Southport’s Member of Parliament has spoken of the “substantial increase” in the number of people in his constituency seeking support as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Damien Moore said his office has dealt with more than double the number of incoming casework requests in the last 12 months when compared with the previous year.
In the twelve months since March 2020, the number of emails and letters received by the MP from constituents seeking advice or support increased by almost 200 per cent, whilst the number of emails sent out in response to constituents, to Government departments or to a third-party agency also increased significantly.
The town’s MP was speaking of his office’s commitment to supporting constituents in what has been a difficult year for many people.
Southport MP Damien Moore said:
“Over the past year my office has supported thousands of residents and businesses in Southport in getting through this pandemic.
“In total, we’ve managed more than 3,000 active cases with issues ranging from business loans and government grants, to homelessness, housing, and benefit payments – and we’ve managed to secure positive outcomes in most cases.
“This last year has been tough for everyone, but I am confident my casework team has dealt with the substantial increase in workload and have gone above and beyond in supporting my constituents. I know there are countless people who are personally grateful to them for the work they have done during this difficult period.
“I want to remind my constituents that my office and I are here to support you all year round with casework issues. Even if my team can’t directly resolve an issue on your behalf, we will point you in the right direction for support and we will work for the best outcome.”
Mr Moore also spoke of his frustration that a number of people had attempted to thwart his office’s efforts to support constituents during the pandemic by being abusive or by sending ‘nuisance’ emails.
Damien Moore MP said:
“My office has attempted to respond to every email and letter during this pandemic; we have wanted to ensure all residents and businesses receive the support they need to pull through and bounce back.
“Unfortunately, however, some individuals have attempted to cause my office great difficulty; either by being abusive or a nuisance. We have even had to refer a number of threatening emails to the police.
“MPs’ offices only have a limited number of resources at their disposal and I firmly believe that my caseworkers should be prioritising those with genuine concerns at this time.
“My constituents can be confident that if they contact my office requesting assistance they will be provided with the help and support they need without question.”
If you need help with a Southport issue please email: damien.moore.mp@parliament.uk or call: 01704 500577 or write to: Southport MP Damien Moore, 4 Post Office Avenue, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 0US
