Former MP calls on people to meet with their MP ahead of pivotal assisted suicide Bill vote
Prominent media commentator and former MP for Ipswich, Tom Hunt, has called on people around the country to urgently meet with their MPs ahead of the pivotal Third Reading vote on the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill.
The call to contact MPs comes as Kim Leadbeater announced the next stage of her assisted suicide Bill would be delayed by three weeks, leading to accusations that the Bill is “shrouded in chaos” and concerns that it is unfit for purpose.
An analysis published in The Independent shows that at least 36 MPs who supported the Bill made it clear they did so only to allow further debate or because they had concerns that mean they won’t commit to supporting the Bill at Third Reading.
With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it is defeated at Third Reading.
The former MP for Ipswich, Tom Hunt, said: “Trust me, visiting your MP makes a difference”.
“It was always clear to me that if a constituent requested a meeting with me, it meant they placed a particular degree of importance on a given topic. Letters and emails are, of course, of value, but meeting requests are a level above”.
“I can think of one occasion in particular when it really did for me. In my first year as an MP, I would get a lot of emails complaining about special needs provision in the area. All of a sudden, things escalated and I remember that for three weeks about 60% of constituents I was meeting at my surgeries were raising concerns about special needs provision. This had a real influence on me and led me to make special educational needs provision one of my top three priorities as the local MP”.
“This is a hugely important issue. I would encourage everyone… to email or write a letter, but meeting in person is a step beyond that; it makes an MP feel connected to their constituents and, on this issue, this is absolutely vital. It has more chance of cutting through. There are 650 MPs. We need them to vote the right way. Please request a meeting with your local MP”.
The organisation Right To Life UK, which has campaigned against the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill and in support of better access to palliative care, has emphasised that it is important that everyone visits their MP, regardless of their MP’s past votes or statements on this issue.
The organisation has said that even MPs who appear firmly in favour of assisted suicide may have private doubts. A single meeting could tip the balance or at least prompt an MP to abstain rather than risk alienating constituents.
Those who do not receive replies from their MP are being encouraged not to give up. Right To Life UK reports that MPs often read emails and take note, even if they don’t respond. A meeting request might be the nudge needed for engagement.
Meanwhile, members of the public are also being urged to meet MPs who already oppose the Bill. Doing so could ensure they attend the vote and feel backed by local constituents. Meetings can also encourage committed MPs to speak out and influence others ahead of the crucial vote.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said: “With three extra weeks until the next vote, we know the assisted suicide lobby will not be standing still and will be using every minute of this extra time. That is why it is imperative to reach as many MPs as possible between now and Third Reading to persuade them to oppose this dangerous Bill, and remind those in favour to be present for the vote”.
“Tom Hunt has explained that constituents taking the time to visit their MP in person is the best way to make a significant difference with this Bill. Every meeting with an MP counts, so it is vital that each constituent arranges a meeting with their MP”.
Right To Life UK is urging the public to meet with their MPs to oppose the assisted suicide Bill. They have launched the Support Not Suicide campaign, which includes a dedicated mini-site with a step-by-step guide and detailed MP briefing, to enable members of the public to speak with their MP effectively.
Alongside the launch of the new campaign, the organisation has released an introductory video guide, Insider tips for meeting with your MP, where Tom Hunt and Right To Life UK Director of Public Affairs, Rupert Evans, share tips and talking points to help members of the public prepare for a meeting with their MP.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwzpu_GoTZk&t=1sRight To Life UK is urging members of the public to take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/meetyourmp to ask their MP for a meeting using the tool, which enables people to request a meeting in just 30 seconds.
Director of Public Affairs at Right to Life UK, Rupert Evans, said: “The key thing is to make sure that we’re mobilising now to speak to our MPs and to talk to them about the problems of this Bill. For those MPs who voted in favour of the Bill at Second Reading in November, it’s vitally important that we make them aware of the many problems with the Bill after Committee Stage, that the Bill is actually weaker than it was previously, that key safeguards have been removed and that some of the concerns they may have had at Second Reading have not been resolved”.
“It’s really important that we explain to them that this Bill can still be defeated”.
“It’s very important that they turn up for the remaining stages in Parliament in order to vote against the Bill once again”.
