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Original poster

Lord Patel/Karen Jones thread - anyone want to go to House of Lords to talk to Lord Patel

111 replies

GColdtimer · 12/03/2018 20:46

Does anyone remember this thread?

Well, I wrote to Lord Patel to ask him why he had invited a violent rapist and attempted murderer to talk to the House of Lords (about the rights of transgender people). He has invited me tot he House of Lords to share my concerns!

I am in shock. The dates he has sent I can't do, I am also sure there are other people who would do a far better job than me. Anyone fancy going in my place??

OP posts:
SmurfOrTerf · 12/03/2018 22:38

Assigned Grin

AssignedPuuurfectAtBirth · 12/03/2018 22:36

Really Secret?

And this is your very first post here too?

Of course everyone would come to you for help

Original poster
GColdtimer · 12/03/2018 22:31

Daturn have you got details of that meeting? I have decided I am going to try and go if I can juggle some work commitment - you have all given me the confidence (along with a host of FB friends!). But it would be great if there were two of us. I will PM you, just need to go to bed now.

Thanks for the offer thesecretmole, I am not opposed to photos/PR in theory but need to sleep on it.

Thanks to everyone for being lovely.

OP posts:
buckbeak · 12/03/2018 22:26

This is amazing!!! Well done StarStar

LangCleg · 12/03/2018 22:25

Bloody hell!

WELL DONE!

UpstartCrow · 12/03/2018 22:22

Please consider asking Sarah Ditum, she's very articulate.

WickedLazy · 12/03/2018 22:20

Maybe it would be better to get Lord Patel "turfed" quietly, and see if he peaks/has peaked, before involving photographers and the press. A private chat to try to make him see beyond the bullshit.

TheSecretMole · 12/03/2018 22:15

Great result! I work for an MP in Parliament so if you need any help with logistics on the day or with anything else, I’m happy to help.

Would you fancy taking a photo with him and sending a press release to a few newspapers? Would be a great way to get some publicity for the issue in a positive way. Happy to help with that too if you need Smile

WickedLazy · 12/03/2018 22:15

Twofall I just read it, that's fantastic. No wonder he wants to meet you. You should go!

SmurfOrTerf · 12/03/2018 22:12

Excellent letter Flowers
Datun Flowers

WickedLazy · 12/03/2018 22:09

My first thought was where's Datun!

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 12/03/2018 22:08

That was a good e-mail twofalls. You raised a lot of issues.

LizzieSiddal · 12/03/2018 22:07

Bloody hell twofall that’s such a powerful letter.

LizzieSiddal · 12/03/2018 22:04

How absolutely fantastic that you wrote that letter!

Please go if you can and take someone with you for moral support.

Original poster
GColdtimer · 12/03/2018 22:04

Thank you Daturn! I really appreciate that. I need to sleep on it and give it some thought. I will PM you. My email is here, much of it is paraphrased from the original thread so I have lots of MNers to thank.

Dear Lord Patel,

I read with dismay your decision to invite someone convicted of the manslaughter of one man and the serious assault and attempted rape of a woman to talk to the House of Lords. She served just one year for killing her partner and then was out for just 5 days before her hatred of women drove her to attempt to destroy the life of another. She is a convicted sex offender and was described by the judge at the time as posing an 'extremely serious risk' to the public. You say that she has paid her debt to society. From what I can see she served just 12 months for taking someone’s life and despite being jailed for life in 2003 served very little time for punching a woman, stuffing a lemon in her mouth and attempting to rape her. This woman thought she was going to die, can you imagine what she has to live with every day of her life. Ask her victims if they feel she has served her debt to society – the woman she tried to rape, the family of the man she killed. Not only do the victims of this person have to deal with the fact their lives were worth so little to the judiciary, they have to suffer once more as you gave her a platform at the House of Lords. The appalling lack of respect shown is frankly astounding.

This decision is highly offensive to rape survivors, it's offensive to genuine trans-people as it is not representative of them, and its offensive to me as a woman. Have you considered that there are trans people in prison who aren’t rapists that could have talked to the House of Lords. Maybe even non-violent transmen who could share their views about whether they want to be automatically locked up with men?

On a secondary but no less important note, the whole case is an example of a male bodied person living in a women's safe space who then goes on to commit violence against a woman which gives me grave concern for the concept of self-identification.

I am quite frankly appalled at the decision to give this person a voice and saddened by the lack of regard the labour party seem to have for women.

I have copied the Women and Equalities Committee here as well as my MP Layla Moran.

Yours sincerely,

OP posts:
Somerville · 12/03/2018 22:03

TwoFalls and Datun sounds like a dream team for this.

Datun · 12/03/2018 22:02

twofalls

You could also ask him to attend the 'We need to talk about the GRA' meeting in the House of Commons on Wednesday. That might be a good introduction for him.

ReluctantCamper · 12/03/2018 21:56

fabulous work twofalls!

Datun · 12/03/2018 21:51

twofalls

If you can, you should absolutely go. I'm more than happy to join you, for moral support and backup.

It's quite astonishing that anyone should even need an impassioned letter to see the wrong in this.

There is so much about all these issues that goes without saying. Then when people question you, you're sometimes on the back foot because you have what the fuck man why don't you get this?

Whatever it is you said in your letter, clearly struck a chord.

Can you copy and paste your email?

Original poster
GColdtimer · 12/03/2018 21:35

Thank you, I am not here very often these days but this board has opened my eyes to so many issues I didn't know existed. I don't "know" many people here so suggestions really welcome.

OP posts:
Riverside2 · 12/03/2018 21:33

I would be surprised if they let someone else attend
But even if they do, I think it's well worth juggling anything that's possible in order to go
Also can you take a guest? That might be a good way to get different points across in what I'm guessing will be a fairly short appointment.

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 12/03/2018 21:29

DATUN ffs!! No idea who Darin is! Apart from the long dead Bobby Darin!

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 12/03/2018 21:27

Darin is our great hope!!👍👍👍👍

TheMonstrousRegiment · 12/03/2018 21:27

I'd love if Datun could go too. Her posts are always so incredibly informative and well articulated. She peaked me when I first arrived in MN FC. Is it a private meet? Don't want anyone to be 'outed'.

SmurfOrTerf · 12/03/2018 21:25

I've pm'd Datun