[Netnews-action] action: Parliament to vote re: war

[Manchester Campaigns]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: Kat Barton <Katb at quaker.org.uk>
To: peaceexchange at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [peaceexchange] Armed Forces Act - restrict the PM's power to
go to war
Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 15:29:31 +0100
Dear Friends,
Clare Short MP is sponsoring a Private Members Bill in Parliament to
restrict the Prime Minister's power to go to war. The Armed Forces
(Parliamentary Approval for Participation in Armed Conflict) Bill would
require as a matter of law parliamentary approval for the use of armed
forces, and the legal justification for this to be given to MPs before
they vote. 
This is an important bill which - if it reaches the statute books -
could prevent another Iraq. However, first of all, it needs your
support. 
The initial hurdle comes on Friday 21st October when the Bill has its
second reading. In order to ensure success on that day 100 MPs need to
vote (99 is not enough under parliamentary rules). Getting 100 MPs in
the House on a Friday is difficult - most return to their
constituencies. Hence this appeal for help - as it is pressure from
everywhere (especially constituents) that can persuade MPs to stay in
Westminster.

Here are 3 simple things you can do to help make this bill law:

	*	Write to your MP (at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA) as soon as
possible (before s/he gets booked up with constituency appointments)
saying that you want him/her to attend the House on Friday 21st October
and vote to ensure that the Armed Forces (Parliamentary Approval for
Armed Conflict) Bill gets a second reading and seeking an assurance to
this effect.

	*	At the same time please ask your MP to 'please sign Early Day Motion
No. 85 in support of the Bill', entitled 'Parliamentary Approval for
Participation in Armed Conflict' proposed by Neil Gerrard MP. Your MPs'
signature on this does at least show a commitment to the Bill - which
will be vital as the campaign progresses.

*	Forward this email to your friends and contacts, urging them to
support the bill.

In peace,

Kat Barton
Temporary Manager, Peace & Disarmament Programme (Britain)
Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London
NW1 2BJ
T: 020 7663 1067  F: 020 7663 1049  E: katb at quaker.org.uk
W: www.quaker.org.uk/qpsw and www.peaceexchange.org.uk