I've just heard my MP speak in the debate. I disagree with him, I don't think he gave a good argument, buying into the idea rather than what is in front of him now.
I've been disappointed with his lack of response to my emails, and despite me being very active in another area, and pulling together information and supporting many of his constituents through an issue, he/ his office has fobbed me of and failed to provide updates.
I appear to have gone from one God awful toe the party line at any cost MP, to one who is refusing to engage with constituents in a meaningful way. I'm trying to be generous as he is still finding his feet, but find an automated message saying there are 400 emails a day disingenuous- hire more staff if needed. Until he gets a grip, we effectively have no voice. I have no idea if he had read my email, on today's issue, but he said nothing to reassure me that he had any understanding of my concerns.
I maintain that bringing this bill at this time with a vast number of inexperienced MPs is the wrong thing to do. It is a seismic shift in our society and should be given the respect that it deserves. They are giving lots of emotive examples, but this needs to be put to one side and the nuts and bolts of how this would work in practice, from the bill in front of them considered. This bill is not fit for purpose, I don't think it will help those at the very end who will be too weak to self administer, or those at the beginning for whom 6 months is a binary figure.
The bill allows for challenges to clauses which will smash the attempts at safeguarding, and leave it open to abuse.
The MPs talking about line by line scrutiny are ignoring that this is a members bill which doesn't allow for this. They seem to be showing a certain amount of naivety around parliamentary process, and sticking their fingers in their ears to block out the reminders. They show they are incapable of listening when they continue with this fiction. It is incredibly concerning.