[BITList] Fwd: Gagging law: call your MP today

[M.j. Feltham]

Big Brother ?

Mike
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> 
> Reply-To: action at 38degrees.org.uk
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> 
> Dear Michael,
> 
> 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 now to make sure they go into tomorrow’s vote fully aware that the eyes of their constituents are on them?
> 
> 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 your MP today could make a huge difference. If their phone is ringing off the hook, it would show them how worried their constituents are.
> 
> All you have to do is:
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> - Call the Parliament switchboard on 020 7219 3000.
> - Ask to speak to your MP’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:
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> - Don’t worry if your MP isn’t available to speak - they'll hear about it if their staff spend all day answering calls about the gagging law.
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> - Say that you’re worried about the new restrictions on non-party campaigners.
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> - You could explain why campaigning shouldn’t just be left to politicians and that it's important that independent groups are allowed to play a full role in the political process.
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> - 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.
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> - 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.
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> - 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.
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> 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 your MP or their 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
> 
> 
> Thanks for everything you do,
> 
> Susannah, David, Robin and the 38 Degrees team
> 
> 
> NOTES
> [1] It’s official name is ‘The Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill 2013-2014’. You can see the Parliamentary timetable for the Bill here: http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/transparencyoflobbyingnonpartycampaigningandtradeunionadministration.html
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> MORE INFORMATION:
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> The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has made a briefing on the bill:
> http://blogs.ncvo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/our-briefing-on-the-Transparency-of-lobbying-bill.pdf
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> Baites Wells and Braithwaites, a leading law firm specialising in charities, has produced the following briefing:
> http://www.bwbllp.com/file/non-party-campaigning-pdf
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> The Independent View: Concerns about lobbying bill are not alarmist:
> http://www.libdemvoice.org/the-independent-view-its-not-alarmist-to-raise-concerns-about-government-plans-for-nonparty-campaigning-35927.html
> 
> Follow 38 Degrees on Facebook and Twitter.
> 
> Unsubscribe: If you no longer wish to be part of our movement and receive our emails you can unsubscribe here.
> 
> This email was sent to ismay at mjfeltham.plus.com.
> 
> 38 DEGREES Registered Company No. 6642193
> 
> 

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