Big Ask, Big Month, Big Lobby draws to a close. 1 October 2006
The Big Lobby has encouraged me to try and do more about raising the issue of climate change. It has prompted me to see my MP which probably wouldn't have happened before!
The comment above is just one of the many that we have received from the hundreds of people who have taken the plunge and visited their MP about climate change as part of the Big Lobby.
The visits have covered nearly every single MP across the whole of the UK. That's pretty amazing.
Big Question
The question that everyone has been asking their MP is:
Please will you write a letter to Tony Blair and David Miliband (the Environment Minister) asking for a Climate Change Bill to be in the Queen's Speech?
Even the youngest of potential voters have taken part
Bridget Prentice MP with (from L to R) Amelia Moen, Will Nicholls, Annie Coulson, Robert Harper and teacher Ted Burke
Big Answer
Thanks to all your visits, we know that dozens of MPs from all political parties have written to Tony Blair and David Miliband.
Betty Williams, MP for Conway, even asked Tony Blair face to face in the House of Commons this week:
I have written recently on behalf of many constituents to request the introduction of a climate change Bill. Am I likely to be satisfied and happy with the reply when I receive it?
Betty Williams MP, Prime Ministers Questions, 11 October 2006
Tony Blair responded:
Nothing would please me more than to make my Honorable Friend happy and satisfied, but we will have to wait for the Queen's Speech and the outline of the Bills it contains.
Tony Blair, 11 October 2006
Well, it may not be a yes, but its certainly isn't a no. And that in itself is encouraging.
Good news
Having spent the last three weeks at the party conferences, it was really clear that all the work people have done to visit their MPs was paying off. I don't think I met a single MP who didn't know we wanted a Bill in the Queen's Speech. All those visits have really got the message home.
Martyn Williams, Senior Parliamentary Campaigner,
Friends of the Earth
Press for Change
The Queen's Speech takes place on 15 November. If you haven't already done so please write to your MP. Ask them them to do all they can to make sure a climate change bill is included. Find out more in this simple factsheet.
397 MPs have now signed an Early Day Motion in support of a Climate Change Bill. You can see whether your MP has signed here.
© Ted Burke/Friends of the Earth
