I’ve just sent the following to my local MP, Richard Benyon. I’ve given him a bit of grief lately, regarding party-political content on his apolitical Communications Allowance-funded website. I hope he’s forgiven me.
I am writing to ask you to sign EDM 2141, tabled in July by Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson, in support of the Free Our Bills campaign by charity MySociety.
MySociety’s pioneering work is recognised worldwide. You will probably have seen their site, TheyWorkForYou, which makes Hansard infinitely more usable on the internet. They are seeking Parliament’s assistance to do something similar with bills, to allow the public to see the laws being drafted and published on their behalf.
Whilst recognising the motion has been tabled by a LibDem member, and that EDM signatures tend to be motivated by party affiliations, I would note that senior figures in your own party have spoken in favour of freeing public data. For example, David Cameron stated in February 2008 that he would ‘require local authorities to publish information online and in a standardised format. That way, it can be collected and used by the public and third party groups.’ This is precisely what MySociety is proposing for Westminster.
MySociety’s track record shows that they can and will deliver. They are proposing changes which will take little time, cost little money, and have no material impact on current working practices.
I urge you to show your support for this important principle; and to take a few moments to sign the EDM in question.
I encourage you to do likewise. But write your own letter.
I have asked my MP, Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham Perry Barr, Lab) to sign, or let me know his reasons not to.
Turns out Lynne Jones has already signed this one:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=36490&SESSION=891
Result! I’ve just received this email from Richard Benyon:
I completely share your support for MySociety’s campaign to make the way that legislation is published by Parliament compatible with the internet age, and I will be pleased to add my signature to EDM 2141. You may be aware that David Cameron has also backed the campaign.
In the twenty-first century, people expect information to be readily available, easily accessible and presented in a format that suits their needs. I believe that Parliament – as the central institution in British political life – has a duty to communicate clearly and pro-actively what it does and how it does it. This is in the interests of everyone, politicians and public, which is why I am pleased that MySociety – whose They Work for You website does so much to enable people to connect with what Parliament does – has launched this campaign.
I know that Theresa May MP, the Shadow Leader of the House, shares my support for the Free Our Bills campaign and I am sure that she will raise the issue with Harriet Harman MP, the Leader of the House, and with the House.
My local MP is David Cameron, and I got a reply very similar to yours, but ommitting the key phrase: “and I will be pleased to add my signature to EDM 2141”. Is there a procedural reason why he, as party leader, might not sign the motion, or is he being less committed than he implies?
The full letter reads:
Dear Mr Munro,
Hank you for your email about Early Day Motion 2141 and the “Free Our Bills” campaign.
I completely share your support for MySociety’s campaign to make the way that legislation is published by Parliament compatible with the internet age.
In the twenty-first century, people expect information to be readily available, easily accessible and presented in a format that suits their needs. I believe that Parliament, as the central institution in British political life, has a duty to communicate clearly and pro-actively what it does and how it does it.
I know that Theresa May MP, the Shadow Leader of the House, shares my support for the Free Our Bills campaign and I am sure that she will raise the issue with Harriet Harman MP, the Leader of the House, and with the House.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to write to me.
David Cameron
I don’t know whether to be angered at the ‘copy and paste’ response, or impressed at the behind-the-scenes coordination. Unless of course, Cameron’s office lifted Benyon’s response from this very page?
A PDF document on the Parliament website says: ‘Ministers and whips do not normally sign EDMs. Under the Ministerial Code, Parliamentary Private Secretaries ‘must not associate themselves with particular groups advocating special policies’, and they do not normally sign EDMs. Neither the Speaker nor Deputy Speakers will sign EDMs. Internal party rules may also affect who can sign early day motions.’
David Cameron has signed 14 EDMs in the past year; tellingly, he tabled 13 of them himself, and the 14th was tabled by a fellow Tory.
Oh, and while I’m here… Richard Benyon hasn’t yet signed the motion; I’ll give him a couple more days to get round to it, before I chase up.
I got a letter from Nicholas Soames with almost identical text in it
Thanks Simon – nice to know what’s going on out there.
do you think they know we all talk to each other?
>A PDF document on the Parliament website says: ‘Ministers and whips do not normally sign EDMs. Under the Ministerial Code, Parliamentary Private Secretaries ‘must not associate themselves with particular groups advocating special policies’, and they do not normally sign EDMs. Neither the Speaker nor Deputy Speakers will sign EDMs. Internal party rules may also affect who can sign early day motions.’
That looks like a “leash”.
How many of these are there?
I’ve checked and my MP Dennis the Menace has already signed it.
Matt