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Like many of you I got this email this morning. I'm not a political animal but I contacted my MP when it all kicked off at the end of October and this morning I sent the suggested email below. I've just had a conversation with our MP, explained the situation and he's voting tonight for the labour motion to delay the cut off date and has offered to send details of the specific impact it will have on our business to DECC.
I was quite impressed that he responded within a couple of hours and would really encourage anyone who can find time to send an email.
Lobby of Parliament - a Big Thank You!
I have to start this with a huge thank you to those who turned out yesterday for the Lobby of Parliament. Given there were just 14 working days left till the ridiculous 12th December deadline, it was remarkable that so many turned out to lobby MPs. Just imagine how many would have come had there not been so much to do finishing as many planned installations as possible before the rate cut. SolarPowerPortal have a nice write up of the day.
The good news for anyone feeling sorry they couldn't make it - or those who did are and feeling inspired - is that today we have another chance to pile the pressure on Parliament. See below
Parliament debates FITs cuts
At about 4pm today MPs will start debating FITs cut in a session initiated by the Labour Party. MPs will vote on it at about 7pm this evening. This gives us just a few hours to pile the pressure on again - and insist our MPs do the right thing.
There are likely to be two votes tonight. First, MPs will vote on Labour's motion. If that is defeated (which it ususally is as Labour have less MPs than the other side) there will be a second vote on the amendment tabled by the Government. You can read them in full here.
We need you to call your MP and ask him/her to vote for the first motion. Only this one calls for the 12th December deadline to be extended - something we know many LibDems and Conservatives have called for.
If your MP is on the Government side, they may point out parts of their motion that we would probably all welcome - proposals for community tariffs, talk about how we need a sustainable future for the industry, even some comments on errors made in the past and how FITs could be made more predictable in future (though in the short form of a motion, these are just vague aspirations - the devil will obviously come in the detail).
However none of this is relevant if the industry is crippled by the early cuts - which is why any MP who has said that deadline should be pushed back is doing your business a big disservice by voting against the first motion. You must make this point really clear - of course we want them to vote for the date to be set back, but by making clear voting against a delay is the worst thing they can do, you might at least persuade them to abstain. You have a particularly strong case if your MP has told you privately, or in a letter (as many have) that they are concerned about the date being too soon - will they vote in line with that view or against it?
If you do not have your MP's phone number, you can call the House of Commons switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask for their office. If you cannot get to talk to anyone, ask the switchboard operator to take a short message from you and put it "on the board". A good message would be "Please vote for the 12th December deadline to be set back in the solar debate today - If possible, please call me on --- so I can explain why."
If you can add to the pressure even more with a quick email or tweet to your MP, so much the better.
Already today, one Conservative MP has said he will abstain from the vote because he thinks the deadline is too soon. Pleaes make your 'phone calls so we can build on it.
Best wishes
Martyn Williams
Cut Don't Kill - Our Solar Future
I was quite impressed that he responded within a couple of hours and would really encourage anyone who can find time to send an email.
Lobby of Parliament - a Big Thank You!
I have to start this with a huge thank you to those who turned out yesterday for the Lobby of Parliament. Given there were just 14 working days left till the ridiculous 12th December deadline, it was remarkable that so many turned out to lobby MPs. Just imagine how many would have come had there not been so much to do finishing as many planned installations as possible before the rate cut. SolarPowerPortal have a nice write up of the day.
The good news for anyone feeling sorry they couldn't make it - or those who did are and feeling inspired - is that today we have another chance to pile the pressure on Parliament. See below
Parliament debates FITs cuts
At about 4pm today MPs will start debating FITs cut in a session initiated by the Labour Party. MPs will vote on it at about 7pm this evening. This gives us just a few hours to pile the pressure on again - and insist our MPs do the right thing.
There are likely to be two votes tonight. First, MPs will vote on Labour's motion. If that is defeated (which it ususally is as Labour have less MPs than the other side) there will be a second vote on the amendment tabled by the Government. You can read them in full here.
We need you to call your MP and ask him/her to vote for the first motion. Only this one calls for the 12th December deadline to be extended - something we know many LibDems and Conservatives have called for.
If your MP is on the Government side, they may point out parts of their motion that we would probably all welcome - proposals for community tariffs, talk about how we need a sustainable future for the industry, even some comments on errors made in the past and how FITs could be made more predictable in future (though in the short form of a motion, these are just vague aspirations - the devil will obviously come in the detail).
However none of this is relevant if the industry is crippled by the early cuts - which is why any MP who has said that deadline should be pushed back is doing your business a big disservice by voting against the first motion. You must make this point really clear - of course we want them to vote for the date to be set back, but by making clear voting against a delay is the worst thing they can do, you might at least persuade them to abstain. You have a particularly strong case if your MP has told you privately, or in a letter (as many have) that they are concerned about the date being too soon - will they vote in line with that view or against it?
If you do not have your MP's phone number, you can call the House of Commons switchboard on 020 7219 3000 and ask for their office. If you cannot get to talk to anyone, ask the switchboard operator to take a short message from you and put it "on the board". A good message would be "Please vote for the 12th December deadline to be set back in the solar debate today - If possible, please call me on --- so I can explain why."
If you can add to the pressure even more with a quick email or tweet to your MP, so much the better.
Already today, one Conservative MP has said he will abstain from the vote because he thinks the deadline is too soon. Pleaes make your 'phone calls so we can build on it.
Best wishes
Martyn Williams
Cut Don't Kill - Our Solar Future
