If you’re looking for the big Westminster row this week, chances are you’ve missed where the real action is. On Wednesday afternoon, MPs and peers will vote again in the elections for chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Trafficking. Normally APPG elections are so tame that few MPs outside their own membership even know they are going on. But the APPG on Human Trafficking has had to call a second vote because of a contentious draw in the first election. The group has printed more than 1,000 ballot papers in anticipation of a huge turnout from groups supporting rivals Peter Bone and Fiona Mactaggart.
Tensions are rising between the camps, leading to the formidable Mrs Jennie Bone intervening. I’ve been passed an email exchange between Mrs Bone and Michael Connarty, a Labour MP.
From Michael Connarty to Peter Bone, 13 July 2013, 07:34
Peter,
I hope you realise that the election is not about who gets the position of Co-chair, but about the need for a more inclusive approach in the way the group is run. The fact of the previous tied vote is that there were as many MPs voting to say they were unhappy with the approach being taken under your Chairmanship as voted for you to continue. This despite the Government whips betting involved, while I can assure you party whips were not in any way involved in the turn-out for your alternative.
I do not doubt your commitment to the group, and your hard work to drive the group forward even though I think your direction of travel is distorted by your other equally passionately held views. The election will solve nothing regardless of who wins unless the approach of the group attracts and engages more MPs with a variety of concerns and issues arising from Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. It cannot be the toy or tool of the chair any longer, and certainly cannot continue by only attracting MPs from one party.
I look forward to working with you for these aims in whatever position you end up with after the election.Michael (Connarty MP)
From Peter Bone to Michael Connarty, 13 July 2013, 08:40
And a sunny good day to you too, sir.
Jennie Bone.
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