Has anyone had a positive response from their PPC?

[DrunkenUnicorn]

I sent my Lib Dem one a message last week, followed up today, asking if she’d had a chance to think about what I’d said.

I added that I was very disappointed with the Luciana interview this morning and the manifesto commitment to reform the GRC, and reminded her that according to a poll commissioned by YouGov/pink news only 18% of the population are happy with no checks or balances with self id.

This is what I got back:

Hi X

Thank you for you messages, I am glad you have taken the step to get in touch about your thoughts on this issue. I am a feminist and across my career have promoted women’s rights. I come from a working in a male-dominated finance environment and, in line with the party constitution, am working for a fair, free and open society for all.

This wish extends to the transgender community and in office I would support the manifesto pledge to reform the Gender Recognition Act. Here is a resource which I have found very insightful on this topic: www.stonewall.org.uk/truth-about-trans

Urgh... stonewall... banging my head against a stone wall!

I’m assuming she is trotting out the party line as last week she said there were a lot of questions and she’d have get back to me...

Has anyone got a link or can copy the email that I think tinsel put together? I haven't had chance to email local candidates but will today.

Not at all @Galvantula

I pinched it from the Labour women's declaration!

www.ipetitions.com/petition/labour-womens-declaration

The reply from my (male) Lib Dem candidate:
Thank you for raising this issue, which I will begin to answer by saying that I think the days when male politicians get to decide the rules over women’s bodies are over. So I am aware that my role is to firstly listen and not strike easy, simplistic postures.

If you have any expertise or information about this subject I would be glad to listen, in order to take account of people’s experiences and concerns.

I can say clearly that human rights are inviolable and worth defending against misinformation and ignorance- and that applies to both women's rights and trans rights, which are human rights at heart if they are to be respected as having real consequence.

I concur with the words Jo Swinson used earlier this year, when she said: “I can’t pretend to understand the experience of questioning one’s own identity, nor do I face the same potential risks or dangers when I speak up about these issues. But that doesn’t take away my passionate belief that trans rights are human rights. I’m a feminist, and I hate hearing that I’m not allowed to believe both in women’s rights and the rights of trans women.”

@RoyalCorgi

i'm skeptical of there will be enough time for waking up pp in case of labour gov.

until now what we saw -what's happening now- is the answer for that.
they don't care of opposition of pp.
just don't care.
cause they don't believe free speech. it's just hate speech for them.

so now, labour libdem are not even in the gov, pp are scared to speak, dangerous change are going under radar, gender ideology in school and medical field...

i don't think there will be chances.

and pp not happy with all this are largely conservatives so....
i'm skeptical.

My fear is that the Tories will not get a majority and the LibDems will end up as kingmakers again, demanding GRA reform as part of the deal. I can well see the Tories agreeing to this to put an end to what has become a bit of a thorn in their side, while blaming the LibDems for the inevitable outcome.

I never thought that I would find myself worrying about the Tories not getting a majority, but here we are.

The Lib Dems seem the worst possible party on this issue. I think any woman would be mad to vote LD unless she has an unusually GC PPC

Just thought I’d add an update. I received an email from the conservative ppc today.

@DrunkenUnicorn would you mind if I downloaded that image to email to my Conservative PPC? I am still awaiting a reply from mine but perhaps seeing that from another Tory might spur him into action.

That is the most thoughtful and intelligent response I have seen so far.

Seems like a genuine and straightforward answer. It's good that you've made him think about points he hasn't even yet considered (even if they are blindingly obvious to anyone who's been paying attention).

Unfortunately I realised just after emailing, that due to boundary lines where you wouldn’t quite expect I’m actually just on the other side of the border so mr penning isn’t my PPC.

However, I am pleased that I’m not the only one who’s contacted him about this and that I was able to raise points he hadn’t considered (I asked him to think about data collection both in terms of crime rates and health amongst others, that if the data was useless because ‘woman’ was meaningless how does the government suppose to use the data to make policy and plan)

My parents live in a different constituency from myself and have also written to their PPCs. They have only heard back from the Greens. I was surprised with the response, as I thought it would be similar to the Lib Dem views- no discussion necessary TWAW!!

He said that yes the greens are in favour of improving rights for trans people, however ‘how I voted on any change in the law would depend on the exact wording of that law and any regulations brought in around it. Green MPs would not be whipped so we would be free to make up our own minds on every issue.

‘The basis of our freedoms is that we should be allowed to do what we want so long as in doing so we don’t impinge on the freedoms of others. This I think is where some of the debate around trans rights is getting into difficulty. We need to find a way to treat everyone equally and allow each of us to express ourselves and enjoy our human rights. We need to help everyone get their heads around the relatively new idea that biological sex is binary but gender is not. I don’t have more definitive answers at the moment, but I am interested in the debate.’

@YourOpinionIsNoted yes of course.

If you send me a pm with your email address then I’m happy to forward you the pdf he sent without the redacted bits?

My v polite msg has been read and blanked by two of mine on FB last week...

Disappointing.

Have PM'd you, @DrunkenUnicorn

I posted this on another thread, but this is the response I had from our Lib Dem candidate, who I actually know as an acquaintance:

Thanks for getting in touch on this. This is not an issue I have had to deal with before, so I am reading both sides of the argument before forming a firm view on your specific question. If you had any articles about it that would help please let me know.
I am very much in favour of women’s rights as well as LGBT rights and wish to form an informed view on this subject.

I've pointed him at the Jenni Russell article in the Times as a starter.

My answer is in- the Labour candidate in our Tory safe seat is G.C. and no mistake. I will be voting Labour as a direct result.

Here's mine - interestingly not quite toeing the party line:

Thank you for your email and getting in touch about women's needs.

I work for a charity that supports victims of stalking, the majority of whom are women, and see every day the need for legislation and training that recognises the specific needs of women, especially when it comes to violence and abuse.

When it comes to single sex spaces, I believe we as a society are evolving and beginning to recognise that a person's identity may not be black and white and that we need to create room for everyone to feel safe and accepted. Clearly our legislation needs to catch up and, were I to be elected, I would be looking to find the balance to support all people to be able to live their life, safe and free from interference.

I'm in Richmond so VERY marginal Con / Lib Dem. Despite that, Lib Dem not yet replied. got this from Con:
I am concerned about the implications of previous proposals around self-id. I worry about the consequences for sport, prisons and indeed at a very basic level in relation to the ability of women to feel safe in women-only environments. So before making any changes, I would want to critically examine the issue.
Best wishes,
Zac

bagelbaby that is just waffle that reads very much pro self id to me.

refusetobeasheep I like that response.

I have had very positive feedback from both my labour (female) & conservative (male incumbent) ppc’s when I’ve queried their stance on the GRA which is encouraging. The labour candidate is meeting with a group of women to discuss their concerns. We’re quite a safe Tory seat but at least I shall feel positive that whichever candidate gets in they understand the issues.