I WOULD like to take to task my MP, Gordon Brown, because of what he told me in an email I received on 9th October and I think all of his constituents should be aware of how lightly he takes his duty as a constituency MP.

I wrote to Mr Brown asking him to vote in favour of his party’s motion, to be heard on 13th October, calling on the UK Government to recognise Palestine as a state within the UN. He wrote at length and, at times, in very supportive terms of the motion, ie ‘Palestine statehood is not a gift to be given but a right to be recognised and that is why since 2011 Labour has supported Palestinian recognition at the UN.’ Amongst other things he also said ‘The principle of recognising Palestinian statehood as part of a continuing step to achieve a comprehensive negotiated two state solution is why I will be voting to support the principle of Palestinian statehood when the House of Commons debates the issue on Monday’.

In the event he failed to turn up to vote on Monday 13th and I believe that his leader could not apply a three line whip because Mr Brown, Mr Murphy and others objected because they are official members of Labour Friends of Israel.

Whilst I find much of Mr Brown’s political views to be objectionable and to differ considerably to mine, what I find reprehensible is the ease with which he sets out to mislead. The issue relating to the motion on Palestine is a quite irrevocable instance and is not the only example of a broken vow.

It really is time that people had the power to unseat their elected members.

MAUREEN CLOSS.