My MP and Me meet at last.

[vereybowring]

So I have just returned from my meeting with Anne McGuire and want to get this down while it is still fresh.

I opened by asking her how much she knew about e cigs.
Its all new to her.
So I then, as briefly as I could, explained my back story and about e cigs and my perception of them and how they basically work.
This included basic working, chemicals used and how you use it. I showed her some examples as well. She seems genuinely astonished when I told her I went from 60 a day to zero by using an e cig and have not even had one puff in more than two years.

She asked pertinent questions about who makes them and where they can be bought so I gave her a run down of that as well explaining it has all been done pretty much by word of mouth by small start up companies. I put emphasis on the fact that the numbers of users seem to be doubling year on year all by user experience and word of mouth.

We went on with me pointing out my concerns about the legislation being levelled at e cigs and some of my reasons why it would be a disaster. I made quite frequent mention of Clive Bates throughout and gave her his list of reasons why e cigs should not be heavily legislated along with those of Dr Farsalinos. She seemed interested in Clive Bates so I gave her a quick summary of who he was since she hadn't heard of him. Again she asked relevant questions about the legislation and the reasons why it wouldn't work. She asked about some of the arguments being used against e cigs and I went through many of those with much reference to Clive Bates, you gotta love that man. I mentioned the MHRA and the issues with their evidence ( like it does not account for the rapid changes in the technology) and committee and their business connections even getting in Early Day Motion 1197 to show we are not the only ones who think there are issues with the medical regulator. Part of this was my belief that it's fine to allow chantix which kills people but not e cigs which have killed no one (directly) in their existence.
I mentioned the preferred amendments for the TPD as well as how disappointed we, the users, are with the engagement, in general, with us from our political representatives for the most part. I talked about how those creating the legislation only appear to be talking to experts who are against e cigs due to personal or business connections and not to the users or independent research.

I summarised that many of us feel that a device with such potential is going to be constrained leaving some of us no option but returning to smoking and ill health. I managed to even explain why a medical device might be ineffective if its use is basically going to be decided by the people who support the current totally inadequate NRT products. This also gave me a good opportunity to explain why e cigs work so well since they mimic cigarettes in the way they do with user control rather than fixed dosage etc.

I was very emotional during the meeting and had to stop at points to recover (either that or break down).

At the end she gave assurances she would be looking into the matter which I believe since she took notes throughout (and I can read upside down) and had a copy of my email she referred to when asking me questions. I finished by pointing out our local vendor to her (since her office is in sight if it) having already given her his card and mentioned he would be happy to talk to her also.

She has stated she will get back in touch after doing more research.

I think it went pretty well overall, today so far I've gone through about 4ml of liquid and now feel somewhat drained.
It is good however to have let loose about it to someone who appeared to be listening and willing to go look at the subject.

[DiscoDes]

Well done mate.

[Jen]

Good on you, Verey, a job well done I'd say

[OneDay]

Brilliant result by the sound of it. I can empathise with how emotional and draining it could have been. Congratulations for getting through it so eloquently and persuasively!

[vereybowring]

If I can do it while suffering from a downward spiral in my depression along with other medical issues so can just about anyone.
You have to try and make your contact factual, emotional and personal.

DO NOT BE IGNORED AND LEAVE THEM TO SEND OUT TEMPLATE LETTERS CONTAINING GENERALISED RESPONSES.

Once I get myself back together and calmed down I will be back to emailing the crap out of my MEPs and since they are being evasive using twitter at them and any alternate email addresses I can find for them. I will do this daily if I have to until they engage in a proper exchange with me.

[kibbster]

Good going!
Sounds like it was a really successful meeting and well worth your time.

[Banky]

Well done m8, Sounds as if you're meeting with her went pretty good,
Congrats on holding yourself together it can be difficult with those meetings
It's hard keeping one's emotions intact when it's such a passionate subject.

[Raffles]

Very well done vereybowring... Sounds as if it went well and you obviously made an impression on her, and hopefully opened her eyes and mind.

[rich64]

Well i said this morning you d do ok' but feckle me you done really well

Well done

[vereybowring]

Despite my current health issues I have worked nearly always in direct front line customer care and was also a health and safety trainer for 7 years. I'm more used to than many to having to control myself well enough to present information quickly and concisely. I am amazed I managed to cover all the information I did (my email which finally got her to meet me was 2300 words).

It was at my limits though so wont be campaigning much for the rest of today at least. Much caffeine and nicotine is required by this vaper. You have to do what you can even if it costs you a little of yourself when the situation demands it.

[oldsmokey]

Very well done! I think it does no harm at all to let our representatives see just how passionately we feel about this. I'm sure your MP will have realised that your emotion was genuine.

[Beatnik]

Fantastic! well done.

[kailey]

Sounds like a very successful meeting. Well done!

[giles]

You've done lots better than I have with my meetings.

Let us know when she comes back to you.

[jeffc]

Brilliant.

Well done