A shortt letter from Ann Keen MP?

An interesting letter in the Hounslow Chronicle from one Gloria Shortt of Brentford caught my eye on Thursday. It read as follows:

"I write to you in regard to several newspaper articles published in the national press recently.

"These stories are about our MP, Ann Keen's, expenses. At first glance the stories appear to be saying that Ann Keen has been cheating, and claiming things which are not entitled to her.

"However, if you read the entire article and dig around you can finally see that she has broken no rules and has done nothing wrong.

"I see it as shameful that an MP's good name can be dragged through the mud when they have actually broken no rules.

"I know for a fact that her office deals with a huge amount of casework throughout the entire year and I can't imagine an MP being able to work harder for her constituents.

"Gloria Shortt
Ealing Road
Brentford."


This letter had a familiar ring to it, so I dug out a copy of the Hounslow & Brentford Times from May 30th, which included the following letter from Sue Sampson, herself an active Labour Party member from Isleworth:


"I write to you in regard to several newspaper articles published in the national press recently.

"These stories are about our MP, Ann Keen's, expenses. At first glance the stories appear to be saying that Ann Keen has been cheating, and claiming things which are not entitled to her.

"However, if you read the entire article and dig around you can finally see that she has broken no rules and has done nothing wrong.

"I see it as shameful that an MP's good name can be dragged through the mud when they have actually broken no rules.

"I know for a fact that her office deals with a huge amount of casework throughout the entire year and I can't imagine an MP being able to work harder for her constituents.

"Sue Sampson
Woodstock Avenue
Isleworth."


Apparently the use of activists to provide false grassroots feedback is known as "astroturfing". How appropriate is it that a discredited synthetic football pitch should lend its name to the underhand practices of such a thoroughly discredited and synthetic MP as the one who purports to represent the people of Brentford & Isleworth?