What we are watching unfold in the United States is a chilling warning. When a politician is willing to abuse their position, distort the truth, and trade deliberately in disinformation, the damage to democracy can be profound and long-lasting. Once those guardrails fail, it becomes very hard to rebuild trust.
Next Wednesday, Parliament has a chance to act before that happens here in the UK, and I'm writing to ask for your help.
We need you to ask your MP to add their name to an amendment to the Hillsborough Law before Tuesday 13th January.
For those who want to act straight away, click here:
The story so far
After seven long years of campaigning, we are on the brink of ensuring that politicians who deliberately mislead the public can be stopped. But it will only happen if enough of you, our valued supporters, act.
Here's what's happening, and why it matters:
Today, Labour MP Luke Myer has tabled an amendment to the Hillsborough Law on our behalf. The Hillsborough Law (aka the Public Accountability Bill) will create a criminal offence of misleading the public. But at present, that sanction applies only to public officials, not the politicians who govern them. That anomaly leaves a dangerous gap in accountability.
We have seen how figures like Donald Trump are able to exploit weak accountability, using deliberate falsehoods to gain and hold power. The UK is not immune, and Luke Myer's amendment gives us the chance to stop this happening here.
It will only succeed if enough MPs add their names before Wednesday 14th January. If enough MPs sign up in support, the chances of this amendment being selected increase significantly. This is one of those moments where constituents speaking up really can shift what happens next.
Why your action matters
Many people feel politics has lost its moral compass, even if they wouldn't put it in those words. This amendment is about restoring a simple principle: honesty in public life has to mean something in law, not just in speeches.
This is not about stifling debate or punishing mistakes. The amendment is tightly safeguarded. It applies only in the most serious and egregious cases of deliberate deception, with prosecutions requiring the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Political opinion, everyday debate, journalism, and honest error are all explicitly protected.
The clock is ticking
It will only take a few minutes to tell your MP you want them to add their name in support. Click the button and follow the simple instructions.
Just a few minutes could make all the difference. A note from you tells your MP that constituents care about honesty in public life.
When lies travel faster than the truth, democracy becomes dangerously easy to game. This amendment draws a clear line—and this week, there is a real chance that Parliament will listen.
Thank you for being part of this. It has taken seven long years of campaigning to get to this point, but we are nearly there.
With warmth and resolve,
Jennifer Nadel CEO, Compassion in Politics