News
Feedback on Lobby of Parliament
Friday 5 February 2010
On 3rd February, 2010, a large group of those infected and affected by contaminated blood and blood products made its way to Westminster. It only became truly apparent how large when we all tried to squeeze into the committee room that had been allocated to us. We did a rough head count and estimated that there were approximately 130 people there, including partners, friends and children. It was amazing that on such a damp, miserable day, people had travelled from as far away as Inverness and Devon in order to attend the meeting and lobby. It was an amazing spectacle!
Our Understanding of What Happens Next
We spoke to several MPs to make sure that we fully understood the various outcomes for the Bill on Friday. Essentially, because our Bill is so far down on the Order Paper (sixth), it is unlikely to get read. However, at 2.00 p.m., those Bills that have not been heard will be read out. If no-one objects then the Bill will go ahead to the Committee Stage ‘on the nod’. However, if anyone says: ‘Objection’ – whatever the grounds – then the Bill will not go ahead. It is possible that it may then go on a list for another Friday, but since there are, effectively, only six possible Fridays left, we have to accept that time is not on our side. However, we need to remember that, although our chances are not great, it is still possible for this Bill to be made law in this Parliament – and if it is not then we will fight on until it is.
The other option, of course, is that the Prime Minister can intervene and announce that the Government will invoke legislation anyway.
We would like to say that, as we left the Houses of Parliament, we did so with our heads held high, knowing that we had wide support, from all parties, for our just cause, and knowing that we were part of a group to be proud of.
Link to TaintedBlood's full account of the Lobby of Parliament (Amended version - Word doc with Pictures)
Article submitted by Sue Threakall & Andrew March