Below is the text of an email I have just sent to all Lib Dem back-benchers, and copied to their front-bench. I have included the email list at the bottom in case anyone would like to do something similar (I also have it in a more user-friendly form on a spreadsheet so just drop me a line if you would like a copy.)
All the best,
Dear XXXXXX MP,
I am writing to you and all other Liberal Democrats MPs urging you to oppose the coalition’s spending plans. If you are already planning to do so may I congratulate your judgement and integrity, and apologise for disturbing you.
If on the other hand you plan to support this policy I would like you to consider the following points before you vote:
1. Supporting this policy is betraying those who voted for you. Very few would have done so if they had known you would support such cuts. Certainly, any disillusioned Labour supporters who voted for you did so under the impression that your party had shifted to the left of Labour. Aside from the anti-democratic nature of this turn-around, you can be sure they will never vote for you again.
2. This policy is premised on a lie. The reason the country is in debt is not because of welfare spending but because of bailing out the banks. Free-market capitalism created this crisis, not local government.
3. This policy is rooted in ideology, not necessity. Anyone who has read Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine will know the true motives. Time and again economic crises such as this have been seized upon by the monetarist right as an opportunity to attack social gains and bolster corporate profit and power. As a self-proclaimed liberal you may have some sympathy with the idea of a minimised state, but you would be gravely mistaken if you think that individual freedom will be enhanced by these cuts. The real goal here is corporate, not human, liberty.
4. There is an alternative to this policy. In fact there are plenty. Cancelling Trident would go a large way towards writing off our debt – something you were voted into office to secure. In addition there are a mass of corporate tax-breaks and tax-dodges that could cover the shortfall, should a government have the desire and the courage to address them. And what about the bankers who precipitated the crisis?
I’m assured by my acquaintances that it will be futile to write to Liberal Democrat MPs as they will have already been seduced by power. But you must question the worth of this ‘power’. If the Conservatives had won a few more votes they would be merrily pushing through the exact same package without your assistance. It is transparently obvious that Liberal Democratic input into this policy is little more than window-dressing.
Nevertheless, you are in a unique position to exert power if you dare. You can truly make history and represent the democratic wishes of those who voted for you. By voting against this madness you can floor this beast before it ravages our country, and drags us back to the fear and uncertainty of the 1930s.
If you have any questions or take issue with any of the above points I will be happy to respond.
Sincere best wishes,
Martin Johnson
Brighton
Danny Alexander, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, 2005–present alexanderdg@parliament.uk
Norman Baker, Lewes, 1997–present bakern@parliament.uk
Alan James Beith, Berwick-upon-Tweed, 1988–present 1 cheesemang@parliament.uk
Gordon Birtwistle, Burnley, 2010–present gordon.birtwistle.mp@parliament.uk
Tom Brake, Carshalton and Wallington, 1997–present braket@parliament.uk
Annette Brooke, Mid Dorset and North Poole, 2001–present brookea@parliament.uk
Jeremy Browne, Taunton Deane, 2005–present brownej@parliament.uk
Malcolm Bruce, Gordon, 1988–present 1 hernandeza@parliament.uk
Paul Burstow, Sutton and Cheam, 1997–present burstowp@parliament.uk
Lorely Burt, Solihull, 2005–present burtl@parliament.uk
Vincent Cable, Twickenham, 1997–present cablev@parliament.uk
Menzies Campbell, North East Fife, 1988–present 1 westminster_office@mingcampbell.org.uk
Alistair Carmichael, Orkney and Shetland, 2001–present carmichaela@parliament.uk
Nick Clegg, Sheffield Hallam, 2005–present nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk
Mike Crockart, Edinburgh West, 2010–present mike.crockart.mp@parliament.uk
Edward Davey, Kingston and Surbiton, 1997–present daveye@parliament.uk
Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale, 2005–present farront@parliament.uk
Lynne Featherstone, Hornsey and Wood Green, 2005–present featherstonel@parliament.uk
Don Foster, Bath, 1992–present fosterd@parliament.uk
Andrew George, St Ives, 1997–present hardyb@parliament.uk
Steve Gilbert, St Austell and Newquay, 2010–present stephen.gilbert.mp@parliament.uk
Duncan Hames, Chippenham, 2010–present duncan.hames.mp@parliament.uk
Mike Hancock, Portsmouth South, 1997–present hancockm@parliament.uk
Nick Harvey, North Devon, 1992–present allenmt@parliament.uk
David Heath, Somerton and Frome, 1997–present davidheath@davidheath.co.uk
John Hemming, Birmingham Yardley, 2005–present hemmingj@parliament.uk
Martin Horwood, Cheltenham, 2005–present horwoodm@parliament.uk
Simon Hughes, North Southwark and Bermondsey, 1997–present 1 simon@simonhughes.org.uk
Chris Huhne, Eastleigh, 2005–present chris@chrishuhne.org.uk
Julian Huppert, Cambridge, 2010–present julian.huppert.mp@parliament.uk
Mark Hunter, Cheadle, 2005–present hunterm@parliament.uk
Charles Kennedy, Ross, Skye and Lochaber, 2005–present 2 kennedyc@parliament.uk
Norman Lamb, North Norfolk, 2001–present lambn@parliament.uk
David Laws, Yeovil, 2001–present lawsd@parliament.uk
John Leech, Manchester Withington, 2005–present leechj@parliament.uk
Stephen Lloyd, Eastbourne, 2010–present stephen.lloyd.mp@parliament.uk
Michael Moore, Roxburgh and Selkirk, 2005–present michaelmooremp@parliament.uk
Greg Mulholland, Leeds North West, 2005–present info@gregmulholland.org
Tessa Munt, Wells, 2010–present tessa.munt.mp@parliament.uk
John Pugh, Southport, 2001–present pughj@parliament.uk
Alan Reid, Argyll and Bute, 2001–present reida@parliament.uk
Dan Rogerson, North Cornwall, 2005–present rogersond@parliament.uk
Bob Russell, Colchester, 1997–present brooksse@parliament.uk
Adrian Sanders, Torbay, 1997–present sandersac@parliament.uk
Robert Smith, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, 1997–present robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk
Andrew Stunell, Hazel Grove, 1997–present stunella@parliament.uk
Ian Swales, Redcar, 2010–present ian.swales.mp@parliament.uk
Jo Swinson, East Dunbartonshire, 2005–present swinsonj@parliament.uk
Sarah Teather, Brent East, 2003–2010; Brent Central, 2010–present teathers@parliament.uk
John Thurso, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, 2001–present thursoj@parliament.uk
David Ward, Bradford East, 2010–present david.ward.mp@parliament.uk
Steve Webb, Northavon, Thornbury and Yate, 2010–present webbs@parliament.uk
Mark Williams, Ceredigion, 2005–present williamsmf@parliament.uk
Roger Williams, Brecon and Radnorshire, 2001–present williamsr@parliament.uk
Stephen Williams, Bristol West, 2005–present stephenwilliamsmp@parliament.uk
Jenny Willott, Cardiff Central, 2005–present willottj@parliament.uk
Simon Wright, Norwich South, 2010 simon.wright.mp@parliament.uk
