Semantici.st

Dear Willie Rennie,

I’m deeply disturbed that despite a three-page letter you sent in reply to my query concerning the controversial Digital Economy Bill, you did not make the effort to attend the second reading of this bill on the evening of the 6th of April.

This bill is being pushed through despite potentially draconian measures which have been put in place as a result of heavy lobbying by the BPI and other entertainment organisations. It heavily favours large companies over smaller content producers (such as photographers who could find their pictures being used commercially without their consent). It is unconscionable that you could fail to attend such an important reading, and I feel that the message you are sending is that you care far more about attempting to maximise your chances of re-election instead of doing the job you have already been elected for.

By failing to turn up to vote against this bill – which your party voted against at conference – you personally have allowed this damaging legislation to pass without proper checks. I find it extremely hard to consider voting for you in the upcoming election given that I know you specifically will not act to represent me and my interests. In many respects, even if you had voted in favour of the bill it would have been preferable to not turning up at all.

I feel that I should add that anti-LibDem sentiment is extremely high now – your party is the ‘natural’ party of many people who are affected by this bill and given the closeness of the upcoming election the backlash against the party may be extremely damaging. Please see: http://openlettertothelibdems.net/ and http://stop43.org.uk/.

Can you give me an explanation for why you did not attend the second reading of the Digital Economy Bill? Given everything which has happened over the last year, my faith in our political system is at an all-time low, and your actions last night have done nothing to build it up.

Yours sincerely,

John Daniels