Robin Hood Tax goes to Parliament (updated with explanation re. attendees list)
February 24th, 2010 by Robin Hood
Posted in: Action reports, Impact and results, Latest, Top stories
Today was a great day. 2543 people asked their MP to attend a parliamentary briefing. Hundreds of people tweeted about the event, hundreds more talked about it on Facebook and 65, yes 65 MPs attended. A band of four merry folk talked at the briefing. And Committee Room 17 of the House of Commons was packed to capacity. Some people said they’d never seen anything like it.
We had been busy laying plans in Sherwood and the scribes penning invites, but we needed public pressure to make the event a success. Robin Hood put out a call for help and the response from merry folk across the land was extraordinary. The effect of public opinion could be seen in the response from MPs. One campaigner who attended the meeting said “It was great to see such a large number of MPs engaging in a constructive debate about how we can make the Robin Hood Tax a reality. The high turn-out demonstrated the wide ranging support the campaign has. Constituency level support for the Tax had clearly influenced the parliamentarians.”
A remarkable 80 MP’s attended and many more sent their apologies but have indicated their support. All parties were represented indicating strong cross-party support for the campaign. The politically minded merry men were overwhelmed by this attendance – it was standing room only – ‘unprecedented’ said one. We had two hours in which we explained why this tax is a good idea and answered any questions and concerns people had.
The Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain, came out in strong support, ‘I came along today to show my support for the Robin Hood Campaign, I think we need a big campaign like this to sweep through Britain’. Another feather for Peter’s cap.
Elsewhere in Westminister the Robin Hood Tax was mentioned in Prime Minister’s Questions for the second consecutive week.
If you asked your MP to attend and they couldn’t make it send them a link to this blog so they can find out what happened. If your MP did attend get in touch, thank them and find out what they thought of the day.
We harnessed up our horses with high hearts. Politicians are talking about Robin Hood and it has been a trending topic on Twitter all day.
We’ll follow up with more information on the political impact of your hard work before the weekend. For now, a tankard of well earned mead awaits. Enjoy your evenings our merry friends.
[update 9.45pm Feb 24]
Who came? Who didn’t?
That’s a question we’ve been asked often this evening. It’s a tricky one. We considered publishing a list, but… A briefing like this isn’t an official engagement and, to some extent, we must respect the right of MPs to attend such meetings anonymously. Our invitation was open to any MP willing to explore the issues with us. That they support us was not a prerequisite – though happily, most seemed to, broadly. So some of our dilemmas are: If we publish the list would it be fair and honest? Would it imply that those who, for whatever reason, didn’t attend are unsupportive? Or vice versa? Would it turn a pretty remarkable show of individual political power into a name and shame exercise? There were differing views within the team. Our conclusion? To leave this decision with the individual. Anyone who wrote to their MP about this issue should receive a response. If you don’t within the next few days that’s unacceptable. Please follow up. Please ask about their attendance and what they drew from the event if you choose. But also whether they are comfortable with that information being made public. If they are, comment here, if not please respect their right (it may be for very good reason). I hope that’s reasonable and not too disappointing. We will say more on Friday. Incidentally, though there is a list of attendees we agreed within the web team not to look at it, so excepting a few recognisable faces I write this with as much curiosity but as little knowledge as many of you now reading. Now where’s that mead? Today’s pomp and finery was all well and good but back in the forest an outlaw must let his hair down… Fair wind merry fellows. Night night.
