EMAIL LOBBYING CAMPAIGN URGING LIB DEM MPS TO VOTE AGAINST THE ACADEMIES BILL

I AM RUNNING AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN FOR LIB DEM SUPPORTERS TO EMAIL OUR MPs, URGING THEM TO VOTE AGAINST THE ACADEMIES BILL. It is important that you are a Lib Dem voter, activist, party member, councillor etc because the point is to heighten awareness of how strongly SUPPORTERS feel about this piece of legislation.

To take part in the campaign, please follow the instructions below:


PASTE THE EMAIL ADDRESSES INTO YOUR ADDRESS BAR THEN PASTE THE LETTER BELOW ONTO YOUR EMAIL ALTERING AS REQUIRED.

I SUGGEST YOU MAKE THE HEADER SOMETHIHNG NOTICEABLE LIKE: PLEASE VOTE AGAINST ACADEMIES ON MONDAY .

hemmingj@parliament.uk
horwoodm@parliament.uk
simon@simonhughes.org.uk
chris@chrishuhne.org.uk
hunterm@parliament.uk
julian.huppert.mp@parliament.uk
danny.alexander.mp@parliament.uk
bakern@parliament.uk
cheesemang@parliament.uk
gordon.birtwistle.mp@parliament.uk
braket@parliament.uk
brookea@parliament.uk
brownej@parliament.uk
hernandeza@parliament.uk
burstowp@parliament.uk
burtl@parliament.uk
cablev@parliament.uk
campbellm@parliament.uk
carmichaela@parliament.uk
mike.crockart.mp@parliament.uk
daveye@parliament.uk
farront@parliament.uk
featherstonel@parliament.uk
fosterd@parliament.uk
andrew@andrewgeorge.org.uk
stephen.gilbert.mp@parliament.uk
duncan.hames.mp@parliament.uk
hancockm@parliament.uk
allenmt@parliament.uk
heathd@parliament.uk.
kennedyc@parliament.uk
lambn@parliament.uk
lawsd@parliament.uk
leechj@parliament.uk
stephen.lloyd.mp@parliament.uk
michaelmooremp@parliament.uk
info@gregmulholland.org
tessa.munt.mp@parliament.uk
pughj@parliament.uk
reida@parliament.uk
rogersond@parliament.uk
brooksse@parliament.uk
sandersa@parliament.uk
robert.smith.mp@parliament.uk
stunella@parliament.uk
ian.swales.mp@parliament.uk
swinsonj@parliament.uk
teathers@parliament.uk
thursoj@parliament.uk
david.ward.mp@parliament.uk
webbs@parliament.uk
williamsmf@parliament.uk
williamsr@parliament.uk
stephenwilliamsmp@parliament.uk
willottj@parliament.uk
simon.wright.mp@parliament.uk


Dear Lib Dem Colleague,

I am writing as a Lib Dem……………………………………………………. voter / activist / Councillor/ Parliamentary Candidate…………………………………… to voice my concerns over the proposed fast track academies legislation & to ask you to vote against the bill to be passed on Monday.

This legislation is being rushed through Parliament without proper scrutiny & without the support of the relevant select committee.

These are controversial measures & as coalition partners they are not something we have signed up to. At the very least I urge you to do all in your power to prevent the precipitate passing of these measures by ensuring that changes cannot be made as early as September.

Why do I have concerns about this Bill ? They are outlined below:
Contrary to the claim that people are going to get much greater powers over services in their area, the expansion of academies and free schools (so-called) will have the opposite effect.

1) It takes powers away from local education authorities which consist, it should be noted, of elected members locally accountable.
2) It is a centralising measure which will have the effect of depriving local authorities of money, leading to a reduction in the quality of services provided to other schools.
3) To whom will the new bodies running the academies and free schools be accountable? How will they be accountable?
4) What about the back-up services currently provided by LEAs eg local inspectors and financial advice?
5) Who will monitor how the new schools use the money they are given, eg use of the pupil premium?
6) What about the salary levels of teachers and other school staff? Will these schools be free to pay as little as they can get away with?
7) Who will decide on the admission numbers and admission policies of the schools? Will there be an appeals process for parents whose children are refused admission?
8) Has any thought been given to the knock-on effect on existing schools in the area? How many will lose children and become unviable?

The record of existing academies is mixed - some good, some bad, some indifferent. In other words, just like LEA schools. Altering the purpose of academies (originally designed to increase funding for failing schools) by encouraging a two tier education system which will remove funding from LEA schools runs counter to the manifesto commitments we fought on in the election & the way this bill is being hurried through will lead to the passing of measures which are ill thought through & the implications of which could damage the education system of this country forever – something for which WE as Liberal Democrats will be held accountable.

I therefore urge you to vote against the passing of this legislation in its current form on Monday.

Yours sincerely,