Letter to MP about donations to politicians from (foreign) corporations

Letter to MP about abusing protest groups with the Terror Act 2000. Feel free to copy, modify, and send to your own MP. Use https://www.theyworkforyou.com if they tend not to answer

xxx xxx MP

House of Commons,

London SW1A OAA

 On July 1st I chose to join the group Palestine Action in order to protest primarily against Netanyahu’s inhumane bombing campaign aimed at the people of Gaza, and the criminal campaign of starvation that he is prosecuting. Terrorism is violence directed against civilians for political ends, so Netanyahu is heading a terrorist organisation, and the British Government is aiding and abetting him in his war crimes by selling arms to him and supplying surveillance data to assist his targeting. There is a strong case to be made that our own Government is an accomplice in an act of genocide.

My secondary reason for joining was to protest against Yvette Coopers’ plans (now, sadly, accomplished) to characterise a protest movement as “terrorist” according to the extremely broad and unusual definition of terrorism given in the Terror Act 2000. 

The position is now that I, a 78 year old Quaker grandfather, a retired GP and psychiatrist, a lifelong campaigner against nuclear weapons, currently working intensively to stimulate thinking about the prevention of future “conventional” wars, a pragmatic pacifist (not a perfect pacifist, as I do not oppose the defensive war fought by Ukraine against Putin’s invasion, and indeed do not oppose the right of Israel to defend itself, though I do oppose the insane and counter-productive assault that Netanyahu is conducting). I have always advocated non-violence, and have always condemned terrorism, now find myself labelled a “terrorist” by a Home Secretary who has received £5000 directly from Red Capital Private, and more through her share in a wider fund, all money from funds associated with lobbying on behalf of Israel.

Together with many other peace-loving people, I am at risk of being arrested as a member of Palestine Action and sent to jail for 14 years, which in my own case is a whole life sentence. I will die in jail if the Home Secretary is left to have her way, while she and her Government supports a State that is daily carrying out acts of lethal violence against civilians, in other words, a terrorist state.

This is clearly a perverse situation that has been brought about first by a definition of terrorism in the Terror Act 2000 that shows a lack of due diligence, and second, by undue influence exerted on Ministers by lobbyists for a foreign power.

It is clearly wrong for MPs and Ministers, to receive large amounts of money from corporations and lobby groups, especially from such groups who act on behalf of foreign states, particularly if those states are committing criminal acts.

I realise that you are incredibly busy, but I have to ask you please to be aware of my situation, and to take an interest in my case (and that of others in similar position) if I am arrested  under the Terror Act.

I ask too that you confer with your party and MPs from other political parties who are mindful of the grotesque injustice that is evolving under the Terror Act 2000, to see how the wording can be amended to be brought in line with the consensus definition of terrorism as violence directed at civilians for political ends.

Third, I ask you please to confer within your party and with other MPs of good will and clear thinking how we can block donations and from corporations and lobby groups, and especially those from outside the UK, and particularly those associated with States who are committing criminal acts.

With many thanks and good wishes