E-cigs - I need your help Dear Friend,



The European Parliament will vote on October 8 to determine its position as to whether to classify e-cigarettes as medicines, potentially restricting their availability, adding cost and forcing some manufacturers out of business.



I believe that e-cigarettes could be a game changer in helping people to get off tobacco and live healthier lives. My impression is that there is growing momentum behind this view but we are still some way off winning the vote. We need a positive and decisive result to ensure that e-cigs remain at least as available as tobacco products in order to send a strong message to those who will be negotiating a final agreement between MEPs and EU governments.



This is why I need your help.



Obviously we need support from MEPs in 28 different countries but Parliament's rapporteur (team leader if you like) is British Labour MEP Linda McAvan. Until now she has supported the medicines regulatory approach, and so have all her British Labour colleagues. If they can be persuaded to move it could make all the difference. We can already count on the support of my Liberal Democrat colleagues, together with British Conservatives. On this issue even UKIP MEPs may cast a vote, and if they do it will be along the lines we wish.



I have attached the email addresses of Labour MEPs to the bottom of this email.



The most effective way of persuading them is NOT to send identical e-mails to all. I would encourage you to write only to the MEPs for the region in which you live, and tell your personal story about why e-cigs have made a difference to you.



With regards





Chris Davies MEP

Liberal Democrat spokesman on the environment and public health committee Labour MEPs Glenis Willmott MEP - East Midlands - office@gleniswillmott.org.uk Arlene McCarthy MEP - North West - arlene.mccarthy@easynet.co.uk Derek Vaughan MEP - Wales - contact@derekvaughanmep.org.uk Richard Howitt MEP - Eastern - richard@richardhowittmep.com Mary Honeyball MEP - London - mary@maryhoneyball.net Claude Moraes MEP - London - office@claudemoraes.com Stephen Hughes MEP - North East - stephen-hughes@btconnect.com Brian Simpson MEP - North West - briansimpson.labour@virgin.net David Martin MEP - Scotland - david@martinmep.com Catherine Stihler MEP - Scotland - cstihlermep@btconnect.com Peter Skinner MEP - South East - southeast@peterskinnermep.eu Michael Cashman MEP - West Midlands - michaelcashman@phonecoop.coop Linda McAvan MEP - Yorkshire and the Humber - linda@lindamcavanmep.org.uk