This morning I emailed my MP, Craig Whittaker and asked him to read a new, independent report by the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement on Part 2 of the gagging law.

The Report says that the gagging bill:

“does not meet any of the tests of good regulation.”

It also makes a number of recommendations about how the Bill can be fixed.

After accepting the 38 Degrees petition against the gagging bill last Sunday, Craig Whittaker MP tweeted:

“I will look carefully to see whether there are any points that I have missed during the passage of the bill in the House Of Commons.”

Perhaps reading the new Report by the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement will help him to do that.

So, this is what I emailed our MP:

“I am unclear about what the government has done to consult during the “pause”, while it has delayed the passage of part 2 of the Lobbying Bill through the House of Lords.

But I do know that the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement has written a new report which includes recommendations on how to fix the Bill. It includes evidence from a number of charities and campaigning organisations. Please will you read it and let me know if you will support these recommendations?

You tweeted after you’d received the 38 Degrees petition against the Gagging Bill last Sunday (8th Dec), “I will look carefully to see whether there are any points that I have missed during the passage of the bill in the House Of Commons.” Perhaps reading new Report by the Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement will be useful as you carry out your own review of your decision to support the Gagging Bill.

You can read it here.”