Dear John

I hope you’ve managed to have a restful summer despite the horrors unfolding at home and abroad.

I’m reaching out because here at Best for Britain we urgently need your help, and the help of everyone who is committed to preserving our democracy for the future.

In exactly two weeks’ time, the Government’s undemocratic Elections Bill will have its second reading in the House of Commons. The bill proposes a raft of dangerous measures that make it harder for civil society to hold power to account.

The bill contains some things we support - like votes for British citizens living overseas, new rules to make digital campaigning more transparent, and penalties for those who pressure voters or harass candidates and campaigners. However, from mandating voter ID to making it harder for tactical voting operations to be run, and harder for parties to form electoral pacts, the bill contains many parts that lean dangerously close to democratic suppression - and which set a precedent for things to come.

One of the most troubling aspects of the bill is that it would give Ministers new powers to decide who can and can’t campaign during elections. This means that the government of the day would be able to suppress voices which challenge it or hold it to account. When you combine this with the recently passed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which allows the Home Secretary Priti Patel to determine the conditions of acceptable protest, it is clear to see that this Government is attempting an insidious power grab.

How can you help?

One of the best ways to signal public opposition to the Elections Bill is to make sure that your MP is aware of your strength of feeling on this issue.

If you could take just a couple of minutes out of your day to highlight this issue to your MP, you would really help us to make a difference by adding to the dialogue around the Elections Bill and ensuring it is high on your MP’s agenda.

You can do this by using our quick and easy Hey MP tool to send a tailored email or social media message to your local MP. By taking this simple action, you can make sure that your MP knows how important this issue is to you and so many others. The more of us who act, the higher this issue will be escalated.

Head to our Hey MP tool by clicking the button below:

Naomi Smith
CEO, Best for Britain

P.S. If you would like to help Best for Britain continue to challenge assaults on our democracy, consider becoming a regular supporter of Best for Britain, starting at £5 a month. Find out more here.