Tomorrow, MPs debate the government's new gagging law for the first time. [1] The law's being
rushed through - so we need to move fast today to get MPs to take ordinary people's voices into account.
MPs need to hear directly from their constituents today. Please can you call your MP, Charlie Elphicke,
now to make sure he goes into tomorrow's vote fully aware that the eyes of his constituents are on him?
Our best chance of defeating this law is if MPs realise what it would mean if it passes, and that the
people they represent are up in arms about it.
Calling Charlie Elphicke today could make a huge difference. If his phone is ringing off the hook,
it would show him how worried his constituents are.
All you have to do is:
- Call the Parliament switchboard on 020 7219 3000.
- Ask to speak to Charlie Elphicke's office.
- When you're put through, explain that you're a constituent and that you want to talk about the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill (it's part 2, the 'Non-Party Campaigning' bit, that would gag charities, local groups and campaigners).
Here are some tips for what to say:
- Don't worry if Charlie Elphicke isn't available to speak - he'll hear about it if his staff spend all day
answering calls about the gagging law.
- Say that you're worried about the new restrictions on non-party campaigners.
- You could explain why campaigning shouldn't just be left to politicians and that it's important tha
independent groups are allowed to play a full role in the political process.
- If you're a supporter of other groups which would be affected by this law, mention them. Any group
that speaks up on issues of the day - from the RSPB or Oxfam to The Royal British Legion or the
Countryside Alliance - will be affected. So could local organisations in your area.
- If you've been part of big campaigns in the past which wouldn't have been able to happen if this law
had been in force at the time, mention them. Anything from Drop the Debt to the Military Covenant
campaign could have been hit.
- Remember that this law isn't all bad: 38 Degrees members have spent years asking for the lobbying
register contained in part 1. But that doesn't make part 2 any better.
That's it! Once you've made your call, can you tell the office team how it went? It'll only take two
minutes to let us know what Charlie Elphicke or his staff said. The information could be really useful
for knowing which MPs are on board, and for constituents going in to meet them. Click here to feed back:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/gagging-law-mp-call-feedback
