners will see the value of the state pension reduced in real terms from next April.

Mr Stuart also stood on a manifesto pledge not to increase taxes. Again, he voted with his fellow Conservatives to do precisely the opposite of what he promised.

So, again from next April, hardpressed families will pay hundreds of pounds more in tax.

Just imagine what he’d be saying if the Labour Party had gone back on such manifesto promises.

To break such promises at any time would be bad enough, but to do so when we face energy costs rising by around £60 a month, petrol increases, empty supermarket shelves, rising council tax bills, adds up to an unprecedented attack on ordinary people’s living standards.

Yet, Mr Stuart, like his leader, thinks we’ll have forgotten all this by the time of the next general election.

Time and time again, when it’s a choice of looking after constituents or loyally backing his party, he puts party first.

He might find there comes a point when, we who have the chance to vote, decide his promises are not worth the paper they’re written on.

Barry Fleetwood,

Beverley.