EDM tabled in British Parliament on Constitutional Referendum

MPs have tabled an Early Day Motion* that "welcomes the democratic victory of Hugo Chávez" in the recent referendum. It recognises the many electoral victories of Chavez and his coalition as well as some of the gains of the Bolviarian Revolution. This is in direct contradiction to the many lies that are spun by the media about the election and the revolution. We welcome this initiative and ask that our supporters in Britain encourage their MPs to sign it.

Full text of EDM 861:

"That this House welcomes the democratic victory of Hugo Chavez in a national constitutional referendum on 15 February 2009, won with 55 per cent. support and with a 70 per cent. turnout; notes that international electoral observers, the Venezuelan opposition and the US administration, have recognised the results; further notes that this was the 13th electoral victory by Chavez and his coalition of supporters in the past decade; and congratulates the Venezuelan government on its strong democratic record and progressive and popular policies that have included free healthcare being made available to millions of people for the first time, the eradication of illiteracy to UNESCO standards and the halving of extreme poverty."

* Acc. to UK Parliament website: "Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view."

Current signatories:

Labour Party

• Abbott, Diane
• Burgon, Colin
• Caton, Martin
• Challen, Colin
• Corbyn, Jeremy
• Cruddas, Jon
• Cryer, Ann
• Drew, David
• Flynn, Paul
• Francis, Hywel
• Gerrard, Neil
• Gibson, Ian
• Godsiff, Roger
• Hopkins, Kelvin
• Jones, Lynne
• Kilfoyle, Peter
• McDonnell, John
• Sheridan, Jim
• Simpson, Alan
• Singh, Marsha
• Taylor, David
• Vis, Rudi
• Wareing, Robert N
• Wood, Mike

Liberal Democrats

• Hancock, Mike
• Holmes, Paul