Start a Trend: Send an Invitation

In early August, the government announced an "urgent" review of policy towards Iraqi nationals who were facing persecution, torture and death as a direct result of their work for British forces in Iraq. As we know, this announcement was used as an excuse for the government to do nothing, as it would, clearly, be "inappropriate to pre-empt the recomendations." Of course, it is much more "inappropriate" to upset some minister by not waiting for their considered thoughts than it is to prevent some swarthy foreigner in a far-off country meeting a horrible end by drill bit, a risk that increases each day our country does nothing. Despite the obvious urgency, we were told these recommendations would be forthcoming in, er, late September. Have you looked at a calendar in the past couple of days?

There are seven days until a cross-party meeting in Westminster which aims to call the government to account; if you have not yet contacted your MP, there is still time. If you have already been in touch, it would not hurt to send them a reminder. Chris McCafferty MP assured me on September 20 that my correspondence would be "dealt with," which is as much as I have heard directly from her on this matter. I am prepared to accept that this is not a euphemism for the round filing cabinet in the corner of the office, but I have given her a stronger nudge. Send your MP an invitation today - it really isn't hard - and, who knows, the government may finally get around to issuing the invitations it should have sent months ago.