Dear supporters
A few weeks ago, you provided the most extraordinary support during my hunger strike outside the gates of Parliament. Over 22,000 people helped enormously by asking the Government to simply arrange a briefing for MPs on the vital current climate science, allowing climate policy to be based on fact, not propaganda, misinformation and lobbying.
I am now asking if you can do one more thing – please write to your MP and insist they attend the briefing.
While the Government failed to act, Caroline Lucas MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change, took notice. Not only of my strike, but of all of you, the 79 eminent climate scientists and the 29 leading clinicians who called for an urgent briefing. As a result of her principled work, Chief Scientific Advisor Sir Patrick Vallance has agreed to brief MPs later this month, just like Sir Chris Whitty did during the worst of the Covid-19 crisis. This allowed me to stop my hunger strike after 37 days.
Attendance at Sir Patrick’s vital briefing is voluntary – MPs aren't required to attend.
But our MPs work for us, and we can ask them attend or to explain why they won’t. We can get hundreds of our MPs to turn up, so that they are up to date with the latest science and can act to protect us, as we elected them to do.
Writing a letter is quick, powerful and straightforward, even if you’ve not done it before. If you use our template letter without personalising it, it could take less than a minute:
- Visit www.writetothem.com
- Enter your postcode
- Scroll past councillors to find your MP and click on their name
- Write your letter (you can base it on our template letter - see below, or even better adapt that to write your own), add your address, press Preview and Send
- Check your letter and press Send
- That’s it! You’ve taken action to help ensure your MP is informed on the most important issue of our time
The briefing will probably take place this month, and we’ll write to you again when Sir Patrick has confirmed a date and time. You can then write again to your MP to confirm that they are attending. For now, however, it is vital that MPs know that their constituents request and expect them to listen to Sir Patrick.
When I write to you with the date and time of the briefing, I’ll also update you with some other things we are planning to make sure that MPs know how important this briefing is. In closing, however, I just wanted to let you know that I am continuing with my physical and mental recovery and am feeling stronger, though I still have a way to go. Thank you once again for all your support – I genuinely couldn’t have done it without you. Please, please, for all of us, write to your MP today and make our hard-fought briefing as effective as possible.
With gratitude and every best wish,
Angus
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[Template letter to MPs - it's also available as a Google document]
Dear [INSERT NAME OF MP]
I am writing to ask that you attend a briefing from the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, who will likely be briefing MPs this month on current understanding of risks of, and solutions to, the climate and ecological emergency. This briefing was called for by 79 of the UK’s leading climate scientists, led by former Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King, in an open letter to Greg Hands, Minister of Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change (1).
In their letter to Mr Hands, the eminent scientists explained that “the crisis is evolving at a rapid pace and it is increasingly difficult for politicians to understand the significance of the latest science that they do not have time to read and digest.” The briefing was also supported by 29 eminent physicians in an open letter to the Prime Minister, published in the BMJ (2). This letter made it clear that “it is essential that the latest scientific evidence on the climate crisis is officially and openly communicated to the cabinet and members of parliament by the government’s chief scientific adviser.”
We saw at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic how calm, rational, evidence-based presentations on complex science were absolutely critical for both lawmakers and the public at a time when rumour and misinformation was rife. This important work led to acceptance of the need for decisive action to protect all of us; to robust, informed debate and to rigorous policymaking. Potentially dreadful outcomes, complex ideas, rumour and misinformation are also prevalent in climate emergency (3), and this important briefing is equally vital.
As one of your constituents, I am deeply concerned about the impact that the climate and ecological emergencies are having, and will continue to have, on me and my family. The need for detailed, impartial, robust information to be regularly shared with MPs so that you are properly informed seems obvious.
I understand that the briefing will likely take place in Portcullis House and that the date and time will be announced shortly. Please let me know that you will be attending.
Yours,
[INSERT NAME]
References:
1. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Zac5SzRSbFQoHC9TJnhO0enhqgD-7zS6/view
2: https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj.o987
3: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-denial-spreads-on-facebook-as-scientists-face-restrictions/