Here’s the motion:
That this House expresses its support for the use of the combined MMR vaccine; notes with concern the re-emergence of measles and the loss of life and long-term health problems which will afflict children as a result of the decline in the vaccination rate which followed Dr Andrew Wakefield’s now discredited research paper suggesting a link between MMR vaccine and autism; expresses its disappointment that ill-informed comments by presenters such as Jeni Barnett on her LBC radio show will continue to cause unfounded anxieties for many parents and are likely to result in some parents choosing not to vaccinate their children; recognises the right of Jeni Barnett as a parent to make her own judgement about vaccinations for her own children but implores her and others in the media to act more responsibly when making comments in the public domain; and further expresses its hope that in the future reporting the issue of MMR will be less sensationalist and more evidence-based.
Here’s the performance of the main parties at the moment in terms of percentage of MPs who have supported the EDM (number of seats held by each party):
Conservatives: 2%
Labour: 10%%
Liberal Democrats: 38%
Well done Liberal Democrats. Shame on the Conservatives and Labour, especially the Conservatives given they introduced MMR vaccine.