Action for ME and the ME Association are keen to continue providing joint secretariat for a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME. Since the election, we have been engaging with new and continuing MPs to raise understanding of ME; this has included increasing the number of Parliamentary Champions as reported yesterday.
We are now in the process of contacting parliamentarians to secure commitment from parliamentarians to take on one of the four officer roles needed to establish the APPG and the minimum requirement of 20 members. Once we are confident that these can be secured, a date will be identified for an Inaugural Meeting. Assuming appointments of the officers and membership requirements are met, the APPG can then be formally registered.
Action for ME and the ME Association will work together, including through engagement with ForwardME, to ensure the APPG carries the greatest impact it can for people affected by ME. We are also keen to work with the APPG on a new communications strategy.
We will share further updates as soon as we have them.
We are aware that many of you may already have met with, or had conversations with your local MP, and if so, would very much welcome you to contact them to invite them to join the APPG or enquire whether they would take on an officer role.
Please direct any MPs, or send any information, to policy@actionforme.org.uk.
Thank you for your support.
