AN INTERVIEW with Charlotte Atkins is certainly an interesting affair.
MP Charlotte Atkins
She is perched on a plush sofa in an elegant living room, with a well-made cup of tea at hand and a newly acquired friend in a very curious black and white rescued cat.
Charlotte’s answers to the questions put to her would test the shorthand skills of even the best journalist.
To a pessimist her lengthy, detailed responses would indicate a well thought-out pre-election strategy, but to an optimist it would seem as if she is just a person who quite clearly loves her job, a job she proudly describes as being a “community champion”.
Despite it being the biggest news story of the day it was, however, slightly bizarre to find that Charlotte was unaware of the news that she, as an MP, would be soon due for a 1.5 per cent pay rise of nearly £1,000.
“I didn’t know we had one up until now,” she laughs, adding: “But you know I just don’t think that MPs by enlarge go into politics in terms of pay.
“It’s right to accept whatever an independent panel, scrutiny body has come up with. I think that is what people should expect.
“Now I’m very much in favour if you are a trade unionist as I am, I’m a member of UNISON, I think it’s right, I’ve always considered it right that MPs’ pay and allowances should be independently scrutinised, I’ve always been of that view and I think it’s right.” Irrespective of any misgivings regarding her involvement in last summer’s expenses scandal, Charlotte knows she is facing a tough time over the next few months, especially given that boundary changes have already made her position a notional Conservative seat.
She’s fought to keep the Moorlands’ healthcare system local and has organised health MOTs for more than 1,000 people.
She’s fought for speed cameras on the A520, she’s fought to kick-start Sure Start services in rural areas and she’s helped save several rural schools from closure.
Now she’s fighting to keep her position as the top dog of the Moorlands, and she’s the first to admit that things aren’t going to be easy.
“This constituency is going to be very, very hard fought and because of the balance changes it is going to be very tough for me this tim,e but I think I’ve demonstrated over the last 13 years that I have worked very effectively for the constituency.
“I’ve been the MP since 1997, and I think even my political opponents would accept that I’m a very hard-working MP who gets things done.” With no election date to work towards, Charlotte says she plans to continue working hard and will maintain the same high momentum towards her work as she always has.
“I’ve always been very active and I’ve never felt I’ve needed to pace myself because, basically, I think if you enjoy being the MP then you enjoy doing what you are doing,” she says.
“It’s not an issue of rationing your time, you’re very happy to be involved at any point.” Regarding herself as a “community champion” Charlotte reiterates that she has always been actively involved with community groups and community led campaigns since first coming to the Moorlands. She goes on to state she does all she can to make sure she is the voice of the Government in the Moorlands as well as the voice of the Moorlands in Parliament, adding that the locals could feel “short-changed” if they elect her Conservative rival, Karen Bradley.
“My Tory opposition,” she says, with a slight hint of disbelief in her voice, “She was selected three-and-a-half years ago and although she claims to have gone to 400 events, I don’t know how she has because she hasn’t told the papers and she must have taken one of these invisibility cloaks because I haven’t seen her at them.
“This is not what people are interested in, they’re not interested in someone who just wants to climb the greasy pole.
“What I think is most disturbing is that she hasn’t shown any interest in the community and she’s made it very clear that she wants to get a ministerial position as soon as she can.” Speaking on a national leve, Charlotte is just as frank when discussing her party’s chances of retaining power. “Well if you think about it only John Major has succeeded in getting a fourth term so we have a system in this country which is very much about swinging from one party to another so it’s going to be hard,” she said.
“It was always going to be hard to win a fourth term but it’s remarkable that the Tories are not in the position that we were in in 1997, where there was a real enthusiasm for a change in government. There’s not that enthusiasm now, people don’t trust the Tories.” Charlotte Atkins clearly does love her job. It is part of who she is but, no matter how much drive, dedication and enthusiasm she throws at it, it remains to be seen whether she will still be in the same position in a few months’ time.