Posts Tagged ‘ge2010’
Labour Party Reply to Our Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
May 6th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, labour party, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
From Anneliese Dodds, Labour Party candidate for Reading East:
Date: 3 May 2010 11:30
Thank you for your email and my apologies for the delay in response.
I have long been concerned about the situation in Palestine, and helped organise a vigil last year to commemorate all those who had lost their lives in the Israeli attacks on Gaza, which of course demonstrated a horrendously disproportionate death toll between Palestinian and Israeli victims of the violence.
I think I probably on balance agree with all the points in the statement, definitely with 1-3 and number 6. I should however be open with you and let you know that I have not been a supporter of my own trade union’s approach to this issue (AUT/UCU), which has involved (in the past albeit not now) in trying to propagate a ban on the employment of Israeli staff in universities as a protest against the violence against and oppression of Palestine. In my experience many Israeli expats are the most vociferous opponents of their regime, and while bans on goods may be acceptable as a form of boycott, I am unwilling to see the prevention of free circulation of people who are often critics of the more hard-line elements within the Israeli regime.
Thank you again for raising this matter with me. Please, do not hesitate to contact me again should you ever wish to raise any other issues.
Best wishes,
Anneliese
Green Party Reply to Our Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
May 6th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, green party, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
From Rob White, Green Party candidate for Reading East and Park Ward
Date: 1 May 2010 19:14
Thanks for your e-mail. I am happy to signup to all of your pledges to end the injustice in Palestine.
For more information about the Green Party see our manifesto:
http://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies.html
If you would like to get involved with the Green Party elections campaign in Reading East — more decent affordable housing, tackling crime and antisocial behaviour and better public transport walking and cycling facilities — and Park Ward — at the last local elections we were just 20 votes from getting our first councillor in Reading — or if you would like to be added to our monthly e-mail newsletter please get in contact.
Fair is worth fighting for!
Best wishes
Rob WhiteGreen Party candidate for Reading East and Park Ward
http://www.readinggreenparty.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/robforeast
http://bloggyblanc.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/bobbyblanc
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/bobbyblanc
0118 9667183 or 0798 5923938
22 Cumberland Road, Reading, RG1 3LB.
Liberal Democrat Reply to Our Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
May 6th, 2010 • Awareness, News
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, liberal democrats, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
From Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat Party candidate for Reading East:
Date: 29 April 2010 10:24
Thank you for getting in touch with me on a subject that is close to my heart, and one on which I want to speak out in public if elected.
I am a founder member of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, and have worked closely with them to promote the Palestinian cause that is articulated more frequently by ourselves than by the other main parties.
I was privileged to be asked to speak at the Pakistan Community Centre in January 2009 during the Gaza crisis, I condemned without equivocation Israel’s murderous actions in Gaza at that time, as well as the blockade and the wider repression of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. I attended local Gaza vigils. I strongly supported Nick Clegg when he called for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement – the only political party leader to do so. I am a Patron of the Friends of Wadi Fuqeen (http://wadifuqeenfriends.com/) and support their fundraising activities locally.
In Reading Borough Council last year, I successfully moved an amendment to a motion on Gaza that makes explicit Reading’s support for the Palestinian cause, and condemns Israeli brutality and collective punishment towards the Occupied Territories. A report can be read at: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2043883_strong_emotions_on_gaza_conflict
I feel passionately that it is high time the Israeli Government was brought to book for its repeated breaches of international law. As Reading East’s MP I would stand up to the hysteria of sections of the pro-Israel lobby and point out that it is in the interests of friends of Israel, as well as friends of Palestine, to see peace and justice in the Occupied Territories. I want to see an international lead taken by a British Government that has been shamefully weak to end the illegal building of settlements, end the siege and end the occupation.
Sometimes issues are too important to be left to others, especially when it is necessary to stand up to bullies. This is one of them.
I wholeheartedly agree with all pledge commitments the and sign up to them.
I hope this helps – if you’re in any doubt about anything I have said or want to raise anything else with me, then please let me know.
Yours sincerely
Gareth Epps
Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Reading East
Printed by Parkglobe Consultants Limited, Avenue House, Chichester, West Sussex,
PO19 1ES. Published and promoted by Coling Lawley, 26 Farriers Close, Woodley RG5 3DD.Best wishes
Gareth Epps
Liberal Democrat councillor for Katesgrove wardPlease note that my phone number has changed – it is now 0118 327 8582.
Open Letter to Reading’s PPCs
April 29th, 2010 • Action, Awareness
Tags: election, ge2010, general election 2010, open letter, ppc, prospective parliamentary candidates, reading
Reading PSC has joined National PSC’s Make Palestine The Issue Campaign.
The letter below was sent to Reading’s prospective parliamentary candidates today.
Dear All,
This is an open letter to the PPCs in Reading.
I’m writing to you on behalf of Reading Palestine Solidarity Campaign. (http://readingpsc.org.uk).
We are a local group which is an affiliated branch of the National PSC which was founded in 1982.
The indigenous people of Palestine were dispossessed of their land more than 60 years ago to create the state of Israel. The land that was left to them – the West Bank and Gaza – was invaded by Israel in 1967 and has remained under a brutal and illegal occupation ever since. Justice for the Palestinian people is long overdue and, for many people in this country, including myself, it has become a key election issue.
I would like to know whether you would be prepared to stand up for the human rights of Palestinians, and lobby for pressure to be put on Israel to comply with international law, should you be elected to the next Parliament.
I also ask you to sign the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s six election pledges, below.
If elected to Parliament, I will:
- Call on Israel to end its violations of international law, including ending its illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza
- Oppose any attacks on universal jurisdiction and bring those responsible for Israeli war crimes to justice
- Work to end the siege on Gaza
- Call on the government to ban the import of settlement goods
- Call on the government to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement
- Call for an end to Britain’s arms trade with Israel
Please see the link below for a briefing which explains the points above in more detail:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/images/website/PSC Briefing 2010 General Election.pdf
We will be making this letter public on the Reading PSC website and any replies will also be posted onto the website.
I look forward to hearing from you in advance of the election date.
Kind Regards,
.
Sent to:
- Daisy Benson – Reading West (Lib Dem)
- Anneliese Dodds – Reading East (Lab)
- Gareth Epps – Reading East (Lib Dem)
- Naz Sarkar – Reading West (Lab)
- Alok Sharma – Reading West (Con)
- Rob Wilson – Reading East (Con)
- Rob White – Reading East (Green)
Reading PSC will be sending to the remaining candidates later this week.
We will be posting responses to this letter on our site as they arrive.
Please take this opportunity to send your own letter by email using the tool provided by PSC, just enter your post code:
GE2010: Make Palestine the Issue
April 21st, 2010 • Action, Awareness, Events, News
Tags: candidates, ge2010, general election 2010, lobby, MP, palestine, petition, PSC
PSC Petition Tool
Lobby Your Parliamentary Candidates
The issue of justice for the Palestinians has never been more urgent. 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza are now into their fourth year of living under a horrific and brutal siege. And Israel is continuing its illegal settlement building programme throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, further entrenching its illegal occupation.
It is vital that MPs in the next Parliament understand they have a responsibility to act to end Israel’s violations of international law.
Use our campaigning tool to contact your candidates and let them know the strength of public feeling for a just resolution for Palestine, and make them aware that this is a key election issue.
Ask them to show their support by signing up to PSC’s six election pledges:
Call on Israel to end its violations of international law, including ending its illegal occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza
Oppose any attacks on universal jurisdiction and support bringing those responsible for Israeli war crimes to justice
Work to end the siege on Gaza
Call on the government to ban the import of settlement goods
Call on the government to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement
Call for an end to Britain’s arms trade with Israel
It only takes a few minutes. Just click here to find out who your Parliamentary candidates are and you can start lobbying on behalf of the Palestinians.
Find out if your local candidates have signed the pledge below.
In solidarity,
Hugh Lanning
Chair, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
