We need to turn Labour - Chris Davies MEP

[fred]

I received another email from  Chris Davies today - I imagine many other members also got it, but for those who didn't, please have a read and act accordingly.
It would appear that we probably have everyone on board, except McAven and her sheep.

Please email (or continue to email) your Labour MEPs as Chris suggests below - as has been mentioned before, we are beginning to make ourselves heard and make progress in this battle.

 E-cigs - I need your help

Dear Friend,

The European Parliament will vote on October 8 to determine its position as to whether to classify e-cigarettes as medicines, potentially restricting their availability, adding cost and forcing some manufacturers out of business.

I believe that e-cigarettes could be a game changer in helping people to get off tobacco and live healthier lives. My impression is that there is growing momentum behind this view but we are still some way off winning the vote. We need a positive and decisive result to ensure that e-cigs remain at least as available as tobacco products in order to send a strong message to those who will be negotiating a final agreement between MEPs and EU governments.

This is why I need your help.

Obviously we need support from MEPs in 28 different countries but Parliament's rapporteur (team leader if you like) is British Labour MEP Linda McAvan. Until now she has supported the medicines regulatory approach, and so have all her British Labour colleagues. If they can be persuaded to move it could make all the difference. We can already count on the support of my Liberal Democrat colleagues, together with British Conservatives. On this issue even UKIP MEPs may cast a vote, and if they do it will be along the lines we wish.

I have attached the email addresses of Labour MEPs to the bottom of this email.

The most effective way of persuading them is NOT to send identical e-mails to all. I would encourage you to write only to the MEPs for the region in which you live, and tell your personal story about why e-cigs have made a difference to you.

With regards


Chris Davies MEP
Liberal Democrat spokesman on the environment and public health committee

Labour MEPs

Glenis Willmott MEP - East Midlands - [e-mail]

Arlene McCarthy MEP - North West - [e-mail]

Derek Vaughan MEP - Wales - [e-mail]

Richard Howitt MEP - Eastern - [e-mail]

Mary Honeyball MEP - London - [e-mail]

Claude Moraes MEP - London - [e-mail]

Stephen Hughes MEP - North East - [e-mail]

Brian Simpson MEP - North West - [e-mail]

David Martin MEP - Scotland - [e-mail]

Catherine Stihler MEP - Scotland - [e-mail]

Peter Skinner MEP - South East - [e-mail]

Michael Cashman MEP - West Midlands - [e-mail]

Linda McAvan MEP - Yorkshire and the Humber - [e-mail]

[kibbster]

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) I don't have a Labour MEP.
Mine are Lib Dem and UKIP and they've all pledged support.

[Bluefish]

Just got a reply back from him,


Dear Andrew Imrie



Thank you very much for your recent e-mail. I am sorry I have not been able to respond before now. After writing to local newspapers asking to hear of people’s experience with electronic cigarettes I have been inundated with responses very much like yours – smokers have found e-cigs a helpful way to help them quit tobacco. This is why Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament are campaigning to ensure e-cigs remain at least as available as tobacco cigarettes.



As you might be aware the European Commission, the UK medicines authority and Labour MEPs are together in favour of tougher restrictions on e-cigarettes which would mean that they would be treated as medicines.



I am concerned that this would reduce their availability compared to tobacco and put big new costs on users.



In the public health committee of the European Parliament, of which I am a member, I am sorry to say that MEPs voted to support the Labour position and treat e-cigarettes as medicines. This is not the last part of the parliamentary process and Liberal Democrat MEPs will continue to campaign for e-cigarette users. The issue will be the subject of a vote by the full European Parliament scheduled for later this month.



I see e-cigs as a potential game changer in the fight against tobacco because smokers find them enjoyable to use. They can help people break their addiction in a way that conventional nicotine replacement therapies will never do. They could save millions of lives.



I have been contacted by hundreds of constituents who have had their lives improved by e-cigarettes. Labour MEPs may think they are protecting people from themselves but restricting e-cigarettes will only hurt vapers and their families as they turn back to tobacco.



We now have only a small amount of time to change minds and try and win the vote in the full Parliament. Please do contact your Labour, Conservative and UKIP MEPs and persuade them to vote against restrictions on use of e-cigarettes.



Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.



Yours sincerely











Chris Davies MEP

Liberal Democrat MEP for

the North West of England

[Jaguar7777]

I would like to help here, but I cannot.


I never vote. Unless they make voting compulsory that will remain the case unless democracy itself changes in some way. Of course, I suspect that hell would freeze over before that happens.

I consider Politicians as one of the great evils bestowed upon this Planet. I want nothing to do with them. As far as I am concerned their word is not worth the paper it is written on, and their neglect of those truly in need around the world is in my opinion inhumane and disgraceful.

The Law and E-Cigarettes? They have bigger problems that need dealing with, and if they could just take their finger out of the pie for one minute then perhaps it might just dawn on them.

However, they just love that pie. To them it is the whole world.


Sorry folks, as much as I agree with you, I'll have to abstain.


Jag. (Voting simply encourages them.)

[fred]

Jaguar7777 nobody is asking you to vote.

Just send them an email telling them what an arse they are if they vote for the TPD in its current form.

Maybe even quoting some of what you said above: 

... and their neglect of those truly in need around the world is in my opinion inhumane and disgraceful.

The Law and E-Cigarettes? They have bigger problems that need dealing with, and if they could just take their finger out of the pie for one minute then perhaps it might just dawn on them.

Whether you vote or not, or agree with voting or not, letting them know what you think of them is surely not against your principles? 

[Jaguar7777]

Oct 2, 2013 10:21:38 GMT fred said:

Jaguar7777 nobody is asking you to vote.

Just send them an email telling them what an arse they are if they vote for the TPD in its current form.

Maybe even quoting some of what you said above: 

... and their neglect of those truly in need around the world is in my opinion inhumane and disgraceful.

The Law and E-Cigarettes? They have bigger problems that need dealing with, and if they could just take their finger out of the pie for one minute then perhaps it might just dawn on them.

Whether you vote or not, or agree with voting or not, letting them know what you think of them is surely not against your principles? 

Actually, it would be against my principles. I said I want nothing to do with them, and I meant it.


I enjoy vaping, just as much as anyone else. I don't want that pleasure to be controlled by politicians, but there are other factors involved here.


People are starving.

People are homeless.

The elderly are treated like second class citizens.

People cannot afford heating.

Then there is the worldwide suffering and inhumanity. I could go on and on here, but I am sure you get my point.


The thing is, as a worldwide priority I would have to say that vaping rights comes pretty low on the list. I think some of you, hell bent on your little hobby have lost quite a bit of perspective. There are bigger problems to be dealt with.

Real Smokers have had years of legislation, and they just had to put up with it. As much as you protest, you are almost honour bound to have to do the same. These are Politicians you are dealing with, not reasonable, responsible human beings.

Trust me, whatever they give you with their right hand they will take away with their left hand.


I stand by what I said. I have larger priorites.


Why would I e-mail an arsehole? To beg him to let me do what I want to do? lol

Hardly, he is in this game to get me to do what HE wants me to do.

I will abstain and try in my own way to support larger and more important issues.


Jag. (NOT a political animal.)