Polarbear

Sakchai's day. Shetland's day. Scotland's day. Too happy for words...I am so glad he's heading home to you all...I will be there in spirit (probably Highland Park!) Welcome HOME, Sakchai!

EDM DAILY UPDATE 3 more supporters registered. Total now 103 Thanks are due to: Sarwar, Mohammad Foster, Michael Jabez Austin, John All 3 are Labour MP's (1 Scots, 2 English) List at Page 30 amended Thanks to Njugle at Shetlink for the updated media links on the Campaign front page thread. In particular, Sakchai's short interview on Radio 4 'Today' with his deeply poignant comments about just why Shetland should be considered his home moved this unemotional listener to tears... Best wishes, especially to Sakchai this morning in North Shields.

That recording can be located at 0719 slot on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/tuesday.shtml That URL will change after the recording is no longer from last Tuesday! http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1810838,00.html Haven't located Lesley's article that Davie refrs to yet - online anyway. Recent BBC articles: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5141982.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/5150774.stm Hope these help to update media list on front page thread.. Best wishes,

Extract from AC quoted in today's 'Shetland Times' to encourage you: "The online community Shetlink have played an important part in raising the profile of this case among MPs. I know that colleagues have been impressed by the support they have shown to Sakchai and I have no doubt that this has helped to increase the number of MPs prepared to support this motion.†[Thanks, Alistair! - and to peeriebryan and his merry band for running the platform that makes it all possible]

EDM DAILY UPDATE Support for EDM 2373 reaches 100 2 more Lib Dem MP's have registered today: Laws, David Oaten, Mark The breakdown of the 100 is: Conservative Party 2 Democratic Unionist Party 1 Labour Party 30 Liberal Democrats 57 Plaid Cymru 2 Respect 1 Scottish National Party 6 Social Democratic and Labour Party 1 Page 30 amended. Best wishes,

Seems like he didn't sign it because Alistair did not table it on behalf of the Conservative Party!! That makes it all the clearer that his interpretation of this "convention" between the party leaders is rather different to Ming's understanding of it. If they will have all these unwritten rules...!

Thanks for the clarification, Alistair, and the welcome news of Ming's strong help for the case - his honour is unimpugned! I thought that there might be such an unwritten convention in existence, but when I saw that David Cameron had tabled some 'ordinary' EDM's too: 1052 and 1582 it appeared unlikely that that was indeed the case. It seems that young David has ignored the convention! Best wishes,

Indeed. He's magnificent...I'm sure many of the LibDems votes (and a fair few of the other votes too!) are down to his personal efforts and charm. But even within parties there are factions so a very public campaign helps pressure those less inclined to sign up to a colleague's EDM to do so. Also, the e-mail campaign is reaching all MP's and raising the profile of the case relentlessly, so government and opposition alike are at the very least aware of it (and of the adverse PR that it is generating for them in the Govt's case). A groundswell of backbench and/or ministerial feedback - and 30 Labour MP's are now open supporters - to the HO behind the scenes can create latent pressure for change to the system to the benefit of all. Let's hope so, anyway!

Hi Cazzie This is true (hence Group 7 -but the lobbying does no harm at all!!) Technically, the same also applies to some of Group 6 too, as Parliamentary Private Secretaries to Ministers are also effectively disbarred by the Ministerial Code from supporting EDM's Unless there is an unpublished internal Lib Dem Party rule, I can see nothing whatsoever that precludes Sir Menzies Campbell QC from supporting Alistair Carmichael's motion. Ming claims that he cannot sign EDM's as Leader yet the EDM Database lists him as a signatory of many EDM's since taking over from Charlie Kennedy. Perhaps he cannot bring himself to steep so low; wishing only to propose EDM's and not merely support those proposed by his minions. Who knows. Checking the database, no other opposition party leader suffers the restriction he claims he is under...eg. David Cameron, so it would be ironic if the LibDem's had such an illiberal rule. With all bar five of the Lib Dem MP's at Westminster 'signed up' now, I do hope that this is not a case of the Duke of Plaza-Toro, who "Led his regiment from behind! - see: http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/gondoliers/html/gn_03.html The bold Sir Ming is at: Sir Menzies Campbell, Fife North-East gradys@parliament.uk; and the other 5 LibDem's who have so far not been registered as supporters are: Edward Davey daveye@parliament.uk; Evan Harris harrise@parliament.uk; Mark Oaten oatenm@parliament.uk; Adrian Sanders sandersa@parliament.uk; Roger Williams williamsr@parliament.uk; So if you're really short of time, try just them! They should be sympathetic, and would take us over the 100 quickly. Best wishes,

EXCELLENT NEWS ... LEAP IN EDM NUMBERS...ALMOST AT 100! EDM DAILY UPDATE Total now up to 98 14 more registered supporters today. Thanks are due to: Salter, Martin Huhne, Chris Brake, Tom Brooke, Annette Clegg, Nick Cook, Frank Gerrard, Neil Gidley, Sandra Beith, AJ Strang, Gavin Webb, Steve Williams, Hywel Willis, Phil Wood, Mike Howarth, David 5 Labour (inc 1 Scots); 9 Lib Dems (not many left to go!!); 1 Plaid Cymru Page 30 updated. Keep up the pressure...all your sterling efforts are paying off. Glad to hear farewell rally went well. Best wishes,

EDM DAILY UPDATE 6 more registered supporters. Total now 83 Thanks are due to: Robertson, Angus Kennedy, Charles Galloway, George Burt, Lorely Rogerson, Daniel Williams, Stephen 1 SNP, 4 Lib Dems and 1 Respect List on Page 30 updated Best wishes to all for tonight and most of to Sakchai for Friday's appeal hearing - you'll be in all your thoughts,

List on page 30 duly amended. Thanks, Derick! Best wishes,

EDM daily update 8 more registered today. Total now 77 Thanks due to: Pugh, John Russell, Bob McDonnell, Alasdair Abbott, Diane Grogan, John Farron, Timothy McGovern, Jim Mulholland, Greg 4 LibDems, 3 Labour (incl. 1 Scots); First SDLP signatory especially welcome. Groups updated on Page 30 Best wishes,

EDM daily update 5 more registered today. Total now 69. New supporters, to whom thanks are due: Salmond, Alex McCrea, Dr William Donohoe, Brian H Teather, Sarah Horwood, Martin 1 SNP; 1 Democratic Unionist; 1 Scots Labour and 2 LibDems List on Page 30 updated Best wishes,

Letter received from Diane Abbott MP (Labour MP and on "This Week" - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_week/default.stm 27 June 2006 Dear Mr, Thank you for your recent email regarding the terrible circumstances in which Mr Sakchai Makao finds himself. You may be aware that I have been involved with the case of Chilean Ernesto Leal, a constituent of mine, who has been threatened with deportation, initially to Jamaica and not his native Chile! From my understandings of the situation it seems the Home Office may once again making rash decisions based on generic profiles of suspects whilst under severe pressure. I have lent my support to EDM 2373 and will raise the profile of this issue with my parliamentary colleagues. Please do not hesitate to contact me again. Yours sincerely, Diane Abbott MP ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I replied to her PA: "Thank you for alerting Diane as promised, and to Diane for her support. Her assistance - particularly in alerting her parliamentary colleagues - is much appreciated. Sakchai's appeal hearing is on 7 July. I'll keep her posted. I also know that the campaign organisers have been in touch with the Leal campaign. Kind regards," ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Group 6 amended.