Have a cosy Chat with your MP?

[Claire]

STW are asking people today to phone their MP to express their concerns about redeployment of British Troops in Iraq.

Clearly people feel very strongly about his issue, and this is a way of passing this on the MPs. Please phone the swithchboard and ask for the MP by name. If the number is engaged please call again.

The number for the switchboard in Parliament is http://stopwar.org.uk/images/tel.gif0207 219 3000.
You can also email and fax your MP here (http://stopwar.org.uk/resources.asp#politicians).

There is a debate on this issue on the main UK forum here: http://hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39242

Thanks, Love Clairexxx

[Koolaid]

or the other thing is go to this site, it will let you send a fax to your mp...You just have to write it and it will automatically send it to your local mp.....I have had a reply everytime I have used it..:)


http://www.faxyourmp.com/

[Peace-Phoenix]

I sent this to my MP last week:


Dear Anne,

I read your Autumn MP report that was handed out at the
Cambride Societies Freshers Fair. From reading it, and from our
conversation on the day, I can see that you have taken a principled
stance on the war and on a range of other issues that has gone some way
to restore my faith in the Labour Party - a faith that Tony Blair did
much to destroy. In regards to that, and as part of a general concern
raised by "Our World Our Say" I would like to express my opposition to
the redeployment of British troops to Baghdad to cover American forces
in an attack on Fallujah, and would ask you if you would express these
concerns on a parliamentary level. I feel that it is not right that
British troops should be involved in what I, and many others, see as a
cynical Republican election strategy. Nor do I feel that we should
further endanger the lives of our soldiers, or the lives of Iraqi
civillians in the continuation of an ongoing war and occupation which
has been denounced as illegal. I admire your stance on
the war thus far, and I hope that you will continue to represent those
of us who shared that stance.

Yours sincerely,

Salman Shaheen

Needless to say I was being somewhat diplomatic there... To which she replied:

Dear Salman,

Thank you for your recent email on the subject of deployment of troops
to the US zone in Iraq and for your kind words of support for my
position.

I remain very concerned about the current military situation in Iraq.
UK forces continue to operate in Iraq as part of the multinational force
whose mandate is endorsed by UNSCR 1546. The force is contributing to
maintaining security and stability in Iraq supporting the Iraqi Interim
Government in its role. The multinational force is also engaged in
helping to build the capability of the Iraqi security forces, so they
can take responsibility for the security of their own country.
Unfortunately, it will take time before their full capabilities are
realised. I strongly condemn attacks by American troops on Iraqi
citizens and alleged human rights abuses; as I have emphasised many
times before, I am looking forward to a time when foreign troops can
leave Iraq.

On Monday, October 18th I asked the Secretary of State for Defence,
Geoff Hoon about the redeployment of British troops in to the US zone.
This was the exchange:

Mrs. Anne Campbell (Cambridge) (Lab): Can my right hon. Friend explain
why he is considering deploying additional British reserve troops when
it is American forces that are under pressure? Will not the people of
this country realise that this is political expediency with a large P?

Mr. Hoon: I do not accept that, and I believe that I have answered that
question several times already. There is a clear operational reason for
conducting the operation to remove the terrorist threat in places such
as Falluja. The Americans have made a request of an ally to assist. We
shall consider that request very carefully in the next few days.

I have since spoken directly to the Prime Minister and again to Mr Hoon
to express my disquiet. They have both assured me that the timetable has
been set by the Iraqi elections in January rather than the US elections.
The intention is to create an environment where the Iraqi elections can
safely take place. They have also both assured me that the request has
come from the military commanders and is not politically inspired. I am
told that the special skill set and experience required for this
operation is possessed by the Black Watch and by no other available
troops. It has also been promised that the Black Watch will be home in
time for Christmas as was originally planned.

As Tony Blair has emphasised in his recent speech to the Labour Party
Conference, it is vital that whatever people feel about the legitimacy
of war, we need to stand by the Iraqis and finish what has been started
in terms of helping to rebuild and stabilise the country. Tony Blair
also believes that terrorist action is not solely provoked by the
presence of the multinational force, but rather by extremists who are
determined to prevent the liberation of Iraq.

I hope you find this helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me
again if I can be of any further assistance.

Anne Campbell
MP for Cambridge

Needless to say, she was also being a little diplomatic....

[showmet]

Your spelling is appalling...

[Claire]

Your spelling is appalling...
Have you written to your MP Mr Shmett? *looks stern* :p

[Peace-Phoenix]

Your spelling is appalling...
Not really spelling, just typos, I know what I'm doing really, honest....

[Alomiakoda]

Not really spelling, just typos, I know what I'm doing really, honest....
Yeah yeah whatever :p

It's about time someone agreed with me :p

[Koolaid]

At last your mp shows some conscience and opposition...Mine just writes back with verbatim party policy whenever I ask her anything....Then again she is probably sick of me asking her all these questions...Means she actually has to do something intead of just sitting around thinking how great she is...

[Peace-Phoenix]

Yeah yeah whatever :p

It's about time someone agreed with me :p
Yeah, but it's getting annoying now, please stop it....

[Alomiakoda]

Yeah, but it's getting annoying now, please stop it....
But it's so much fun winding you up :p

[Peace-Phoenix]

But it's so much fun winding you up :p
Well it was funny at first, much like the Knock Knock joke involving Dr Who was probably funny at one point in the dim and distant past....

[Alomiakoda]

What knock knock joke involving Dr Who? :eek:

I feel young now :p

[Peace-Phoenix]

Knock Knock


Who's there?

Doctor?

Doctor who?

You just said it!