I find it astonishing that Southend West MP David Amess has found it impossible, despite several attempts by the Echo, to respond to inquiries in connection with details concerning his expenses.

Here is a man who, for many years has lived within half a mile of a main line station.

He has claimed the maximum allowance for a second home and, if he finally does speak to the Echo, will probably claim/blame the rules without recognising the separation that exists between his lifestyle and that of hundreds of his constituents who live in the borough and work in the City.

Daily for 12 years my son walked two miles to Chalkwell Station would catch, along with many others, the 6.09am train to Fenchurch Street returning home around 8.15pm.

On the occasions that his job required him to work past the time of the last train, he would either book into a B&B or travel home by taxi, claiming the legitimate expense incurred.

Mr Amess is a man who has never been slow to come forward with countless smiling photographs promoting his, doubtless, good work and yet his continuing silence smacks of arrogance or something to hide, or both.

I wish the Echo luck in its continuing quest for contact from Mr Amess and I fear that if he continues to ignore the Echo, his constituents may respond in kind at the next election and he would be forced back into the real world, along with the rest of us.

R E Westley
Southbourne Grove
Westcliff