Articles - Miscellaneous

The day the people went to Parliament

"I've never seen anything like it" said one MP.

 "What a wonderful, wonderful day," said another, as more than 12,000 trade justice campaigners converged on Westminster to make 19^th June a day that could change the course of history.

 Over 60 people from West Yorkshire made the journey from Leeds to London by train and over 20 others travelled by National Express to be part of the mass lobby of parliament. We wore purple neckerchiefs and carried purple balloons (each region of the country was colour coded and we were the lucky ones to be given purple!).  

 It was a beautiful afternoon, the atmosphere electric and at one point the queue stretched from the Houses of Parliament over Lambeth Bridge right round to the London Eye. Over 320 MPs were lobbied - some walking out to see their constituents and some being transported in rickshaws.  Messages of support came from President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

 As our MP, Fabian Hamilton, was away visiting a sick relative we all filled in green cards and subsequently received a letter from him.  He has since met a delegation from our area to listen to their concerns about international trade rules.

 

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