“That this House notes that 2005 is the 50th anniversary of the first description in medical literature of the illness myalgic encephalopathy/encephalomyelitis (ME); is concerned by the subsequent lack of scientific research into the illness during that time, which has been a cause of distress to the quarter million ME sufferers in the UK; reminds the Government of the study, ME: Cost to the Nation, that put the annual economic cost of ME at £3.5 billion; is dismayed to learn that one of the few contemporary scientific studies into the cause of this illness, carried out by Glasgow University, is under threat from lack of funds; and calls on the Government to provide the necessary funds to secure and promote this and other studies into the cause and treatment of ME”

Action for ME have constantly asked local groups and members to write to their MP encouraging them to sign up to this EDM. ME North East have written to all MP’s in our region and have had a number of replies. Only those below (who are eligible to vote) have not responded. AfME now tell us that we have a national total of 200 signatures. This is a fantastic number – but to get the message across we need more. We list below those we have not heard from and if your local MP is named we would urge you to write and ask him/her to add their support.

Rt Hon Nick Brown (Newcastle East & Wallsend)
Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham)
Rt Hon Stephen Byers (Newcastle)
Mr Frank Cook (Billingham)
Mr Stewart Bell (Middlesbrough)
Mr Jim Cousins (Newcastle Central)
Mr Alan Campbell (North Shields)
Rt Hon Derek Foster (Bishop Auckland)
Mr John McWilliam (Tyne & Wear)
Mr David Milliband (South Shields)
Mr Chris Mullin (Sunderland)
Mr Denis Murphy (Ashington)
Dari Taylor (Stockton)
Ms Roberta Blackman-Woods (Durham)