I never realised that Gordon Bilney, a minister in the Australian government of Paul Keating, was also a member of the House of Commons. He actually said this after he was defeated in the Australian federal election of 1996. He got a laugh, but people wondered why he went into politics at all.

Terry Barnes, Melbourne, Australia

This just shows how democracy here is dead. I get invited to vote only once every 5 years. The parties market their policies, then when elected focus on totally different policies and legislation.

ken, Coventry, UK

I think the main issue is that both assume they have the right to say / represent what the people want . So should a politician represent what the people say or his (party) philisophy? If people say 'eliminate petrol taxes' to their MP's, will parliament enact such law or talk down to the voter ?

Vince, B'Kara , MALTA

talk about arrogance an mp who tells somebody to stick his vote for having the cheek to write to him.he might not like what he read but what was wrong with a polite reply.he is not the only labour mp who thinks he is untouchable in his safe seat and 1 vote won,t matter.well it just might come 2010

brian rice, halifax, england

What's this?

An MP expressing himself frankly and in a forthright manner? I doubt that he will be tolerated for much longer by the Party, even though he has got the arrogant dismissiveness required, he lacks the skills necessary for dissembling.

Kidd Garrett, Bristle, Zoiderzetshire

I'm with Mr Clelland on this. He was in effect being held to ransom......
"he said that if Mr Clelland continued “toeing the party line”, he could “kiss my vote goodbye”. "
Mr Clelland responded as i would . He is not there to be dictated to or abused. He is been the representative for 23 years.

Steve, Liverpool,

Why should David Clelland care, he realises he'll be out of a job in a couple of years at most. He'll then be pretty well unemployable, especially after this outburst of petulance.

David Leslie, Scotland, Scotland

Unfortunately this little spat, shows the consequences of our way of democracy; the elected dictatorship. MP's are there to vote with their conscience, not their constituents’ conscience; otherwise we would still have the death penalty etc. Once in, the MP can do and vote how he(or party) pleases

Barry, London, UK

Clelland was voted in by and is responsible for , the well being of his constituents. He like many others, Labour and Liberal, will find that they will shortly be paying the price for not representing their views. The Lisbon treat comes to mind.

Nigel Williams, Madrid, Spain.

In so many cases, give a man previously without any power--M P. after their name, and the desire to excercise knows no bounds! We the taxpayers are their employers, let them remember it.

David Vinter, Louth, Lincs,, UK.

And Clelland accuses Mr Scott of arrogance...?

eric, paris,

As Petr Clutton remarks, Mr Scott spoke for most of us voters. And Mr Clelland spoke, loud and clear, for Nu Labour. After 11 years in power, they seem to have forgotten about us altogether.

We shall indeed stick our vote wherever it pleases us; and it won't be in the box marked "Labour".

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

Very enterprising - and very expensive - of Mr Scott to canvas the opinions of all Mr Clelland's constituents on all the questions upon which he had voted in the House!

Though, since he appears to be part of "Informed Consent"s single-issue letter-writing campaign, I suspect he didn't.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

This is not surprising but it is good to see NuLab's true colours. Their MPs long ago gave up the pretense that they repesent their constituents, all of them think their job is to dictate the party line. "parliamentery democracy" is no longer an excuse not to provide referenda.

MrDavies, UK,

Our MPs are overpaid, greedy, arrogant and out-of-touch. That is why I am standing against David Davis and promse to give half my MP salary to charity. About 80% of our laws now come from the EU, yet our MPs want more salary and more expenses. It's time for voters to show we are tired of MPs' greed

david craig, bournemouth, uk

I know a lot about one case in his constituency when his distraught constituent saw him about the unlawful deportation of her husband to one of the most dangerous countries in the world, and she proved the illegality of the Home Office, but he did sweet nothing for her and her family.

Edwin Fleming, Portstewart, Northern Ireland

The MP has listened and has apparently wrote to Mr Scott. He can not do much more than that. He has made it clear that he does not want his vote. That seems perfectly reasonable to me. Only a fool could think that an MP can represent the individual views of 45,000 voters

Jim, Consett, UK

Mr Clelland has views which, like Mr Scott, I disagree with. He also has manners that everyone must disagree with.

Adele Paul, Barnet, UK

I think Mr Clelland has done the right thing to do with the first words that came to his mind. Phrases such as "otherwise you can kiss my vote goodbye" are arrogant and annoying.

Elisabetta, Rome, Italy

Elisabetta, Rome, Italy

Such a revelation when the mask slips and the arrogance of power stands for all to see!

In the US my own two Senators do not respond to letters complaining of the evisceration of civil liberties. No wonder libertarians like Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) resonate so strongly with the thoughtful.

Steve Richardson, MRSC(UK), Hillsborough, North Carolina, USA

Mr Clelland surely has a right to his say too. He has been elected for 5 years and he should not have to take abuse of anybody, just because they disagree with his policies. MPs work very hard and have a right to respect like the rest of us working people.

Keith, Ilford, UK

I have to laugh at his interpretation of "extremely offensive",the constituients letter can be viewed at

http://forums.hexus.net/question-time/141742-so-i-write-letter-my-mp-3.html#post1458004

Let's not forget that MP's are there to represent us in Parliment, we vote for a person, not a party!

Paul, Hemel Hempstead, England

To play devils advocate - it's nice to see an MP let his guard down, be honest and not think only of the public ramifications. Whichever side you agree with, open and honest conversation is something lacking in UK government.

Craig, Lincolnshire,

Mr Clelland doesn't like to be dictated to then! This doesn't seem to sit quite right, as he doesn't appear to mind being dictated to by the Labour hierachy and voting the way he is told.

Maybe he doesn't like facing a logical argument, he thinks he has little chance of winning!

Peter, Bristol, UK

MPs who's parties insist on implementing unwanted policies MUST accept this without complaint. It's called "Democracy" and it's usually great when it gives MPs £200k in allowances a year.

I urge the people of Huddersfield to eject Mr Clelland from office as soon as possible.

Paul, London,

Labour MP's will look very foolish making these kind of remarks when hundreds of them are out of a job the morning after the next General Election.

John, Manchester, UK

I have not seen Mr Scott's letter, but judging by Labour's behaviour I would not be surprised if they consider the truth to be a form of abuse.

Mr Scott seems a normal person, worried, like all of us in the Libertarian Party, about our freedoms and an ever more Authoritarian government.

Tim Carpenter LPUK, London, UK

This shows just how meaningless the voice of the constituent really is. Instead of our MP's being terrified of losing any vote, and trying their hardest to keep their electorate happy, they just tell us to sit down and shut up when we say "Hang on...I didn't sign up for this".

Jamie B, Bath, UK

“I’m not here to be dictated to like that” states the dictator. Mind you, refreshingly honest.

David Masu, Zürich,

I have written to my mp 23 times using writetothem.com but she has ignored every one, I find that mp's are more out of touch then ever with the will of the people, instead only carring about the will of the part.

There is no way I want to live in the orwellian nightmare we going to end with.

MR W jones, Liverpool, England

This is what happens when Parliamentary researchers turn their back for a moment and let their bosses try answering the letters...

It's also very unprofessional. In the Office I work in abusive constituents still get a reply, even if it's "I think we agree to disagree".

Peter Dunn, London,

A constituent's letter "caught him at a bad time?" - that's his job! Great to see that he is qualified to be in it - not! Time he were given the opportunity to reflect at leisure outside the pressures of being an MP.

David, Athens, Greece

As the MP is appointed by his constituents, paid for by his constituents they should be able to have their contracts terminated by their constituents early! I mean before an election. This is an example as to how out of touch the government is on every single issue. We need a General Election.

roger Kingston, york,

Everyone should write to their MP to tell them how they really feel about things like civil liberties, taxation and the cost of the public sector. If you don't voice your opinion your MP will carry on regardless. Must write to mine again, he gets very shirty too!!

Evan Owen, Harlech, UK

Whatever happened to 'I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it'?

John, London, England

Gary Scott said what most people think of the labour party now.
good for him.

Petr Clutton, Wrexham, Wales