Wednesday 21 December 2011

Time to Choose

Good news!!! We hit the target for the research fund!! Yep, It's finally back up and running and has surpassed the £2,000 target!! Wonderful news and quite thrilling.

The research I'm co-ordinating  is very nearly finished, printers are booked, envelope stuffers recruited, designers designing, researchers burrowing, PR team talking themselves hoarse, briefers briefing, analysts analysing and we have pledges from over 150 different constituencies to personally email a copy of the research to their MP on the release date. If you would like to volunteer as "constituency rep" just leave a comment below leaving a name and constituency. All you have to do is email your MP a copy of the research on a certain date at a certain time (to be confirmed) with a covering letter asking them as a constituent to please read it and respond. (Template letter will be provided.)
You can email me on suey2yblog@hotmail.co.uk

The response has been overwhelming, and I'm confident we can put together a very comprehensive media response. Again if you would like to volunteer to speak to journalists or make phone calls, leave your name below. Again, email me on suey2yblog@hotmail.co.uk

If you live in Sussex, you can volunteer with the envelope stuffing or addressing. (7th & 8th Jan)

If you have a courier firm you can save us some money ;)

If you have design or print experience, please get in touch.

And between now and the next debate of the welfare reform bill in the Lords, (11th Jan) RT everything on twitter, post everything to Facebook and ask people to share. Make as much noise as you possibly can. Keep the emails and letters going to Lib Dem Peers and Crossbenchers https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment?ui=2&ik=51bddf73de&view=att&th=13457243d7d0b796&attid=0.1.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P_lB1l0iRUbrf4HvArsAsO7&sadet=1324469485508&sads=djEAXwKC_ZZYhnL-0f5GmnwyhHg 
http://www.libdems.org.uk/peers.aspx

So this is my question. Would you like me to let the research fund run and use the money to maximising the impact of  the research, or shall I stick to the original target?

With more funds we can mail out more copies, make more phone calls (at the moment I'm just using three of my own phones!!) and basically pay for some of the things we would otherwise have to do ourselves, ie driving things to London, sending people to meetings etc.

I will post a full breakdown of accounts once the report has been released so that you can see where all the money went.

At the same time, some may feel that a target is a target and it is unfair to move the goalposts. Please feel free to give an honest opinion.

Please tell me what you think below.

Sue

92 comments:

  1. I would say let it run, use it to further our cause and maybe take some of the financial strain, it helps some of us to feel involved when we can't be physically.

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  2. I am more than happy for you to use the funds for whatever you need, I thought for a long time that you personaly run up expenses on our behalf even like you say running phones all adds up. When you go out and attend conferences etc it does all add up, I am so greatful that you are doing this the least I can do is send the odd tenner to support you doing this. Not everyone can do what you do but most of us can contribute something smaller to the fight fund. I trust your judgement to spend it wisely!

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  3. a) Volunteering as a constituency rep and whatever else needs doing (I'm in London though) My names Charley(belfire86 on twitter) and the constituency is Dulwich and West Norwood (so Tessa Jowell MP)

    b)use the surplus to do whatever can be done to stop this happening. Say, as you have, you've met the basic target but the more you have the more that can be done so if people wish to keep donating they're more than welcome to.

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  4. I agree with the first poster penny let it run and and go for it girl. whatever you want to do is fine by me

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  5. let it run, hidden costs always crop up, and you can make a bigger impact then :)

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  6. Let it run, if your laptop dies then we are in the do do! Hope it takes some burden out of the day to day expenses of the project knowing you can buy the tools you need to do it for all of us.

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  7. Happy to be a 'constituency rep'. My constituency is Wakefield, my MP is Mary Creagh.

    And I'd suggest letting the research fund run on: people are still coming across your posts thanks to the Twitter storm of the other day and I think they'll still want to help any way they can for some time.

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  8. Sue, I moonlight as a freelance designer and I know a good affordable printer. I might be able to help out with that side of things, but I have limited time available. Can you give me an idea of the scale of the job?

    Cheers

    Liam

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  9. Keep it going. You're going to need all the help you can get. The opposition are not short of funds.

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  10. Just to be very clear, I would NOT use any of the money for personal costs. However, I would put it towards printer ink, travel expenses to get people to London and phone costs. Paper, stamps and possibly an extra courier too.

    Only if something is directly a result of the research would I authorise any money to be used.

    The trust you all show is overwhelming. I can only promise I would never betray it.

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  11. will be a constituency rep. Riven Vincent in 'Filton and Bradley Stoke' Jack lopresti MP (cons)

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  12. My constituency is Torbay and I have Adrian Sanders MP

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  13. Personally I think that if more funding means you can do more then why stop?

    Given that I live in Sussex, I'd love to come and help stuff envelopes on the 7th and 8th - as a political activist I already have a lot of practice at this!

    Keep up the amazing work :)

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  14. I would say a backup laptop/computer is NOT a personal expense

    Double Karma

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  15. Also, if it's any help, I'd be willing to be the constituency rep for Amber Rudd MP (Hastings and Rye).

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  16. Sue, Definitely keep it going. There are many of us who are not up to campaigning hard or going on protest marches, (oh, I wish)so this is a way we can feel we can do something to help those who are.

    Maybe it will get support from the public once they realise they have been lied to and conned about benefit fraud, for ideological reasons. People don't like politicians taking them for idiots.

    The rest of us can contribute - even a £1.00 from everyone affected adds up to .. well, a lot!

    With £25 billion in uncollected tax, from major companies, I think we need a fighting fund to tell the public and politicians the truth.

    After hearing Grayling on "Can You Touch Your Toes?" Radio 4 last night, I nearly threw up. According to him everything is fine with the Atos assessments. Harrington said it was. And they had put all his recommendations in place before the roll out started. Since this is provably untrue, it is not defamation to say that some may call him a liar (allegedly!)

    If journalists at the BBC do not know when they are being fed manure - someone needs to tell them. And I certainly question thier "choice" of cases to follow. (Why didn't they interview someone with M.E so severe they can't even get to a medical - yet many are being forced to attend under threat anyway.)

    If, by chance, any surplus accrues, personally I would be happy for it to go to a homeless charity - as that is where a lot of us will be if all this goes through.

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  17. Keep it going. Lets spread the word as far as possible. If you want any press releases publicised, give me a Tweet.

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  18. Double Karma - It's funny you mention a laptop, mine has been so overworked the internal battery has died. I have to have it physically plugged in if I want to use it and it keeps warning me of impending doom. Perhaps getting it fixed over Xmas wouldn't be such a terrible idea, lol

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  19. Surpassing targets has a proud history ;) just make sure that all of it gets used for what it was given for, otherwise there's potential legal peril...

    I already told you on Twitter that I could mail stuff as a constituent for Lancaster and Fleetwood, but saying it here as well. If you want people who know something on the topic and are prepared to speak on the record, put me down for that as well.

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  20. I am happy to be a constituency rep. I live in Southend West. My contact details are here - http://warelane.wordpress.com/contact-me/

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  21. Oh the weather outside is frightful,
    But the work is so insightful,
    And since its already begun,
    Let It Run! Let It Run! Let It Run!

    As it doesn't show signs of stopping,
    We can pay a courier for dropping,
    'cos it needs to quickly done,
    Let It Run! Let It Run! Let It Run!

    When we finally face our plight,
    How we'll hate going out in the storm!
    But if everyone hold real tight,
    All the way home we'll be warm.

    Their fire could be slowly dying,
    And, my dear, we're all still trying,
    So as long as things must be done,
    Let It Run! Let It Run! Let It Run!

    xxxxxx

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  22. I'm happy to be the rep for New Forest West, Desmond Swayne MP (Con).

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. Let me know exactly what you want Sue, I'm disability officer for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Constituency Labour Party, Gordons Browns seat, I'd be happy to help. I'm also the Labour candidate for Cowdenbeath at next Mays elections. So i'll do what I can.

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  25. Let me know what to do. I have no problems poking Mark Williams MP one more time in Ceredigion if you need me to ^_^ just let me know what to send and when and I shall do it.

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  26. Fiona!!! that's so brilliant I completely love it.

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  27. By the way, I just can't reply to all the offers of help, I'm sorry, it makes me feel very rude, but rest assured, I am taking notes of all your responses - here and on twitter and WILL be in touch as and when more details are available. xx

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  28. I'm available for Congleton constituency.

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  29. Keep it going. Mail sent with details with constituency details.

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  30. Please fix that laptop soonest, Sue, and I presume you are backing up your research on an external drive as well - (don't be offended that I mention it!)

    I'll mail to Peter Lilley, Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden.

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  31. Barbara Keeley Labour MP for Worsley and Eccles south. I can contact her. My email is suzukik22002@yahoo.co.uk

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  32. I'll gladly help, although Peter Luff is probably fed up with me by now! I'm in Mid Worcestershire.

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  33. Happy to be constituency rep for Edinburgh Central, I've already been corresponding with Sheila Gilmore MP (Lab) who has been excellent and asked some very pointed questions of the WRA as it went through the commons.

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  34. Yes please Sue, you must keep the fund going there is so much relevant work yet to be done as in say the below. If in any doubt please do further research. In fact had this already been done I believe we would not be in this position we are now.
    Are all those in power over others (especially the vulnerable) subject to physiological testing? If not this should be mandatory and sooner rather than later. Those that are found to be mentally ill must be removed from these positions. If they are tested where may I find this information as to what tests are performed and result?
    This is a serious and relevant question as it is well known psychopaths and narcissists are attracted in disproportionate numbers to the weak and vulnerable and exploit and abuse them and they are intelligent and experts at this and at fooling normal uninformed people with their glib charm. They are found in every profession over others from the very top down. It would explain the relentless sadistic and complete lack of empathy and compassion directed towards the sick and disabled and the elderly (if that term is not too PC) emanating from these individuals. Physiological tests and brain scans detecting actual physical brain abnormalities can now accurately diagnose these conditions so no valid reason not to. How does one go about getting these people tested to avoid further abuse to the sick and disabled?

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  35. Happy to rep for my MP he is Elfyn Llwyd, Dwyfor Merionydd. He is sympathetic to the plight of benefit claimants.

    andrewpatrick48@yahoo.co.uk

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  36. Well, that seems fairly conclusive, so I'll go in and raise the limit and link to this post explaining why. Keep the help offers coming!

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  37. I agree with keeping the fund going, costs have a habit of increasing and I am willing to contribute small amounts regulary to the 'fight' in lieu of physical ability to attend protests etc etc.

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  38. I will act as Rep for Truro and Falmouth Sue,the MP is Sarah Newton, Con.

    Finn

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  39. I am happy to act as a constituency rep, my MP is Iain Duncan Smith MP (Chingford and Woodford Green)

    Twitter: @MrCFS

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  40. Happy to email to Emily Thornberry & Jeremy Corbyn Islington South & North respectively, and will take on Frank Dobson in Camden if no one else does.

    And yes please, please, keep going with the donation fund. There might even be enough eventually for a newspaper ad.

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  41. Will be a constituency rep for Manchester Gorton (Gerald Kaufman, Lab).

    Terrific work, Sue - well done!

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  42. will happily contact my Mp Mike Gapes Ilford South.

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  43. Sue I will b a constituence rep for uddingston & bellshill p constituencie in north Lanarkshire Scotland if u wish?

    Martin Farrell @greeneyedlad

    Xx

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  44. Great work Sue
    Always happy to help
    My constituency rep is Richard Burden (lab Northfield Bham)
    And i would be more than happy to act

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  45. Hi Sue, @pennyessex, constituency is Harlow, Essex. Robert Halfon MP

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  46. Happy to assist in Edinburgh West (as is, at the moment. The boundaries change in 2015), which is Mike Crockart's (Lib Dem) seat.

    Mike has previously shown support for the 'middle to left wing' of the Lib Dem Party. By resigning as Junior Minister when in The Scotland Office, over the issue of Scottish elected MP's voting on tuition fees, for English students, only.

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  47. Keep up the good work Sue,
    I still have a sneaky suspicion that using a lobbying service like business do would go a long way to getting the message across.
    8 million disabled people giving @ £1.00 each would be a fund to reckon with.

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  48. Donated and would like to be the constituency rep for St Helens North Dave Watts MP and if no one responds I'll take St Helens South Shaun Woodward MP.

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  49. Happy to volunteer for Enfield North whose current incumbent after sneaky boundary changes is Nick de Bois.

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  50. Oh, my addy is this username @gmail.com

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  51. I live in the South west Cornwall constintuency area and my MP is Andrew George (Libdems).

    Looking at his website on Nov 10th 2011 he supported the early day motion 2416 regarding Atos Healthcare. The motion calls the government to press ahead with reforms that will abolish the Atos Healthcare assessments. So he may actually be supportive of our plight.

    I will private email you my email details as I do not want to give it out for the world to see. I am so pleased everything has gone so well and is gathering increasing support. Its about time we started to some light at the end of our long tunnels.

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  52. I'd like to rep for Hertsmere, which is James Clappison's seat (Con). I'm @MargoJMilne on Twitter.

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  53. Will volunteer for Gordon Henderson Sittingbourne and Sheppey (con)

    Will email you my email address I'm @mistynow on twitter

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  54. Sue, I'll rep for Kingswood constituency, Chris Skidmore (Con) who upon election promised to continue the work of the previous MP - a champion of the cause of the disabled - but has in fact done sod all. Will mobilise ex-MP too.

    How do I pass my private email to you?

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  55. Hi. I'd like to volunteer for constituency rep for Nottingham East, my MP is Chris Leslie. I've not long joined twitter so have only recently been made aware of your sterling work but happy to do all I can - I'm @sarahjmartin82. How do I get my email address to you?

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  56. I'll be a constituency emailer/poster outer for Nuneaton if you don't already have one :)

    Oh and I say let the fund run :)

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  57. I am more than happy to mail Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes mp lab) shona.steven@hotmail.com

    Shona
    x x x

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  58. Keep the fund going sue and use it for whatever you need to use it for.I put some in already but i am more than happy to keep doing so as its not only dla at risk(and i dont recieve that)but all benefits and the lives of the recipients.Is there a list of constituencys that still need people to post the work of and what about if some people wanted to do it but are scared to put thier names to it in case it triggers something off at the dwp hive could they do it anonymous?Just a thought.
    I did like that idea of 8 million sick/disabled putting a quid in each and using a lobby firm too.That would be good but i doubt if that would ever happen but the same thing could get SoliDarity off the ground and why not.We could even then pay you and people like you a proper wage to do what you are doing .Something for us all to think about over christmas.And on that note i hope you and your family have a great one...

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  59. Just read your post about your computer.Why not use some of the continuing fund to go out and buy another one now as i am sure you need it and lets face it we need it.After all thats what this fund is for.Dont be shy....the bloody govt sure aint...

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  60. Thank you for taking on Fame Sue.

    I think the way through the issue is first to form a political gang then to fund it.

    Then you proceed on points of Law.

    Some money will be on the way from me to you fresh in the New Year.

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  61. How about a PO Box number for snail mail donations?

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  62. I could do Lewes Constituency and could help with envelope stuffing.

    Syzygysuex

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  63. I'm up for the rep for Leicester East - Liz Kendal MP and I'm volunteering my daughter for Leicester East - Keith Vaz MP; I'm also happy to speak to any journalists and bombard my local media.

    As for the funds, do what ever you need to do - how can we keep the pot growing by the way?

    jaynelinney@btinternet.com

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  64. I can do Bristol West (Stephen Williams MP, Lib Dem) and I've got friends who could do Bristol East (the lovely Kerry McCarthy MP, Labour). I reckon my mum - whose just been found 'fit to work' despite having a significant disability - would do West Worcestershire (Harriet Baldwin).

    lvs202@exeter.ac.uk

    Will stick a copy on the blog as well. Look forward to reading it.

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  65. Hi, I'm happy to help as constituency rep for Kilmarnock & Loudon, Cathy Jamieson (Labour) is the MP.

    HBrown2603@aol.com

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  66. A legal fund at some point may have to be set up by the sick and disabled to restore the human right legalities that this government will have removed from many

    If one million of all those who were sick or disabled were to contribute to it just £5 per month £5 MILLION POUNDS PER YEAR that would allow all legal channels to be addressed long term and restore all of the legal human rights for the citizens of the uk

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  67. Correction to my post above it will raise £60 million pounds per year enough for the very finest team of EU lawyers

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  68. Back in The Day when my family was going through the civil rights' protests, they set up a bail fund for people who were arrested, as well as to hire lawyers. While this seems extreme and possibly more than you want to handle, Sue, I'd consider letting the fund run and look into getting someone to act as treasurer and keep an eye on funds.

    I'm sorry I can't volunteer for much this turn round, I have five battles all at once going on and home, but I will contribute monetarily at the very least

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  69. I know this firm of lawyers
    http://www.withersworldwide.com/offices/london/about
    which may be a good starting point and also the the bank of England lawyers
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    http://www.freshfields.com/
    which may be a good starting point
    as i have said before we do not have any DWP speciality lawyers in the uk so it will take some time to track down a firm of lawyers that will be applicable to our needs that would be able to represent us for a successful outcome if we were to go down this route

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  70. Actually there is one, and it's a charity, I linked it here before. http://www.dls.org.uk/

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  71. I would like to do Leicester east, (Keith Vas, labour MP). nicki.linney@btinternet.com

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  72. We are happy to contact our MP Sir Alan Haselhurst,Saffron Walden. Will send you our email address.

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  73. Hi Sue,
    I'm happy to email our Labour MP in Rother Valley, Keith Barron.

    I'm @cardedfolderol on Twitter, and I'll send you my email address.

    Thanks so much for all you're doing for all of us. You are an amazing inspiration to everybody X

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  74. If you've got the cash, it might be a good idea to send copies of the research to MSPs, as a way of saying "this is why you were right to vote against the WRB [unless you didn't in which case this is why you were wrong]". Politicians don't get a thank you very often (for obvious reasons) so I think that could have impact.

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  75. OVERWHELMED BY THE RESPONSE EVERYONE. PLEASE DO KEEP VOLUNTEERING FOR CONSTITUENCY REPS WE ARE KEEPING A NOTE OF EVERYONE AND WILL BE IN TOUCH NEARER THE TIME.

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  76. I do Ealing, Southall — Virendra Sharma (Labour)
    @erika248

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  77. Hi there. I'm in Blaenau Gwent. Drop me a line on, nikmorris@ymail.com

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  78. I'm right next to Edward Davey's constituency office in Kingston and not working at the moment, so I can be a constituency rep. I've been trying to decipher his voting record, and it appears that he just votes the party line on anything that isn't a directly local affair - so he may not be a particularly useful candidate.

    I feel that the research money could fairly be used to cover other people to do the things you won't have time for because you're fighting for your DLA to be reinstated.

    #Volunteer info:
    constituency - "Kingston and Surbiton"
    name - Jane Nicholson

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  79. Hi I could do Mid Derbyshire - Pauline Latham, Conservative - will send you my email address. Merry Christmas everyone, Chris

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  80. If no one has already offered-Natascha Engel,North East Derbyshire (I have already contacted her on previous matters)

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  81. I can do Workington (North west Cumbria) Tony Cunningham, Labour. We are in regular contact.
    Hossylass@gmail.com.

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  82. (nessthehat)
    Hi Sue, in case you missed it in the twitterstorm I'm happy to rep for HULL EAST, MP Karl Turner, Lab.
    If you're stuck for Hull West and Hull North I'll see what I can do.
    As long as there's a fight we need a fighting fund so I'm pleased its continuing.
    Cheers, Ness.

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  83. Volunteer for West Hove (Mike Weatherly, Con), here. Will email my addy. Homebound, so can't envelope stuff... or can I?

    Jane

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  84. Hi Sue

    If there isn't a name in the hat for Cambridge City (Julian Huppert, Lib), I'll happily cover here. He should be used to receiving letters on this topic from me by now.

    Email is semilah( at ) gmail.com

    Cheers, CC.

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  85. Hi thare
    I could do Mancester Central
    suzi_dickson@hotmail.com

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  86. Hi Sue
    I'll do Fylde - cant remember who our chinless Tory wonder is now but will send to the right person!

    Sueleeok@gmail.com

    Hope you're looking after yourself at least some of the time...

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  87. I can be a constituency rep for the City of Durham, but I'll only be living there until early June. Is that ok?

    E-mail is thevoiceofburningbush [at] hotmail [dot] com.

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  88. I could be a constituency rep for the Meon Valley (George Hollingbery (Con)).

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  89. I can cover Cynon Valley, Anne Clwyd (Labour).

    Keep up the great work Sue. When I read your account of your treatment re: DLA I was horrified. I got my renewal pack for DLA and forms from ATOS (add suitable extension of word) on Christmas Eve!!!

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  90. Hi I'm in Bolton West (Labour) constituency and would love to help. perfectlydaft@gmail.com
    I'm really glad to have found your site as obviously I've been worried the cuts but didn't know how to help fight them. Keep going your amazing.

    Natalie
    Chronic Pain Disorder, Scheuermann's Disease, hypermobility syndrome, postural hypotension, scoliosis, Dyslexia.

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  91. Our tyre making machines resonate with the efficiency of our production services

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