Politicians stunned by biggest ever lobby of Parliament

Thousands of people queued up to lobby a record 329 MPs on 19 June, putting trade justice firmly on the political agenda. By 9 July, some 256 MPs had signed Early Day Motion 1457 supporting the Trade Justice Campaign. Find out if your MP has signed

Politicians emerging from St Stephen's gate reacted with astonishment to the crowds of people queuing up to meet them. "I am delighted with the turnout, all my colleages are stunned and surprised by the numbers pledging support," said John Smith MP for Vale of Glamorgan.

And as the bright, giant 'MP-ometer' outside Parliament clocked up increasing numbers of lobbied MPs, it was clear that the UK government would not be able to dismiss trade as an issue of little public concern. Simon Thomas MP for Ceredigion spoke for many MPs when he said: "The numbers here today demonstrates that people are still keen to lobby on international issues. I've had more correspondence on Jubilee 2000 than any other issue. Now I get more about trade, yet in the House of Commons it is one of the least discussed issues. This lobby gives me the opportunity to display my public support to my constituents by raising this in the House."

There was already evidence that the political pressure applied by the mass lobby would force the UK government to make trade issues a higher priority. In advance of the lobby, an Early Day Motion* in support of the Trade Justice Movement had been tabled receiving substantial political support. Prime Minister Blair, surprisingly, agreed at the last minute to meet constituents from Sedgefield in the morning. Later in the day, the mass lobby was the first issue raised in Prime Minister's Question Time, with several MPs challenging the UK Government to take a lead on pushing for fairer trade rules at upcoming European and G8 summits.

The Prime Minister Blair replied: "The trade justice movement will get a great deal of support for its basic principles from the Government and, I hope, all Members of the House." In particular he noted the need for reform of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) which has received substantial criticism for its discrimination against poor farmers in the South. He said: "What many of the poorest countries need is not simply more aid, but access to our markets. If they were given the chance to sell into our markets, many of the people who are living in poverty today would not be living in that poverty."

Members of the Trade Justice Movement welcomed the UK government's attention to the issue, but also criticised the government for misrepresenting the lobby as one of support for the government's stance. Sarah Finch, of the Trade Justice Movement commented: "The Mass Lobby was not about cheerleading for the government. The government is pushing for further rampant liberalisation, which will hurt poor countries and the environment. Twelve thousand people made the journey to Westminster because they think that is immoral. What we want is not free trade, but fair trade."
 

An Early Day Motion is a statement which politicians can sign up to which provides an indication of political support for issues which are not being formally debated.

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