Ask MP to say no to Murdoch on Wednesday

There's going to be a vote in Parliament this Wednesday on Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB power grab. I've just emailed Neil Carmichael MP asking him to vote no. The past weeks revelations are shocking even to those of us who didn't have a great opinion of Murdoch papers. Control of BSkyB would mean yet more power for Murdoch - how much he wants it is shown by the termination of the News of the World as a move to try and stem the criticisms.

I had just emailed Neil when I came across an email from a local campaigner who was urging the same and more. He wrote: "Like many millions of English Citizens you will have been disgusted by the revelations about the News of the World's abuse of power against ordinary citizens caught up in the media storm of the loss of a loved one. This is nothing new the gutter press has been in the last chance saloon since the Second World War and the time for root and branch reform and regulation cannot come a day too soon to protect and safeguards the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. There have been far to many inquiries and investigations and the time is now for decisive action.".

He went onto urge three things:

1) Be a responsible consumer  and in particular Don't buy the Sun, News of the World, Times and Sunday Times and cancel your Sky subscription.
2) Write to the Jeremy Darroch the Chief Executive of B Sky B  at Grant Way Isleworth,Middlesex TW7 5QD  urging British Sky Broadcasting to take active steps to oppose the take over by News International/ News Corporation and to remove directors associated with those companies from the Board of B Sky B.
3) Write to your MP urging him or her to request the Government to legislate on the basis of the 1992 Freedom and Responsibility of the Press Bill and also encourage Ofcom to remove B Sky B's broadcasting licences. Or as I note it's easy to email your MP with the 38 degrees campaign - it only takes less than 2 minutes: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/stand-up-to-murdoch