Letter from my MP

[lordbarby]

Hi I received a letter from my MP, which is attached. Bit more than a standard reply. Lets see what happens

Attachments:

[Bluefish]

It will help you being a Lord and all

[Deleted]

It would prob be good if someone drafted a good letter template and put it on the board that we could all use and alter as we need to. That way we are all sending the correct and necessary info when we write to our individual MP's. Never hurts to bombard people.

[meeee]

Dec 28, 2012 23:38:27 GMT @mp2012 said:

It would prob be good if someone drafted a good letter template and put it on the board that we could all use and alter as we need to. That way we are all sending the correct and necessary info when we write to our individual MP's. Never hurts to bombard people.

That is a good idea, I am terrible at writing letters si a template would be great.

[thundercat]

I third that. I know what I want to write , I just cant get it down on paper. I think I'm scared of putting incorrect information in it. You know like which directives I'm concerned about etc.

Andy

[chykensa]

Quite agree with the comments above. I don't usually feel strongly about stuff to write to MPs etc., but in this case, I do, but am also concerned that I mis-represent the case.
If someone out there has a way with words and can include links to the necessary documents, I for one would be happy to use it as the basis for a communication with my local MP and also MEP.
If anyone would like help with editing, spell-checking and grammar, mine is quite good, but I'm not however that able in the construction department of letter-writing!
I'll await with interest!
Andy
P.S. if anyone wants to PM me with a draft, so as not to clutter up the forum, I would be amenable to that.

[Jemima]

Theres a copy of at least two letters people have sent to MP's on the forum already, if anyone wants to use them.

One by Anna ... allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=promoting&thread=15637&page=2#302905

One by Banky ... allaboute-cigarettes.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=private&thread=14922&page=2#295700

I think either of them are happy for anyone to use these as a template for their own letters.

Although a template is easier to use, dont be put off creating your own letter. If you belive in what you are writting you don't need a law degree to write it. It doesn't have to be 6 pages long with quotes and appendix attatched if you don't want it to be. A short simple letter asking if they have an opinion on the subject and giving your opinion and experiance is enough. They are there to represent the "man in the street" so don't be scared to contact them on a level you are comfortable with.

[hifistud]

Let me second Jemima's last paragraph. In truth, a template letter can be counter-productive, as the likelihood is that they may well be collated, and analysed for similarities (I know, but our opponents here will go to some extreme lengths). If everyone sends in the same stuff, they shout foul and numbers are disregarded.

The information you need is that you're concerned about the revised Tobacco Products Directive proposal announced 19th December 2012 and its treatment of Electronic Cigarettes.

After that, tell your own story, in your own words, and ask the questions you want answered. If you feel you want your MEP to oppose the proposal, say so, and if you're writing to your MP, you might want to ask them to assure you that the UK will oppose the proposal should it be adopted in Europe.

In this sort of thing, lots of people telling their own story carries much more weight than what looks like a co-ordinated campaign (templates, in other words), and is much more likely to succeed.

As Jemima has said, it doesn't need chapter and verse citations or any legalese - it's you, your feelings and what you want your representatives to do.

I should also mention that a visit to your MEP's and MP's surgery where you can speak to them face to face carries even more weight, especially if it's both preceded and followed by a written letter (and even more so if the letters are posted "signed for"). Imagine the effect of an MEP's surgery being a succession of folks all using an e-cig, each telling their own story, and each asking for this daftness to be opposed. That's much more effective than a series of templates all saying the same thing.

[meeee]

I can see your points Jemima and hifistu, I will give it ago myself.

Meeee

[thundercat]

Great advise from all answers and Ill be doing mine over the week end.

Thanks,

Andy

[davetherayon]

Well, without being all party political, Jeremy Hunt is not a minister who's a big fan of state regulation at all. He's been noted as wanting to put more of the NHS into private management. It's likely he won't be up for putting blocks on vaping, he's got other fish to fry...!

[chykensa]

Fair point regarding mt desire for a template letter. I can see the sense in making it personal.
I'll have a blast at writing my own and pop it up here for your comments before posting.
Andy

[comfrey]

Think I might send one to my MP too. Thanks for this

I must remember not to just read the new topics, because there's always more than just that one page that shows. I would have missed this

[smudge]

As luck would have it our MP is Andy Burnham (shadow health) who will quite happily stick it to Hunt regardless of topic. My OH helps out local labour party with leafleting etc, so has met the man a few times. Will get him to draft a letter - he's better at it than I am, not to mention he's horrified by the proposed EU ban as he's a non-smoker who's just watched me successfully quit cigs for the first time - ever!

[giles]

hifi is right about it being better to write your own letter, but there is nothing wrong with taking ideas from other peoples, just put them in your own words.

My letter is at www.brisbourne.plus.com/MEPletter.html if anyone wants a look.