>> I'm not sure either, though one Brit I had a chat with recently when
>> I was there was fascinated by how American politicians had to get
>> out and shake hands, hold town meetings and all that, saying this
>> never happens in the UK.
> I think that might be slightly mistaken, MPs hold local meetings.
> The Prime minister isnt directly elected....
Our deeply unimpressive local MSP is a regular at the village
community council meetings. And Alex Salmond (First Minister of
Scotland) stopped me in the street and shook my hand in the high
street in Linlithgow about a month ago. (He was there to visit
his mum, just took the opportunity to do a bit of greeting while
he was there). MSPs have a bit more contact with the public than
MPs do.
But all MPs have "surgeries" (fixed hours in their constituency
offices when they can see constituents, and any constituent can
get to see them). I never heard of congressmen and senators doing
that in the US - does it happen? Lobbyists don't have much problem
getting a hearing, there as here.
==== j a c k at c a m p i n . m e . u k === ====
Jack Campin, 11 Third St, Newtongrange EH22 4PU, Scotland == mob 07800 739 557
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