Q: How do you measure the contribution of an MP? In his glossy election promo video David Mundell invites the electorate of Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale to judge him on his record. His 14 year record as MP including 4 years as a cabinet minister. Let's take a look: /1

Raising matters in the house is not the only measurement of the contribution of an MP of course but it is quantifiable. Let's see what important matters David's been talking about in the House of Commons with regards to, say, the main population centres in his constituency. /2

Of the 7 towns I looked at, it's bad news for Biggar I'm afraid. If you live in Biggar or are out chapping doors in Biggar, it may be interesting to know that in 14 years Mr Mundell hasn't mentioned your town once. Everything must be just fine there I expect. That must be it. /3

OK- let's begin.
2006:
Mundell marks the passing of Baron Monro of Langholm, former Dumfriesshire MP. In this he praises Monro's service to constituents following the Lockerbie bombing. Noble enough but of no tangible value to the townsfolk of Lockerbie. That's all from 2006 /4

2007:
Mundell marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Telford. In his homage he mentions the M74 completion at Gretna and mentions Langholm a few times. In another debate he complains about ballot papers in the Holyrood election. He voted in Moffat. That's it /5

2008:
This is a bit more like it. A speech from a back bench tory (opposition) MP railingabout the crap train service from Lockerbie. He points out rightly this cross border service (now TransPennine Express) is the responsibility of the UK Government. /6

2009:
Another speech from Mundell about the crap service from Lockerbie. Fast forward 10 years-the service from Lockerbie is as bad if not worse than ever. My last trip to Edinburgh was completed by replacement taxi. The time before that was a replacement minibus. Massive fail /7

2010:
The tories win the election and Mundell is propelled to Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. Now he can make his mark you'd think? Well, for the guid folk of Annan, Biggar, Gretna, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat and Peebles not a mention by David in the House of Commons. /8

2011:
/9

2012:
Still no concerns or issues raised in the Commons from constituents in those main towns in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale. Nothing. Nada. No even a passing mention in *3 years* /10

2013:
David's 3 year haitus finally ends on the 18th December 2013 where he marks the 25th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing. He also mentions that he was proud to open a food bank in Peebles. This is the one and only time he has ever mentioned Peebles in the House /11

2014:
David had bigger fish to fry what with all the furious activity by the Scotland Office telling us we were shite, bombarding us with fear, lies & soundbites to get us to vote against becoming an independent country so I'm afraid those 7 towns didn't get a look in. /12

2015:
Mark Lazarowicz complains about disruption to the East Coast main line. Something stirs in Fluffy and he remembers that Lockerbie station in his constituency.
That was in January and he took a break from representing those towns. It lasted until February 2016 /13

2016:
Sue Hayman brings up disruption to the West Coast mainline. Fluffy recalls he's the Lockerbie MP again & is determined to have the line reopened. If you judge him on 1 issue, this is the only thing of substance he's brought up a few times. The service is still appalling/14

I almost forgot. On the 6th of July 2016 he invited a labour MP to visit his constituency and reminded the house that he had campaigned for a remain vote and had warned of a degree of uncertainty for the agricultural sector over CAP payments. What a hero. /15

2017:
Mair of that tumbleweed, bumbling along, carried by the wind like an out of depth Secretary of State unable to assert authority or control. Unable to stand up for his constituents, David allowed himself to drift about... those 7 towns don't get a look in in 2017 either /16

2018:
In a recurring theme of his time as MP, Mundell marks the passing of construction firm Graham's from Langholm which went into adminstration. You can almost feel him shrug.. these things happen. Aye, Langholm's fortunate to have this local champion in the cabinet /17

2018 continued:
He also marked the 30th anniversary of the Lockerbie bombing. /18

2019:
Folk in Annan may feel amazed the closure of Pinneys in 2018 ably assisted by a bung from the UK Government to move to Grimsby would warrant a mention by their swashbuckling local MP. Well- he does mention Annan once in his 14 years but only to attack the SNP on currency/19

And that's it. That's Mundell's Commons representations on behalf of Annan, Biggar, Gretna, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat & Peebles.
You can judge for yourselves what his 14 year tenure adds up to and I hope DCT will do so & elect a real local champion. Best of luck @amshru x ENDS