Action for M.E. Election manifesto
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http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=761
Election manifesto video launch
23 February 2010M.E. manifesto video goes live
Today Sir Peter Spencer, Chief Executive, Action for M.E., launches a video urging people with M.E. and their family and friends to use our Election Manifesto for M.E. to lobby local Parliamentary candidates.
Tristana Rodriguez tristana.rodriguez@afme.org.uk, our Policy Officer, is keen to hear from anyone who forwards the manifesto to their MP, or potential MP, and receives a response.
The manifesto has been produced in partnership with the Association of Young People with M.E. (AYME) and in consultation with people who have the illness.
Initial responses to the document have already been received from the three main political parties. Action for M.E. has written back, calling for greater commitment to the issues which matter to people with M.E.
Parties respond to M.E. manifesto
19 February 2010
http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=757
All three main political parties have answered calls by Action for M.E. and the Association of Young People with M.E. (AYME) to outline their election pledges for people with M.E.
Responses to our Election manifesto for M.E. have now been received from Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
Labour has focused on health and welfare, increasing Access to Work and reassessing Incapacity Benefit or Income Support claimants to move them on to Employment and Support Allowance.
The Tories lead on speeding up drugs appraisal procedures, before moving on to single health and social care assessments and the introduction of a single integrated back-to-work programme for everyone on out-of-work benefits.
The Liberal Democrats, who are still working on their election manifesto, concentrate on investing in support for children, especially in terms of education.
Commenting on the responses, Action for M.E.’s CEO, Sir Peter Spencer says:
“I would like to thank the three parties for providing their responses to the manifesto for M.E. but I am very disappointed to see that they have each failed to address many of the key issues.
“We understand that certain policies may still be in development which may explain why our manifesto priorities have not been given the explicit emphasis we would expect. Perhaps these omissions will be resolved as the party policies develop.
“To this end, we will continue to lobby at a national level, and we would urge supporters of the manifesto to do the same with their local Parliamentary candidates. We want to see the next Parliament make a genuine and powerful commitment to tackle the huge problems faced by people with M.E. and their families and to remove the inequalities which have been overlooked for far too long.”
Mary-Jane Willows, CEO of AYME, comments:
“Whilst I am pleased that the responses were made they are all sadly lacking in content and substance. They still fail to acknowledge the huge shift in awareness and services required if the needs of children and young people with M.E. are going to be fully met.
“Individuals with M.E., their carers, parents and partners now need to take the manifesto to lobby all their Parliamentary candidates who then can’t fail to realise the scale of the issues this marginalised patient population is faced with in health, education, social care, benefits and employment.
“Ignoring this significant patient population must end now and be replaced with a clear and robust strategy that will increase awareness and support across the board.”
The charities are calling on local support groups, individuals with M.E., their carers, friends and others to join us in lobbying parliamentary candidates to sign up to the pledges in our election manifesto for M.E.
For free copies of the manifesto to send to your MP or local Parliamentary candidate – plus a sample campaign letter, please contact our Policy Officer, Tristana Rodriguez tristana.rodriguez@afme.org.uk tel: 0117 9301325 or Katie James katie@ayme.org.uk, from AYME, tel: 01908 379737, stating how many copies you need.
Documents:
Video
Election Manifesto
Sample Campaign Letter
Responses from three main political parties
Labour Response
Conservative Response
Liberal Democrat Response
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