UK - Daily Echo letters

We do not need an ineffectual MP
JOHN Denham, local MP and Minister for Communities, believes fluoridation should be halted 'until the people can be convinced".
Since the people have already spoken and he and the unelected SHA have ignored their voice, what he really means by 'convince' is to bully and browbeat them into submission, until the desired result is achieved Southampton people will be subjected to another massively expensive, NHS funded, propaganda campaign, and another risible 'consultation'.
Does Mr Denham deny that he is also in favour of the SHA putting nearly half a million pounds of NHS money towards a legal appeal to oppose the will of his own community, at a time of the most drastic cuts in living memory? He claims to have requested the SHA to reconsider their decision. He failed. This means one of two things.
The request wasn't genuine, or he is so weak as a politician that we are wasting our vote on him.
He and the rest of the fluoridation flat earth society, may well live to regret the scandal of this shameful policy.
The last thing Southampton needs is an ineffectual MP who, out of ignorance or subservience to the Party whip, is prepared to sacrifice the democratic and human rights of his constituents.
JENNIFER GODSCHALL JOHNSON (HAF member)

MP's response really does miss the point
ALAN Whitehead's response (Letters September 26) to a recent feature I wrote about water fluoridation misses the point.
He did indeed attend a meeting in Parliament with local MPs, myself and other Hampshire Against Fluoridation campaigners, but the point I made was that he had not replied to my letters.
In fact, I wrote to thank him for attending the meeting which triggered a 'standard update' informing me he had met a group of campaigners in Parliament!
The problem with standard letters is that they do not relate to the particular points raised by individual constituents.
The decision to fluoridate the city's drinking water was taken by an unelected body despite local opposition. It is important therefore, that people can address their particular concerns through their elected MPs and receive a reply.
After all, this is not an 'emotive' issue -it is a political one.
ANNA PECKHAM, Southampton.