UPDATE RE MP’S RESPONSE TO POLICE PAY CAMPAIGN

To keep you updated on the political front as you are aware we wrote to all the MP’s with constituencies in Greater Manchester and  lobbied at Parliament on 12th December 2007. It is obvious that the ones we spoke to are acutely aware of the strength of feeling within their constituencies and react to individual letters they receive from constituents.

There are a number of Early Day Motions (EDM’s) relating to police pay (494, 512, 527, 538 and 539). Of these 512 is that with the greatest number of signatories.

EDM’s are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDM’s are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view. That support is shown by the fact that EDM 512 has one of the highest numbers of signatories of those listed. This helps us to place pressure on the government.

You can view an up to date website that shows  you which EDM’s your MP has signed at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/Default.aspx. It is convention that Ministers would not normally sign EDM’s.

However if your MP has not signed one of the EDM’s relating to police pay, preferably 512 then please write or email them asking why. Your MP’s contact details can be found at  http://www.theyworkforyou.com/.

We will be writing to all MP’s again and lobbying them the day before our mass rally in London.

It is a political impetus we must keep going.

The following lays out the response relating to each MP as at today’s date

Graham Brady, Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West:  Met Federation delegation on 12th December and was very supportive. Has also responded with a supportive letter indicating that he has written to the Home Secretary.  Has signed Early Day Motions  494 and 512 calling on the Home Secretary to honour the PAT award in full.

Rt Hon. Hazel Blears. Labour MP for Salford, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. No response to letter and was not at meeting with Federation delegation on 12th December.

Rt. Hon. Andrew Burnham. Labour MP for Leigh, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. No response to letter and was not at meeting with Federation delegation on 12th December.

David Chaytor. Labour MP for Bury North. No response to letter and was not available to meet Federation delegation. Has signed Early Day Motions  512, 527 and 538 calling on the Home Secretary to honour the PAT award in full.

Ann Coffey. Labour MP for Stockport. Parliamentary Private Secretary to Alistair Darling (Chancellor of the Exchequer) No response to letter and was not at meeting with Federation delegation on 12th December.

David Crausby.  Labour MP for Bolton North East. Has responded with a strongly worded letter of support, has signed Early day Motions 494 and 512 and co sponsored Early Day Motion 538.

Paul Goggins. Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East.  Minister of State Northern Ireland. Attended meeting with Federation Delegation and was supportive. Has however replied to a constituent stating that the Federation have “fundamentally misunderstood” the Home Secretary’s position and with details cut and pasted from the Home Office rationale behind the failure to honour the award, now does not support our position

Andrew Gwynne. Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Jacqui Smith.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

David Heyes. Labour  MP for Ashton under Lyne.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

Rt Hon Beverley Hughes.  Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston. Minister of State Dept for Children, Schools and Families, Minister for North West.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

Dr Brian Iddon. MP for Bolton South East. Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was supportive. Has signed Early Day Motions  512 and 538.

Rt Hon Sir Gerald Kaufman. Labour MP for Manchester Gorton. Met with Federation delegation and chaired meeting with Labour MP’s. Very supportive and has written letter to that effect.

Barbara KEELEY. Labour MP for Worsley. Parliamentary Private Secretary to Leader of the House of Commons (Harriet Harman). Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

Rt Hon Ruth Kelly.  Labour MP for Bolton West. Secretary of State for Transport.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.  Has appeared on TV supporting Home Secretary’s position and also done so at her own surgeries.

Ivan Lewis. Labour MP for Bury South. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

Tony Lloyd. Labour MP for Manchester Central.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.  Has signed Early Day Motion 527.

Rt Hon Ian McCartney. Labour MP for Makerfield. Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was very supportive.

Rt Hon Michael Meacher . Labour MP for Oldham West and Royton. Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was very supportive. Has signed Early Day Motion  512.

Rt Hon James Purnell. Labour MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.   Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters. 

Ian Stewart. Labour MP for Eccles. Was not at meeting with Federation delegation, has written supportive letter. Has signed Early Day Motion 512.

Graham Stringer. Labour MP for  Manchester Blackley.  Was not at meeting with Federation delegation, has written supportive letter. Has signed Early Day Motions 494, 512 and 538.

Neil Turner. Labour MP for Wigan. Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Office Minister Jim Murphy.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

Philip Woolas. Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth. Minister of State Dept for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.  Did not meet with Federation delegation, no response to letters.

Jim Dobbin. Labour MP for Heywood and Middleton. Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was supportive. 

Mark Hunter. Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle. Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson.  Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was very supportive. Has written letter of support Has signed Early Day Motions  494 and 512.

John Leech. Liberal Democrat MP for Withington. Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson. Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was very supportive. Has written letter of support. Has signed Early Day Motions  494, 512, 527, 538 and 539.

Paul Rowen. Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale. Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson. Did not attend meeting with Federation delegation due to previous commitment, sent apologies. Has signed Early Day Motions 494 and 512.

Andrew Stunell. Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove. Liberal Democrat shadow communities and local government minister. Attended meeting with Federation delegation and was very supportive. Has signed Early Day Motions 494 and 512 and 527.

If your MP has not responded to us or signed an EDM ask them why, they are supposed to reflect your views not their own!

I hope to see you in London.

Chris Burrows
Chair
GMP Joint Branch Board