Dear John,
Last week we wrote to you to let you know about our plans to
tackle the undemocratic Elections Bill.
The Bill represents an assault on our
democracy and is the latest step in this Government’s
troubling agenda seeking to limit the potential for civil society to
hold power to account. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
that recently passed through the Commons, places limitations on
protest and gives the Home Secretary unprecedented powers to deem a
protest ‘acceptable’ or not; this Elections Bill will give Ministers
new powers to proscribe campaigners in a general election, among other
things.
To find out more, watch our video with CEO Naomi Smith and Cary
Mitchell, Director of Campaigns, in which they discuss the bill and
take us on a whistle-stop tour through its consequences:
Taken together, both bills represent an insidious power
grab that must be challenged.
We are working very hard to make sure that the challenge we mount
is as watertight and effective as possible - but we need your help to
make sure that this issue is high on the agenda.
Send a letter to the editor of your local
newspaper. The letters pages of newspapers are widely read,
and such letters are vital for raising awareness of issues with your
local community and your local MP.
The Bill is back in parliament on 7th September, so there's not
much time left. Send your letter in now so there's time for it to get
published before MPs go back to work.
We've seen lots of letters published over the summer in papers
across the country and now is your chance to make sure YOUR local
community hears about this.
Cary Mitchell,
Director of Operations, Best for Britain
Here’s a template letter you can use:
Dear Editor,
The Elections Bill will allow ministers to define and curtail
‘campaigning’, could make coordinating opposition an offence, and
permits political meddling in the Electoral Commission. The Bill will
undergo a second reading in the House of Commons on 7th September -
and we can’t let it pass.
A free election is one where unaffiliated organisations,
charities and even the person on the street can be part of the debate.
And where independent groups like Best for Britain who are campaigning
against this Bill, can provide voters with information on parties and
their policies.
By putting restrictions on campaigning and cross-party
co-operation, this bill stifles healthy opposition. With the Policing
Bill which bans 'noisy protests' and other Bills reducing the power of
judicial review of Ministers' decisions I'm concerned this government
is trying to stamp out healthy dissent. The UK should not go down this
road.
Signed,
Name
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