WRITE TO YOUR MP

I gave up writing to mine a few years ago on this subject. He'll get back to me on other issues but not on this one. The first reply I got from him was pretty mealy-mouthed and the usual pass-the-parcel thing, but nothing back from him since. He's a Tory though, probably spending a lot of time talking to farmers etc atm.

I believe that the Tories know what a woman is, though?

DrIris
I definitely think it's worth following up in case it gets lost in the vortex of the post election euphoria. If he is senior and already sympathetic to the GC position, that's a significant advantage. He is in a position to potentially escalate this to the upper echelons. One thing is for sure. This lobby are already relentlessly petitioning the govt about self ID That must be challenged.

The thrust of my letter(s) to my MP (who is useless) is:

How can women's hard-won sex-based rights be upheld if the definition of "woman" is changed to include men? Women's rights are enshrined in UK law under the 2010 Equality Act. Those rights are now under attack by powerful lobbyists such as Stonewall and Mermaids, who deny the very existence of biological sex and are misrepresenting the law.

@BovaryX I was debating writing to him again to reiterate my concerns. It would be all too easy for one conversation amongst many whilst on the campaign trail to disappear.

Thank you, I shall. Even if my MP disagrees vehemently (I presume that he will, he's very much a fair-weather politician from what I can make out), he is still - I think - supposed to represent the views of his constituents. So raising the matter and my concerns with him should register an impact.

I've written to my shadow front bench MP several times in the last year. No response whatsoever. He's so low profile in the local community I don't think he actually exists.

aesopfable you're talking of green carding your MP. A friend of mine has tried using the facility a number of times to get a response from her MP, but even though he's in the commons and she's waited all day, the MP has failed to see her or contact her at a later date. It may be worth a try if you have absolutely nothing to do one day.

www.naht.org.uk/news-and-opinion/news/funding-news/green-carding-your-mp-in-five-steps/

(My MP is GC)

Publicly? When discussing privately with other MPs? Any intent to challenge the GRA reform proposals etc?

Just realised that might sound sceptical written down, I mean it in an excited/encouraging kind of way!

Also, because you might know - how do MPs get into select committees and APPGs etc, do they put themselves forward or are invited, who scrutinises the makeup of these groups?

He listened very carefully to what I had to say, seemed fully aware of the situation (and mentioned things like female prisons before I could) and said that he felt very uneasy about the way debate and sensible discussion is being shut down. He is a relatively senior Tory so I felt relatively heartened having spoken to him

That sounds like a great start. If he's senior, hopefully he can amplify these concerns to the upper echelons of the party. Have you seen him post election? Good luck with this. One of the ways this lobby has been able to advance its agenda so far, so fast is because most people don't know anything about it. I do think that is changing.

I spoke to my Conservative MP while he was campaigning for re-election. He listened very carefully to what I had to say, seemed fully aware of the situation (and mentioned things like female prisons before I could) and said that he felt very uneasy about the way debate and sensible discussion is being shut down. He is a relatively senior Tory so I felt relatively heartened having spoken to him. I was very nervous as I'm nowhere near as eloquent as many of the posters on these boards, but I do agree that unless we keep telling them what we're worried about, it will keep slipping into the long grass.

"For me, the nice thing about the writetothem site, is that it checks back with you after a while and asks if your MP responded or not. Not just in a yes/no way"

That's really useful to know Serendipity, thank you.

Also, if in Scotland:

WRITE TO YOUR MSPs

You have several of them.

I remember looking round the Houses of Parliament a few years ago and was told there was a rule whereby if you left a message in person they had to come and see you or if not there they had to respond within a certain short timeframe. Can’t remember the details other than you had to be there in person.

I've written to my MP twice and heard nothing at all back.

For me, the nice thing about the writetothem site, is that it checks back with you after a while and asks if your MP responded or not. Not just in a yes/no way

Your feedback allows us to publish performance tables of the responsiveness of all the politicians in the UK. We are keen to give politicians the credit they deserve when they respond promptly to their constituents. We think it's also worth highlighting the representatives who don't.

I've written to my MP twice and heard nothing at all back. Apparently from googling, she appears to be gender critical, but I'm pretty fed up that she hasn't responded.

Thank you and yes, good to prompt this.

I wrote to my new Tory MP who responded straight away. Mostly to tell me there are already robust safeguarding rules in place in schools (my specific local example was stonewall schools advice with big safeguarding holes in).

However, they did say they appreciated hearing my concerns and were willing to listen.

It could have been a fob off. But hopefully my letter might have prompted some thinking and I gave links to research.

That’s fine Bovary, we disagree, I don’t appreciate your comments to me either, have I just landed on planet Earth - how patronising, I just have a different opinion from you. I do find the ‘silence is compliance’ line shaming to those who have not (yet) spoken up. I also think my comment re rape culture is being misconstrued but don’t have enough spoons left to argue right now.

fans of political engagement might want to go via:

www.writetothem.com/

which not only helps locate your MP with contact details, but will help you send an email which then feeds:

www.theyworkforyou.com

so you can see how well (or not) your MP is doing their job.

I have written to my MP five times.

Tumbleweed.

I'll be very embarrassed if my MP shows up at my door to give me a kicking

No one is being shamed for not contacting their MP, but rather encouraged to do. I for one am finding it very helpful. That is in no way parallel to not speaking up about rape because you are afraid your rapist, the media, or the courts will harm you for speaking up

Thank you for saying that CousinKrispy appreciate it.

No one is being shamed for not contacting their MP, but rather encouraged to do. I for one am finding it very helpful.

That is in no way parallel to not speaking up about rape because you are afraid your rapist, the media, or the courts will harm you for speaking up.

Your MP isn't going to come and beat you up for writing to express your concerns!

How else are they supposed to know what their constituents think if constituents don't tell them?

I just contacted again. Was ignored the first time but we have a new mp now so.wish me luck

That's very frustrating. The thing that is so ludicrous is that you would expect the Conservatives to be ideologically opposed to self ID and the GRA. Apparently not. Good luck with the meeting Michelle