A lack of transparency – Politicians Ignoring the electorate

Angela Rayner, Labour MP for Ashton-under-Lyne has blocked me on Twitter.




No, I didn’t harass her. I didn’t use foul-language. I didn’t threaten or abuse her in anyway shape or form.

I simply asked her a question. This one:

@AngelaRayner blocking @rantsen_things on @Twitter

Hardly what you would call an abusive Tweet?

My question was in response to her blocking another Twitter user; someone who simply asked if Ms. Rayner sympathised with Ester McVey, the new Secretary of State for the DWP, who was branded a “stain on humanity” and someone who “should be lynched” by Labour Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell.


Just so you all know; I’m fully aware that everyone has the right to block anyone they want, for any reason, on Twitter. Any abuse including threats of physical harm, death threats and so on shouldn’t be tolerated, whether the recipient is a man or a woman.

But blocking people for asking a question?

Come on Angela, you’re an MP after all. You’re job is to be asked questions by the public. Just because a question might show up some partisan hypocrisy in you, doesn’t mean you should run away from it.

It’s got to the point now with MPs that they can have an opinion on a matter; state it; and then simply ignore or block out completely, any sort of discerning voice. Nobody is allowed to question or disagree with anything that a politician says anymore, and that’s just wrong.


You’re elected by the people. For the people.

It’s your duty to be held accountable for the things you say and the opinions you hold. It’s not your job as a “voice of the people” to ignore the voters, for fear of looking bad in their eyes.

What kind of example does it set for people; especially young voters, when the very people they elect into positions of authority, can’t even answer a simple question about a subject involving abuse and ridicule?

It’s Orwellian at best.

Should you be asked to put up with abuse? Absolutely not.

As a Politician, should you be able to answer a reasonable and polite question with regards to your refusal to condemn someone who has made horrifically abusive comments?

The “Ayes” have it.