Candidates looking to become the next MP for Camberwell and Peckham are pledging to set up a constituency office if selected. So why doesn’t incumbent Harriet Harman already have one?
The Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament says that MPs have a “special duty” to their constituents and constituency offices offer physical spaces where elected representatives perform that duty.
Although MPs aren’t obligated to have one – they can speak to constituents through the phone or email – pressure group Unlock Democracy says they are “invaluable” for those who require face-to-face contact.
Mother of the House Harriet Harman, 71, announced last year that she will stand down from her position as MP for Camberwell and Peckham at the next election after almost 40 years in the role.
Several candidates vying to replace her have pledged to establish a constituency office if selected, prompting people to ask why Harman doesn’t already have one.
Andy Harris, a specialist camper van trader and Camberwell resident for forty years, has often struggled to get hold of his MP. He said: “I don’t think they can shirk their responsibilities to their constituents and that involves meeting them face to face. I would feel a lot more confidence in the democratic process if I was able to talk to my elected representative.”
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When asked by the News why she doesn’t have a constituency office, and for how long, Harriet Harman did not answer the question directly. Instead, she said: “I have one of the biggest constituency ‘caseloads’ of any member of parliament.
“The casework has become even more important over the last few years for reasons everyone will understand.
“The overwhelming majority of people contact me by email. Some phone my office. And in some cases, I offer to see people in their own homes (most recently in the case of the parents of Chris Kaba who are my constituents).”
Harman would not say when she last had a constituency office. But her website indicates she had a permanent constituency office at the old Southwark Town Hall on Peckham Road.
In March 2009, Southwark Council relocated to new offices on Tooley Street. It is unclear what happened to her constituency office after that.
Instead, her website says: “Over the years since 1982 much has changed both in the way people communicate and the response they want from their MP. The overwhelming majority of people contact me by email. Some phone my office. And in some cases, I offer to see people in their own homes.”
Director of Unlock Democracy Tom Brake said: “There is no requirement for an MP to have a physical presence in their constituency. However, for an MP’s constituents, a constituency office can prove invaluable. It is often the only source of information on issues like benefits and immigration which is readily accessible.
“It is true that for many, email is now a quicker and easier way to communicate. But for some people – those who cannot use technology or have difficulty expressing themselves on the phone or are in a crisis situation – nothing can replace face-to-face contact.”
In 2018, those identifying as Black, African, Caribbean or Black British were the ethnic group second most likely not to use the internet, according to Office of National Statistics (ONS) data published in 2019. 8.2 per cent of them were non-internet users, surpassed only by whites, of which 10.6 per cent did not use the internet.
In 2011, Camberwell and Peckham had the highest proportion of black, African, and Afro-Caribbean residents of all constituencies in England and Wales, according to ONS 2011 census figures, at 37.4 per cent.
This is not lost on candidates looking to replace Harman. While praising her as an “iconic” figure and skilled campaigner on national issues, many have highlighted the importance of a constituency office.
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Peter Babudu said: “I think that at times it [not having a constituency office] has made it harder for people to be heard. If I became MP, I would be looking to establish one within the first 100 days.”
Evelyn Akoto said: “As your Labour MP, I will put the needs of the constituency first, including opening a local office where residents and members can meet with me.” Miatta Fahnbulleh has also pledged to set up a constituency office.
Neighbouring MPs Neil Coyle and Helen Hayes both have permanent offices but Harriet Harman is not the only MP not to have an in-area base.
“Times of crisis generate vision”: Miatta Fahnbulleh wants to be the next Camberwell and Peckham MP
In 2020, Labour MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler closed her constituency office after receiving racist threats.
It should also be noted that despite the Parliament of the United Kingdom having sat for 221 years, 22 per cent of MP killings have taken place in the last six.
In 2016, Jo Cox was shot and stabbed by a Neo-Nazi white supremacist while Sir David Amess was murdered in October 2021 by an Islamic extremist.
A source to the Labour Party told the News that they believed Harriet Harman closed her office due to security concerns.
In 2008, Harman was criticised for wearing a stab vest and being accompanied by a police patrol while strolling around her constituency.
