Article from EMStaffs.UK

Publication date: 2020-09-19

Title: European Movement Call To Action

Subtitle: Write to the PM and your MP NOW!

Author: Hania Orszulik



Write to Johnson and your MP NOW!

Last week Boris Johnson flip-flopped and admitted that the Withdrawal Agreement is bad for the country. He is now threatening to resolve this conundrum by breaking international law. This ‘oven-ready deal’ was central to the Conservative election campaign and we now know that Johnson signed up to it in full knowledge that it would damage the country.

Now he is willing to saddle the country with a highly damaging no-deal or figleaf deal Brexit. As concerned citizens, we cannot allow this to slip through unchallenged. Not only would this be highly undemocratic in the light of the 2016 Leave campaign promises and the 2019 Conservative election promises, but it would also damage our economy, industry, opportunities and global influence for generations to come.

The next few weeks will determine the nature of our future relationship with the European Union. We must act now to show the Prime Minster that we will not stand by and let him push us off a cliff edge at the end of the year. The country did not vote for a damaging hard Brexit and there is no democratic mandate for leaving the EU without a trade deal.

So how can I help?

We are calling on all members, supporters and the general public to participate in a wide-scale e-mail writing campaign to the Prime Minister and MPs, to hold the government to its promise of securing a trade deal with the EU.

 

But what’s the point?

Many people do not write letters because they think it is a waste of time and has no influence. On the contrary, the Prime Minister and MPs DO respond to public pressure on issues of great importance. This nation-wide e-mail writing campaign has the potential to influence the outcome of the deal negotiated. This will not only limit the damage caused by Brexit, but will also keep open the door for rejoining the EU when the time is right.

How do I write to the Prime Minister?

Your letter should be short, simple and personalised (maximum 1000 characters). Explain your concerns about a hard Brexit from your perspective, and ask the Prime Minister to protect those interests in any negotiation.

For example, if you work for a small business, you may be concerned about barriers to trade. If you are a parent, you may be concerned about your child’s future opportunities to work in Europe and take part in EU educational projects. If you work in the healthcare sector, you may be very aware of the potential consequences of delays to medical supplies and our capacity to contribute to EU medical research projects. Whatever your perspective, Brexit affects you. Express these specific concerns to the Prime Minister and ask him to ensure that those interests will be protected.

Visit One Crisis at a Time to find more information about the impact of a no-deal Brexit on specific sectors or check out Harrow & Hillingdon European Movement's Throwing Down The Gauntlet campaign for more inspiration.

You can contact the Prime Minister through this Government online form. There is a size limit of 1000 characters (including spaces), so a note of around 150 words would be appropriate.
The online form will send you an email link to confirm your message. Remember to click on the email link to make sure that your message gets through to the Prime Minister’s office.

How do I write to my MP?

You can express those same concerns in a letter to your MP. Make sure you keep your message short, polite and specific to your situation. You can see some suggestions for inclusion in your email at the bottom of this article.

You can find your MP through the UK Parliament website. Remember to include your full name, full address and postcode at the top of your email.

What’s next?

Please encourage your friends, family and co-workers to write to the Prime Minister and their MP. We have just a few weeks left to shape our future relationship with the EU. We aim to fill the PM’s inbox with a million letters showing him that we will not let his reckless behaviour go unchallenged. Millions joined in the London marches to stop Brexit. Millions can act again.

Here are some suggestions for inclusion in your email - but please try and personlise it as much as possible:


Dear xxxxxxx

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent / citizen (who lives at xxxxx)

I note that we shall sadly be leaving the EU on December 31st.

However my main concern is that Brexit will directly affect me because xxxxx (eg I am currently employed as a lorry driver who travels across Europe / I am a teacher… funding for education is highly dependent on a strong economy.)

I am worried that my community will lose out because of xxxxx (eg. I live in a farming community and our local economy has relied on EU support and EU exports / business uncertainty in the xxx industry in my area)

A no-deal scenario is particularly concerning because xxxxx (eg. damage to the xxx industry as a result of losing free trade with EU countries / decline in food/environmental standards)

My family will no longer be able to xxxxx (eg. access benefits such as EHIC / live and work freely across the EU)

I fear that future generations will lose out on the benefits of xxxxx (eg. clean air, clean beaches, food standards, workplace benefits, trade freely with EU countries)

As Prime Minister / my elected MP, can you offer reassurance that these concerns will be protected in any deal negotiated with the EU.


 

Thanks for all your help and support with this campaign. Please feel free to contact your local European Movement branch for further advice or information.