UK: All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME news, 2020 onward

These minutes are not exactly informative, are they? Where's the detail?


15 November 2023:

https://appgme.co.uk/meetings/appg-meeting-15-november-2023/


06 February 2024 + AGM:

https://appgme.co.uk/meetings/annual-general-meeting-2024/


As someone has said on Twitter: "I've written more detailed grocery lists than those "minutes"."

 

Sadly, it's a common gripe with the APPG. The short video that Carol Monaghan did on Twitter wasn't much more enlightening - but, I will acknowledge that it's better than nothing. I'd really like to see them streaming the meeting (the LC APPG proved that was possible), but that seems like a step beyond the capability (and maybe the interest) of those who are involved. Most disappointing.

 

APPG on ME - Severe ME Inquiry

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on ME (APPG) has launched its inquiry into Severe ME.

Action for M.E., the ME Association, and the 25% M.E. Group will be working closely to support the APPG throughout the inquiry’s duration.

The purpose of the inquiry is to gather evidence to inform a chapter on Severe and Very Severe ME to append the ‘Rethinking ME’ report, published in May 2022.

https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/appg-on-me-severe-me-inquiry/

 

Following the announcement of the UK's General Election yesterday, AfME have posted an update, which includes,

"From Friday [24th May], Carol Monaghan, Chair of the APPG and the Inquiry Panel, will no longer be an MP as will be the case for the other Panel members; APPGs also cease to exist. Sadly, this means that the APPG's Severe ME Inquiry will not continue, despite it already having held its first hearing session.

Following the general election, we will work collaboratively to reconstitute the APPG. This will require an inaugural meeting to be held and new officers elected. An application will be submitted to register the APPG and the APPG will only exist once the Registry Office has approved its inclusion on the APPR Register. The Guide to the Rules for APPGs can be found HERE."

https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/general-election-what-happens-now/

 

Thank goodness our elections aren't like those in the USA. Having people canvassing for two years would drive me insane!

 

Previous APPG reported membership and their status following the General Election results.

Carol Monaghan - Lost her seat, no longer an MP
Baroness Scott of Needham Market - Member of the House of Lords, unaffected.
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff - Member of the House of Lords, unaffected.
Stephen Metcalfe - result yet to be announced at time of posting.
Sharon Hodgson - Retained her seat.
Jason McCartney - Lost his seat, no longer an MP.
James Davies - Lost his seat, no longer an MP.
Debbie Abrahams - Retained her seat.
Ben Lake - Retained his seat.
Hywel Williams - Did not stand for re-election.
Fleur Anderson - Retained her seat.

MPs reported as attending the last APPG AGM earlier this year.

John McNally - Did not stand for re-election.
Angus Brendan MacNeil - Lost his seat.

Results taken from the BBC News website.

I have no further knowledge of if, or when, the APPG might be restarted.

 

Yesterday Action for ME gave a reply on XTwitter regarding a query about the APPG

“We have already sent briefings to parliamentary candidates & will be directly contacting Secretaries of States and Shadows of the following departments: DHSC, DWP and DSIT, once the positions are announced

We will also be working closely with the @MEAssociation to reconstitute the APPG as soon as possible & will share an update on this when we can.”
Many thanks, Action for M.E.

 

A sad loss for the ME cause in Parliament.

With so many new MPs there is opportunity for interesting more MPs in the APPG. When will be a good time to try to interest our new MPs in ME/CFS and Long Covid?

 

I don't know if it would be the best strategy, but I would imagine that perhaps sending something soon, congratulating them on being elected and highlighting the issues that are important to you would be a good start. At this stage we don't know whether we will see the APPG reconstituted, but mentioning that there has been an APPG for ME/CFS previously and that you hope that your MP will take part in it improves the chance that it will be and they will take part. Should you have capacity for it, following up with them everytime there is a meeting scheduled will help add to the pressure for them to be concerned about ME/CFS.

 

I agree, but would make it brief and straightforward for now. New MPs will feel as if they've been hit by a tornado, and even experienced ones are starting a new job.

The economy's in such bad shape that it might be worth highlighting the economic harm caused by long Covid—including the fact that previously healthy people are likely to keep developing it and that public money is being wasted on ineffective clinics using discredited approaches. I think that's the approach I'll take with my MP, who's moving from opposition to government.