10 Days to Stop Vulture Funds

Next Friday 26 February, there will be a vote in Parliament for a vulture funds law, when the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill has its second reading. Call your MP today and ask them to attend the vote.

Many MPs have said they support the Bill, but we need to turn this into actual votes in the chamber next Friday. We need 100 MPs to vote in favour, and none against, to be certain of the Bill getting through this stage.

MPs are not required by their parties to attend a Private Members Bill vote. And getting MPs to stay in London on a Friday - a day when they are often in their constituencies - is a difficult task. So we need to apply the personal touch.

Ring your MP today:

1. Ask the House of Commons Information Office for your MP's constituency office number on 020 7219 4272. Most MPs are in their constituencies this week, as there is a parliamentary recess. If you don't know who your MP is, you can give you postcode to find out, or go to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

2. Phone your MP. You will probably get through to a member of the MP's staff. Ask to speak to your MP if possible, or if not if you can leave a message for them.

3. Here's what you could say:

Hi. My name is_________ and I'm a constituent from _________. I'm calling to request that <YOUR MP> votes in favour of the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill on Friday 26 February.

This bill would make it much harder for so-called Vulture Funds to profit unfairly from the debts of heavily indebted poor countries. In recent years Vulture Funds have sued Liberia, Zambia and others through the British Courts, and won millions of pounds which were meant to be used to relieve extreme poverty.(If your MP has signed an Early Day Motion on Vulture Funds you could mention it here - see below for links).

Do you know if <YOUR MP> will be able to attend the vote on Friday 26th? The Bill is first on the list of Private Member's Bills, so it will definitely be debated.

If they don't know or if you are leaving a message, ask that they call you back with your MP's position.

4. Tell us the results of your call: email info@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk or phone 020 7324 4722. Please let us know if they had questions or need additional information.

MORE RESOURCES

* A Q&A about the Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill is available here.

* You can see whether your MP has signed either of the Early Day Motions on Vulture Funds here:
- EDM 618 in the current parliamentary session,
- EDM 1440 in the last session.

* We've been getting responses from some Conservative MPs saying they're concerned the bill would cause problems for the secondary debt market. It's particularly useful to contact these MPs in person to address this point, as the bill that is being proposed has taken account of this concern. See the Q&A about the Bill for more.

* If your MP says they are attending the vote, they might want help with publicity in their local constituency. A template press release and letter to local newspapers to publicise your MP’s vote for the Bill is available from the JDC office: phone 020 7324 4722 or email info@jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk.

* We recognise that some MPs, particularly in marginal constituencies or those far from London, will feel unable to attend the vote, however much they support the Bill. However, there are still things they can do to help the campaign. They can sign Early Day Motion 618, if they haven't already, and they can pose for photos with constituents in support of the campaign. Again, contact the JDC office to discuss this.

* If your MP says there's no chance of the Bill being passed before the election, tell them that remains to be seen. It will certainly be the case if supportive MPs don't turn out on 26 February.

Thank you very much for calling your MP today. We have 10 days to stop Vulture Funds.

Jubilee Debt Campaign, 18/02/2010