Have I touched a raw nerve?

4.00.00pm GMT Thu 24th Nov 2005

Colin Ross, Robin and Lexi Lawrence campaign against the Council Tax bombshell

After challenging the Wolverhampton South West MP Rob Marris to explain why it appears he wants to abolish Council Tax but continues to support it in the House of Commons in the local newspaper, I think I have hit a raw nerve he has responded in quite a bizarre way.

He wrote in this week's Wolverhampton Chronicle the following letter:

Presenting petition was a duty

"Mr Colin Ross of the Liberal Democrats has written to you (letters, 17.11.05), publicly attacking me, and asking for an explanation regarding the 'Isitfair' petition which I presented to Parliament a few weeks ago.

Would that Mr Ross had been polite enough top ask me personally about the petition, before writing his misinformed letter to you, the explanation is quite simple.

I was asked to present this petition by my constituent Mr. Donald Morrris, who collected the signatures.

I duly did so. That is my duty as an MP. It does not mean that I agree with the wording of the petition. I do not as I had made clear to Mr Morris before he sent me the petition.

Either Mr Ross (himself a General Election candidate) is ignorant of the duties of an MP, or he is being mischievous.

Moreover, Mr Ross' own Liberal Democrat party has itself now ditched its policy of a local income tax, and has passed to a think tank the question of local taxation!"

I will be writing to the Chronicle to take up his points, I am fully aware that the role of an MP is not to allow people to be misled by your actions or deeds. I would argue that in this case, Mr Marris has allowed people to get the wrong impression of what his views are. I am also aware an MP should not state information about another Political Party's policy that is untrue. Contrary to Mr. Marris' accusation, the Liberal Democrats remain committed to abolishing Council Tax and replacing it with a Local Income Tax.