AIBU to think that this is just disgusting.

[ModreB]

opting out of anti sex traffick laws and that the Government should be ashamed of themselves.

YANBU. That is absolutely disgraceful.

Govt says: "Human trafficking is a brutal form of organised crime and combating it is a key priority for the Government," she said.

"The UK already complies with most of what is required by the draft EU directive. The government will review the UK's position once the directive has been agreed, and will continue to work constructively with European partners on matters of mutual interest.

"By not opting in now but reviewing our position when the directive is agreed, we can choose to benefit from being part of a directive that is helpful, but avoid being bound by measures that are against our interests."

Which part of 'stopping sex trafficking' is against our interests?

My gut says that is disgusting, but it isn't possible to know the full picture from that article. Would it increase the burden of red tape on businesses (for example) that the govt has committed to reducing? I can't see why they would opt out of something like this just to pander to anti EU feeling.

exactly diamondback. I bloody hate the Tories.

So everybody contact your local MPs and/or your local Tory and LibDem representatives and demand answers - why have we opted out? What possible benefit could there be? How can this be justified?

If there's no reasonable explanation, then the 'number10.gov' website has an e-petitions section where we can create our own petition and campaign for people to sign it:

petitions.number10.gov.uk/list

I have emailed my MP - he is a conservative so hopefully will talk about it in the Commons and get back to me

Have the tories got into this now then? They used to be all into arms selling...

Use this to fax a letter directly to your MP, MEP or other representatives. I have had great success with this.

oops this should work

What benefits could possibly outweigh the cost of not opting in? I can't believe the LibDems have agreed to this, although not surprised about the Tories - just shows the 'coalition' up for what it really is.

Disgusting - yes, surprising - no!

What do you expect from a Tory government. Of course it won't opt in on something like this. It won't benefit the rich fat cats in any way so why would they opt in to something that would actually help people. Especially vulnerable people. God I absolutely hate and detest the Tories.

I've written to my MP - thanks for the link, Katey1010 it was great. You just stick your postcode in and it tells you who your local MP is and gives you a form to write your letter and they send it to him/her.

I don't understand what you are all complaining about. Genuinely. The article says that the UK already complies with most of it, and will review the situation when the directive is agreed.

What more do you want? Are they supposed to just blindly sign up to something that could be changed before it's finalised? They must have a reason for waiting.

Am I missing something here?

Curlymama I didn't just write to my MP demanding we sign up straight away, but I did ask him to clarify:

• why signing up was not in the UK's interests;
• what benefit could there be to not signing up?

I think the main perceived problem is that combating sex trafficking across borders is likely to be more effective than the UK working independently, and also that our reasons for not signing up have not been sufficiently explained. It was only annouced that 'the situation would be reviewed' after protests were registered.

Bandwagon campaigning - you gotta love it!

To the person that asks what part of stopping sex-trafficking is against our interests? There is such a thing as a balance between preventing crimes and allowing us to retain our freedoms.

Making everyone account for their movements 24hrs a day would probably help reduce all sorts of crimes but it would be judged an excssive response by most people.

I don't know the details of the directive itself but I suspect it might be a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

But that's why I've asked my MP for clarification, not a kneejerk 'sign now!' response. Because I would genuinely like to hear the explanation of how this directive is against UK interests. And if it's a good explanation, I'll accept it.

I'm not assuming that the opt-out is definitely a bad idea, BarmyArmy but you do appear to assume that the directive would 'make everyone account for their movements 24 hrs a day'. even though you 'don't know the details of the directive'.

I haven't jumped on any bandwagon. But I have asked for the details, because I won't be making any assumptions or registering any protest until i'm properly informed. That's not 'bandwagon campaigning'. It's actively taking part in the democratic process.

Barmy - I wish sex trafficking was of nut proportions, it will take more than a sledge hammer to crack this world wide, highly organized trade and no government can expect to make any inroads working in isolation.