38 minutes ago, weesam said:

They are much maligned for the crap job they do in Parliament, but they are nearly always much better at constituency work.

I would say "sometimes". Over many years my local MPs (of both major parties) have dealt with issues I've raised with them in a first rate manner, as I've posted on here in other threads. The one before last (Labour) was particularly good - he would forward a reply from the Minister with a covering note explaining what the waffle actually meant and what he thought of it!

Unfortunately, I've been very disappointed with the latest incumbent since the last election, and I'm making due allowance for the fact that he's still finding his feet. Even when he's succeeded in understanding the question, it's like getting a response from the Rachel Reeves songbook - it's all the fault of 14 years of previous government, £22bn black hole, etc, etc - none of which is in any way relevant to the points raised.

14 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That is exactly what's happened every time I contacted my local MP.

A friend of mine in a different constituency has been saying the same for years.

I guess it's no different to people in any occupation. Some are absolutely outstanding, some are just ok - get the job done but no more - and some you want rid of at the first opportunity!😀

29 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I'm not traveling anywhere.  I'm effectively housebound since losing the ability to drive.  The passport was simply to use as ID for the governments own systems!

The world isn't designed for people like me though.  No point complaining about it.  It isn't going to change.  Just got to muddle through until the end now.

that's not the point - the passport doesn't mean you are obliged to travel! It means you can....

being blunt, I think you should be more positive and not let the baskets get you down. This is a VERY easy (if rather pointlessly stressful) thing to get sorted. Like the previous poster said, the worst that could happen from your MP is nothing, but this is their bread and butter; you are not asking what is beyond their remit (as many unsuccessful complaints to MPs are).

If you are housebound, there are also charities that can help with this sort of thing, even your local councillor, or even your local church! It pays not to have such a defeatist attitude. This is a simple problem, easily sorted with some patience and help.

21 hours ago, StephenFord said:

I renewed mine last month online using a 'passport' photo I had taken last year. On arrival I felt smug thinking well that'll last me another 10 years. Though on checking expiry date, saw it only lasts up to age 70. This getting old lark is cr*p...

Same with me, after 70 the licence needs renewing every 3 years, I believe, but might be wrong.

Just checked mine and expires Feb 2026, so not far away. I see the licence as a whole  actually expires 2034, so that aligns with me at 70 then. 

2 hours ago, Nimrodmk8 said:

after 70 the licence needs renewing every 3 years, I believe, but might be wrong.

Correct!😀

 

33 minutes ago, iantt said:

I see the licence as a whole  actually expires 2034, so that aligns with me at 70 then. 

Yes, I hadn't moved house for years, so still had a paper one. That ran from 1978 until it expired on my 70th. I still have it, and the little "red book" we had before that. It somehow seemed more "official" than a bit of plastic!😀

Well, just to round my story off. Back this morning from a week in the Lake District, and in the pile of post was 1 new driving licence, 1 new passport, 1 old passport with the corner clipped.

Obviously don't know exactly when they arrived as I wasn't here, but pretty quick service whatever!

As far as the licence goes, my original question remains unanswered. It's got the same mugshot and signature as my previous licence (and my old expired passport) so why doesn't the system allow you to apply online without a current passport?

 

stop asking sensible questions.

you just have to shrug and follow the petty rules.

 

On 6/12/2025 at 2:59 PM, TomsFocus said:

No point complaining about it.  It isn't going to change. 

I get what you're saying, but things do change, albeit very slowly.  We've got to keep chipping away in our own way... drip, drip, drip.  And hope that one day somebody with connections (or with more energy/determination than me) will pick up our complaints and run with them and get things changed.

Some things may have got worse in our lifetime, but a lot of things have got better - just as an example, wheelchair access to buses and shops springs to mind. When we were growing up it just wasn't available, was it. And last week we saw a big change in the field of assisted dying legislation (whether you were pleased or disappointed with the vote) which has been the subject of campaigning for decades but eventually an MP took it up as a cause.

We've all got to have a little HOPE that change is possible 🙂

9 hours ago, alanfp said:

I get what you're saying, but things do change, albeit very slowly.  We've got to keep chipping away in our own way... drip, drip, drip.  And hope that one day somebody with connections (or with more energy/determination than me) will pick up our complaints and run with them and get things changed.

Some things may have got worse in our lifetime, but a lot of things have got better - just as an example, wheelchair access to buses and shops springs to mind. When we were growing up it just wasn't available, was it. And last week we saw a big change in the field of assisted dying legislation (whether you were pleased or disappointed with the vote) which has been the subject of campaigning for decades but eventually an MP took it up as a cause.

We've all got to have a little HOPE that change is possible 🙂

Wheelchair access is an interesting one.  That often causes me more problems.  Everything in houses and public areas has to be placed low enough for people in wheelchairs and people with restricted height to reach.  But as a tall person with vertigo and digestive issues, I struggle to lean down to reach basic things every day like a handwash basin or plug sockets...  I also lose balance on ramps, so a few steps are safer in my case.  Obviously I'm not suggesting that wheelchair access is a bad thing, what I am saying is that one-size does not fit all when it comes to accessibility requirements.

Not sure the assisted dying bill is one to be discussing on here.  All I'll say on that is I don't understand how it was ever a question in the first place.  How anyone believes they have the right to control another persons body is utterly beyond me!  I understand some medical professionals wouldn't want to be directly involved in it, and that's fine, that's their choice, but to prevent the patients from having their choice is something I probably never will understand.  (I do also have some experience in this area - watching my Nan's health decline to the point where she was in severe pain constantly, could barely move and was getting battered and bruised by staff because she 'wasn't quick enough', even having money stolen while she was in the toilet...then got so drugged up she didn't know what was going on, and we were told she wasn't in pain while yelling out...people don't generally yell out unless they're in pain or fear!)

7 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

  All I'll say on that is I don't understand how it was ever a question in the first place. 

👍

21 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Wheelchair access is an interesting one.  That often causes me more problems.  Everything in houses and public areas has to be placed low enough for people in wheelchairs and people with restricted height to reach.  But as a tall person with vertigo and digestive issues, I struggle to lean down to reach basic things every day like a handwash basin or plug sockets...  I also lose balance on ramps, so a few steps are safer in my case.  Obviously I'm not suggesting that wheelchair access is a bad thing, what I am saying is that one-size does not fit all when it comes to accessibility requirements.

Not sure the assisted dying bill is one to be discussing on here.  All I'll say on that is I don't understand how it was ever a question in the first place.  How anyone believes they have the right to control another persons body is utterly beyond me!  I understand some medical professionals wouldn't want to be directly involved in it, and that's fine, that's their choice, but to prevent the patients from having their choice is something I probably never will understand.  (I do also have some experience in this area - watching my Nan's health decline to the point where she was in severe pain constantly, could barely move and was getting battered and bruised by staff because she 'wasn't quick enough', even having money stolen while she was in the toilet...then got so drugged up she didn't know what was going on, and we were told she wasn't in pain while yelling out...people don't generally yell out unless they're in pain or fear!)

With regard to Ramps Tom, there is a requirement for Steps as well, certainly in new builds in Scotland because a lot of people can't easily do Ramps. When my mother had one fitted to her house they had alternative steps as well.

I agree about a fully disabled house though. I once had a Hotel room that had a fully Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom and I had a sore back by the end of the weekend and I'm just average height.

The assisted dying vote is something that annoyed me too. I fully support it but a lot of our MSP's voted against it as per what their religion told them what to do, (a lot of the Labour and SNP ones are the same religion), including our First Minister who was proud to say so.    

Sorry - I was desperately trying not to start a debate on the assisted dying bill - I should have known better by now 😉

I'd suggest that a different thread needs to be started if anyone wants to do that.

But as it was so recent, it was the thing that came to mind when trying to say "let's not give up" because very big changes can happen if enough people nudge/push enough over an extended period (assuming that there is sufficiently widespread support). I merely used it as an example.

9 hours ago, alanfp said:

Sorry - I was desperately trying not to start a debate on the assisted dying bill - I should have known better by now 😉

I feel the Labour party would be a suitable test case for assisted dying, they're mostly there already 😄