'Not a great advertisement for MPs' - Your Letters: January 22

POOR RESPONSE FROM OUR MPs

My son is currently studying for his A-levels and is required to complete a one week work experience placement, preferably in an area related to his studies.

As two of his A-levels are history and politics he decided that he would like to pursue placements in these fields. His history related placement was quickly acknowledged and now has been confirmed.

He then decided that he would contact MPs within the local area and see if they could offer him anything. I did warn him not to hold out a lot of hope but he drafted an email, stating his interests and wish to continue studying a politics related degree, and pressed send. It is disappointing to report that of the five MPs that he contacted, only one MP's office even acknowledged the email. Luckily for my son this MP has offered him a placement.

In a world where young people are always told that they should get involved with communities and should care about what is going on in the world around them it is not a great advertisement for the MPs who did not even send a response, who you would think would like to encourage the engagement of young people in politics.

The cynical side of me thinks that when he turns 18, and is eligible to vote, MPs will then be all to happy to engage with him and try to secure his vote.