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Original poster

Contact your MP re GRA

57 replies

LongWeek · 11/12/2017 21:00

Following the thread about an poster seeing their MP...

I work for an MP. Also married to him.
We have 66,000 ish constituents. Not a single one has contacted DH about trans rights/GRA.

He knows it's coming up, and I've been explaining the issues that are concerning women.

But MPs won't know how people feel unless you tell them. I want to shout it from the rooftops of MN!

Petitions are not as effective as individual emails or face to face conversations. Too many MPs think that the GRA changes are all positive. They need more information.

Please- email or write to your MP.

OP posts:
BlindYeo · 13/12/2017 23:32

Have written to my MP. About three weeks ago. No reply yet.

colouringinagain · 13/12/2017 23:06

Have been thinking I need to get on and write to mine too. Thanks for the thread OP...

Badgerthebodger · 13/12/2017 23:00

I wrote to mine for the second time just over two weeks ago. First time was a really wishy washy reply but I think my current letter is much better so hopefully will get a better reply. I have a male Lib Dem MP who I imagine probably is privately on side but whether or not he would come out with anything in public remains to be seen.

MrsKnightley · 13/12/2017 22:23

Funnily enough, after writing on here, Bingo! A reply!

woodstack · 13/12/2017 09:23

I wrote to my male Tory MP a good 6 weeks ago about this issue. Got a "He understands your concerns and will let you know when he gets a reply" response quite quickly but nothing since. Must chase. This is the first time I have ever written to an MP. Please write to yours!

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 13/12/2017 00:28

I'm waiting for a response from my Lib Dem MP. I didn't put much detail in, just that I had concerns aboit the changes to the GRA, that I'd like to understand the Lib Dem position and share my concerns.

Does anyone know what the Lib Dem position is?

Or have any tips for me? Should I take stuff for him to read later?

Original poster
LongWeek · 13/12/2017 00:22

Sorry only just seen all these replies!

MPs are only supposed to deal with their own constituents, so most won't answer if you're not in their constituency.

Sorry, not telling where I'm from- like to be anonymous.

In terms of timescale for replies- we aim for 2 weeks max, though it's usually quicker unless there's been a massive influx of correspondence. (Can be hundreds of emails a day sometimes). Our policy is individual email/letter always gets response back by letter if it's a constituent.

Surgeries- depends on individual MP how they do this. Some have 'drop ins' (less likely after Jo cox) and more have appointments. Depending on the MP they may only have people who need 'help' at surgeries, preferring email/letter to respond to 'issues'. I would think that in most cases they'd want to know in advance why you want to see them. If you request a surgery you may be contacted by caseworker/researcher to ask for details of issues you want to discuss.
DH tends to see a mixture in his surgeries- if someone really wants to see him to discuss an issue he will see them.

MPs can also send your email/letter to a minister to get a 'higher-level' response. They should then send that back to you. You can request this in your email. Women & equalities is Justine greening.

If we'd had 3 emails from someone and they'd not had an answer we would consider we'd failed as an office.

Don't email more than once a day
Don't use daily mail links or stories
Try not to sound too ranty!

There will be some who just take the party line. But there are others who might surprise you.

And remember if you go and see your MP- they are mostly normal people. Some of them are very nice. Some of them are fairly ineffective. Probably in all parties.

I'm glad I may have inspired some people to write. I fell v strongly that women are under represented in politics- not just in parliament but in their communication with MPs too.

OP posts:
MrsKnightley · 12/12/2017 20:53

Have written 3 times to the leader of SNP (my MP) and no reply.

TheXXFactor · 12/12/2017 18:42

I did not really mention transwomen at all in my letter. My concerns were about predatory men taking advantage of the change in law too. Which was not acknowledged at all

Ditto. Am trying to work up the energy to write again, despite knowing my MP to be a careerist arse-kisser who has never rebelled against his party's line.

YippeeKiYayMelonFarmer · 12/12/2017 17:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BatShite · 12/12/2017 16:47

I did not really mention transwomen at all in my letter. My concerns were about predatory men taking advantage of the change in law too. Which was not acknowledged at all Hmm

BatShite · 12/12/2017 16:45

I wrote to mine already, and basically got back 'we care about the rights of transgender people. You are bigoted for caring about the rights of women. Transwomen are women' Confused

Obviously paraphrased but that was the jist of it.

lostintranslocation · 12/12/2017 16:45

I wrote to mine. Got some wishy washy reply about how trans rights are far behind at the moment and a way forward needs to be found that is best for everyone. I pushed for further clarification from him about how he thinks this can happen without it affecting women negatively, and got this reply today:

"Thank you for your further response. You raise many important questions, and I am sure they will be debated very thoroughly should legislation come before Parliament.

Yours sincerely"

Well I'm glad he's so sure... Hmm

SparklyUnicornTractors · 12/12/2017 16:40

Constituents. I have no idea what consistuents are.

SparklyUnicornTractors · 12/12/2017 16:39

Its clear on the Theyworkforyou website that they can only follow up concerns from their own consistuents.

However if your own MP is useless and there's an MP willing to listen who has no letters on this subject I am delighted to help him in any way I can.

WTAFisthisshit · 12/12/2017 16:24

I was informed by my MP's aide that MP's can only take letters/concerns from their own constituents? OP is that correct?

SparklyUnicornTractors · 12/12/2017 16:22

I'll gladly write to your DH, OP. Just let me know the constituency. My own MP (Male Tory) has ignored two letters so far.

WTAFisthisshit · 12/12/2017 16:05

Yippee yes I did

YippeeKiYayMelonFarmer · 12/12/2017 16:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

YippeeKiYayMelonFarmer · 12/12/2017 16:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FattyCat · 12/12/2017 15:59

OK I don't think it was as that was isn't about de-transitioning. ARGH can't find it

WTAFisthisshit · 12/12/2017 15:57

I just wrote in very basic language what my concerns were and asked how they were going to be addressed. I didn't use a template letter as I just don't have the level of education to understand all the neo-liberalism/post-truth/Orwellian/capitalism/Liberalism/authoritarian/left/right arguments used on here. They make my brain explode.

I asked to meet as I thought it's a conversation best to have face to face. I was contacted in under 24 hours by a nice aide who said that my MP is very keen to meet and discuss these issues and will be in touch.

To anybody lurking (I just lurked for years) I've never done anything even vaguely political before, if you have even vague concerns about this please write/email your MP and request to meet up to discuss how trans rights can be balanced with woman's rights and safeguarding of children.

nauticant · 12/12/2017 15:54

Originally I picked out a handful of the risk areas, transing of kids, male prisoners in women's prisons, pointing out [L]ian Huntley, etc, and the response from my MP could be summarised as "we in the Tory party are forward thinking and don't want to be on the wrong side of history".

If I write again I'm going to link to some newspaper articles quoting some useful bits and ask "what if you end up on the wrong side of the papers and their readers?"

My approach is to keep it brief and to avoid trying to cover everything. I'm after 3 or 4 things which will trigger a "surely that can't be happening?" response.

applespearsbears · 12/12/2017 15:37

What are you putting in your letters out of interest?