I didnt know Andrea levinson was a nappy valley poster under the guise of Papinian!
Joking aside, I'm not sure how his/hers offensive opinions are allowed to be posted on this forum. Its not a fear of healthy debate but cruel targeting of childless, gay, minority groups. Shame on you.
Anyway, back to the business of article 50. I know its going to happen but how it happens is extremely important. Feel free to cut and paste/adapt/edit the email I sent to Jane Ellison yesterday (email:
jane.ellison.mp@parliament.uk)
Dear Jane,
I along with over 75% of your constituents and 48% of voters in the country voted in favour of the UK remaining within the European Union. I also voted for you and the conservative party in the general election. Like many others (including many who voted leave) I have watched in dismay at the audacity of the 'bait-and-switch' being perpetrated by the extreme elements within the Conservative party intent on leveraging a marginal referendum victory into an extreme and isolationist re-casting of our approach to relations with our closest neighbours. It is appears increasingly clear that this small element is determined to force through their version of Brexit regardless of whether the country is supportive of the final deal (as evidenced by the hysterical reaction to even minor inconveniences such as the recent supreme court ruling). Given the narrow referendum margin, the widespread misinformation prior to the vote, and the enormous long term consequences of Brexit it is only reasonable that the final deal is ratified by both parliament and the British public.
In my view, the Article 50 bill as presented will allow the government to effectively rule by decree on the biggest issue facing Battersea and our country as a whole. This cannot be right. Implementation of the referendum result requires many trade-offs between different groups with competing priorities. When I voted for you in the general election, I was voting for you to stand up for the best interests of Battersea. This means, during the coming negotiations and compromises that will be required, I voted for you to be my voice in parliament representing my interests. This means it cannot be right that the government is given a “blank cheque” to make these trade-offs without further reference to you and your fellow MPs to present their views.
In recent days it has been encouraging to see an increasing number of your fellow MPs putting their principles ahead of party politics by saying that they will defy the party whip to vote against Article 50, or to table amendments which would allow for further scrutiny. I very much hope that in the upcoming vote you will represent the views of the majority of your constituents by voting against the motion, unless it is amended to ensure that the final deal is put to the public. Only a post-negotiation referendum will allow the public the full facts to assess whether the real consequences of Brexit is preferable to remaining within the EU.
I hope that in relation to the generation-defining issue you will consider the big picture and vote with your conscience to ensure that Britain is not steamrollered into a an extreme version of Brexit against the will of the majority of the British people.
