Political Leverage

YES

05

NO

00

DON'T KNOW

52

You may be aware of the cuts being proposed by the current Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. These cuts will affect the arts in terms of jobs, pay and the development of new and existing work for years to come. Now, just because Mr Osborne has announced the cuts doesn't mean he gets to implement them (taxes are different however). To implement the changes the government needs to pass the Finance Bill and to do that they need a simple majority across a number of votes at each stage of the bill as it passes through the House of Commons.

The coalition government has a majority of 78 votes over all the other parties combined. To defeat the Finance Bill vote at any stage you need to push 40 votes over to the NO side of the fence. That's where the 57 Liberal Democrat MPs come into play, because 57 is more than 40. Listed below are the contact details for all 57 Liberal Democrat MP's. If you want to know how they are going to vote and why, then all you have to do is ask them.

It doesn't matter if you don't live in their constituency because this is a national issue, not a local one and they work for you whether you voted for them or not (or even if you didn't vote)

When you contact them you probably won't speak to the MP directly at first if at all but you must always be studiously polite, don't give them a reason to ignore you. Be firm, be direct, but be polite. Ask them how the MP will vote and why and explain your objections to the cuts, the same goes for email.

Here in TheLab™ we'll be going through the list to get their responses but since we're not the New York Times then it could take a while, let us know how you get on in the comments.

You might not be able to win, but you, and a lot of other people, might just be able to make the government lose enough support to make them nervous and change some of the draconian cuts they have proposed which many analyst are predicting will be somewhat calamitous for the country you live and work in. Moving to a Scandinavian country is not an option!

Trying to get hold of people like this is not a lot of fun, if you can't reach them on the numbers below try The House of Commons switchboard on 020 7219 3000.

[ The Finance Bills Progress Through Parliament ]
[ Budget Analysis Polly Toynbee Guardian ]
[ Budget Analysis Larry Elliot Guardian ]
[ Election Information from the BBC ]

  Constituency Telephone Email Web Majority NO/YES
Nick Clegg Sheffield and Hallam 0207 276 2546 [email protected] www.nickclegg.com 15284 Yes
Danny Alexander Inverness 01463 711 280 [email protected] www.dannyalexander.org.uk 8765 Yes
Norman Baker Lewes 01273 480 281 [email protected] www.normanbaker.org.uk 7674 -
Alan Beith Berwick upon Tweed 020 7219 3540 [email protected] www.alanbeith.org.uk 2690 -
Gordon Birtwhistle Burnley 020 7219 3000 [email protected] luddite 1818 Yes
Anette Brooke Mid Dorset Pool North 01202 693 555 [email protected] www.annettebrooke.org.uk 269 -
Jeremy Brown Taunton 01823 337 874 [email protected] www.tauntonlibdems.org.uk 3993 -
Malcolm Bruce Gordon 01467 623 413 [email protected] www.malcolmbruce.libdems.org.uk 6748 Yes
Paul Burstow Sutton and Cheam 020 8288 6550 [email protected] www.paulburstow.libdems.org.uk 1608 -
Lorely Burt Solihull 0121 706 9593 [email protected] www.lorelyburt.org.uk/ 175 -
Vince Cable Twickenham 0207 219 5746 [email protected] www.vincentcable.org.uk 12140 -
Menzies Campbell North East Fife 01334 656 361 [email protected] www.mingcampbell.org.uk/ 9048 -
Alistair Carmichael Orkney and Shetland 0207 219 8181 [email protected] www.alistaircarmichael.org.uk 9928 -
Mike Crockart Edinburgh West 0131 339 0339 [email protected] www.edinburghwestlibdems.org.uk/ 3808 -
Edward Davey Kingston and Surbiton 020 8288 0161 [email protected] www.edwarddavey.co.uk 7560 -
Tim Farron Westmoreland and Lonsdale 01539 723403 [email protected] www.timfarron.co.uk 12264 -
Lynne Featherstone Hornsey and Wood Green 020 8340 5459 [email protected] www.lynnefeatherstone.org 6875 -
Don Foster Bath 01225 338 973 [email protected] www.donfoster.co.uk 11883 -
Andrew George St Ives 01736 360020 [email protected] www.andrewgeorge.org.uk 1719 -
Stephen Gilbert St Austell and Newquay 01726 74619 [email protected] www.stephengilbert.org.uk 1312 -
Duncan Hames Chippenham 01249 652602 [email protected] www.duncanhames.org.uk 2470 Yes
Mike Hancock Portsmouth South 02392 861 055 [email protected] www.mikehancock.co.uk 5200 -
Nick Harvey North Devon 020 7291 6232 [email protected] www.nickharveymp.com 5821 -
David Heath Somerton and Frome 01373 473 618 [email protected] 1817 -
John Hemming Birmingham Yardley 0121 722 3417 [email protected] www.john.hemming.name 3002 ?
Martin Harwood Cheltenham 01242 224 889 [email protected] www.martinhorwood.net 4920 ?
Simon Hughes Southwark and Bermondsey 020 7219 6256 [email protected] www.simonhughes.org.uk 8530 ?
Chris Huhne Eastleigh 023 8062 0007 [email protected] www.chrishuhne.org.uk 3864 ?
Mark Hunter Cheadle 0161 486 1359 [email protected] www.cheadle-libdems.org.uk 3272 ?
Julian Huppert Cambridge 01223 304 421 [email protected] www.julianhuppert.org.uk/ 6792 ?
Charles Kennedy Ross, Skye & Lochaber 01349 862152 [email protected] www.charleskennedy.org.uk 13070 ?
Norman Lamb North Norfolk 01692 403752 [email protected] www.normanlamb.libdems.org.uk 11626 ?
David Laws Yeovil 01935 423284 [email protected] 13036 ?
John Leech Manchester Withington 0161 434 3334 [email protected] www.john-leech.co.uk 1850 ?
Stephen Lloyd Eastbourne luddite [email protected] www.stephenlloyd.org.uk 3435 ?
Michael Moore Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk 01896 663650 [email protected] www.michaelmoore.org.uk 5675 ?
Greg Mullholland Leeds North West 0113 226 6519 [email protected] www.gregmulholland.org 9103 ?
Tessa Munt Wells 01278 641 494 [email protected] www.wellslibdems.org.uk/ 800 ?
John Pugh Southport 01704 533555 [email protected] www.johnpughmp.com 6024 ?
Alan Reid Argylle Bute 01369 704840 [email protected] www.alanreid.org 3431 ?
Dan Rogerson North Cornwall 01566 777123 [email protected] www.danrogerson.org 2981 ?
Bob Russell Colchester 01206 506600 [email protected] bobrussell.org.uk 6982 ?
Adrian Sanders Torbay 01803 200 036 [email protected] www.adriansanders.org 4078 ?
Robert Smith Kincardine 01330 820330 [email protected] www.scotlibdems.org.uk/people/ 3684 ?
Andrew Stunnel Hazel Grove 0161 406 7070 [email protected] www.andrewstunell.org.uk 6371 ?
Ian Swales Redcar 01642 495704 [email protected] www.ianswales.com 5214 ?
Joe Swinson East Dumbartonshire 0141 762 2209 [email protected] www.joswinson.org.uk 2184 ?
Sarah Teather Brent Central 020 8459 0455 [email protected] www.sarahteather.libdems.org.uk 1345 ?
John Thurso Sutherland and Easter Ross [email protected] www.johnthurso.org 4826 ?
David Ward Bradford East 01274 787 595 [email protected] luddite 365 ?
Steve Webb Thornbury and Yate 01454 322 100 [email protected] www.stevewebb.org.uk 7116 ?
Roger Williams Brecon Radnorshir 01874 625 739 [email protected] www.rogerwilliams.org.uk 3747 ?
Stephen Williams Bristol West 0117 9423494 [email protected] www.stephenwilliams.org.uk 11366 ?
Mark Williams Ceredigion 01970 615 880 [email protected] markwilliams4ceredigion.org.uk/wordpress/ 8324 ?
Jenny Wilcott Cardiff Central 02920 668 558 [email protected] www.jennywillott.com 4576 ?
Simon Wright Norwich South 01603 627660 [email protected] www.simonwright.org.uk 310 ?
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