Thread by @ThangamMP

During the campaign I met lots of people I've worked with or helped during the last 4 years but also realised lots of people don't know what an MP can (and can't) do in constituency or Westminster. I'll blog about this later in the week. For now, some examples of how I can help:

If you're having problems and got stuck in a process with Universal Credit, Tax office, immigration service, benefits assessments, council or any other state agency - i. e. Public not private - my caseworkers and I may be able to advocate on your behalf and get it sorted.

We can't help with initial applications usually, that's something Citizen's Advice or Law Centres or local advice agencies better for. But once a process has started, if it gets stuck or you think something has gone wrong, we can try to help.

If the organisation concerned has broken its own rules, we can often help get this sorted. If they haven't broken their rules, it's trickier, but we will always try to see if there is something we can do or someone we can suggest who might be able to help.

An MP/ office isn't an emergency service - if someone is in immediate danger they need 999 or if emergency housing etc they need emergency council. But if you aren't getting help you are entitled to, I can often assist.

If you've got email, it's usually best to email me first with details on [e-mail]
Sometimes emails don't arrive - usually because this email address is a bit of a pain, sorry!
If possible, copy from contact details on debbonaire.co.uk

Sometimes if something unfair is happening with either public or private organisation it is within law/rules even though unfair. This can turn into a campaign - local or national to change law/rules or get more funding or whatever it needs.

For example, I'm campaigning for a travel fund for families of children with cancer and other serious diseases - cost of travel for treatment is often high and a problem they shouldn't have to face on top of the illness, especially as a parent often had to stop working

That's unfair but within rules. So I am campaigning to change this.
Our laws on family visit visas are another example. Also: Compensation for Windrush victims. Funding for schools, NHS, council homes. Ending homelessness. Allowing asylum seekers to work.

For these campaigns it's a mixture of public awareness raising, local campaigning, using Parliamentary tools & other lobbying.For every campaign there will be people suffering an injustice. Contact me if I can help or if you aren't sure but want to discuss. I'll always try.

Like I said, I can't fix everything. And sometimes my team and I have to prioritise. I will always try to let you know if I can or can't help and what my team and I are doing.
Sometimes the system has hitches, it's not perfect. But I'll do my best to be honest & work hard for you