THE veteran Labour MP for Middlesbrough, Sir Stuart Bell, has twice in a matter of days shown just how out of touch he is with his constituents.

Firstly, it’s astonishing that he stated people from housing estates do not buy national newspapers. Is this really what he thinks about his constituents?

Secondly, when a local paper, the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, asked five Teesside MPs if they would be happy to participate in a question and answer session, Sir Stuart declined saying “many thanks for your interest in our work, but your scheme is not one which commends itself to me”.

After 27 years representing his constituents in Westminster, he no longer lives in his constituency nor has he held a surgery in years.

If he wants to re-connect with his constituents, he could at least start with answering the questions put to him.

Does Sir Stuart see connecting with his constituents beneath him? The only time people actually see him is when he needs their votes.

It appears that he is too complacent with his victories in Middlesbrough that he even denies his constituents a basic level of representation and accountability.

Scott Holmes, South Tees Conservative Future.