I frequently receive requests from my constituents to sign Early Day Motions (EDMs). However, I have decided that I will no longer be signing them.
There are several reasons behind this decision, the primary one being that EDMs have no real impact. There are far more effective ways for me to highlight issues or lobby the Government.
Signing an EDM requires minimal effort and has largely become a substitute for more meaningful actions, such as writing directly to Ministers, raising issues in parliamentary questions or debates, applying for debates, or proposing amendments to Bills – all of which demand greater time and effort. Additionally, processing the large volume of EDMs each month comes at a significant cost to the public.
For these reasons, I have made the decision to refrain from signing EDMs. However, this does not mean that the issues they raise are unimportant. Instead, I will continue to address concerns by writing directly to Ministers and pursuing other more effective parliamentary methods to ensure these matters receive proper attention.
Thank you for your understanding.