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MAG Good News Spread the Word
Since Christmas:
Newspaper coverage
Over the Christmas period my local paper the York Press ran an article on the motorcyclist in Bristol who was victim of the stupid ‘yoof’ craze of playing chicken, running in front of vehicles whilst being filmed by mates on their mobile phones. The ‘yoof’ in this case took it too far and was hit by the biker who could not take evasive action. The kid was killed and the biker seriously injured. The rider is claiming from the criminal injuries compensation authority on the grounds that his injuries were caused by a reckless criminal act.
Trouble was the paper printed the story in such a way that it read as though the rider was taking a real liberty in so claiming. I sent a letter to the editor, expanding on the story and putting it into context. The letter was printed in full, with a foot note from the editor saying that their reporting was factual. Yes it was but it conveniently left out the salient facts! It prompted numerous e mails of support of my letter from the biking community.
MCN
Staying with the media theme, a letter appeared which was less than complimentary to MAG and whilst it is disappointing to see such correspondence, it nevertheless presented an opportunity to put forward the counter view. In my previous life the worst thing to happen when there were any ‘bad news’ stories was for there to be a stony silence or ‘no comment’. An editor’s field day!
Keep a watch out for opportunities to promote MAG in your national, local, or specialist press. If you want any help advice on composing a letter then just e mail me or call me.
I also took the opportunity of making personal contact with the editor of MCN, Marc Potter, which resulted in a visit to the EMAP Empire in Peterborough on 17th January. I set off on a cold morning on the 600 Fazer for a boring 150 mile haul down the A1. On arrival I was warmly greeted by Marc. I met up with the editors of Bike, Simon Hargreaves, Performance Bike, Tim Thompson, and Classic Bike, Hugo Wilson. I also met the man in overall charge of EMAP. He has been in position for only a couple of weeks and keen to establish meaningful links with MAG. Indeed the one thing that came out clear was a perception amongst the editors that MAG did not like them!
After a good amicable meeting over coffees and a tour round the EMAP Empire I felt very optimistic for our future relations. Marc even took me into his confidence on some exciting developments with their website and intimated that there could be opportunities for MAG within the website.
Still on the EMAP theme, I am being given the opportunity to have an interview with Bike magazine, scheduled to take place on 31st January. That’s pretty serious coverage for MAG!
Business Planning
Good progress continues on this project. Trevor and I sat down and thrashed out the commercial enterprise elements of MAG business , Sheila McMahon has helped me with the ‘people’ side of the business, ( I hate the term human resources, sounds like some Marxist interpretation of the production process, yuk – celebrate people, YOU matter!) . Justine and I have worked through the finances. I will present a first draft to the Board and NC on 9th & 10th Feb’.
House of Commons Transport Select Committee
One of the things that MAG has been involved with is the development of the Governments Motorcycle Strategy, which was published in February 2005. Progress on delivery, which is the responsibility of the DfT, can best be described as patchy consequently the above select committee has called a scrutiny. These are hard hitting enquiries held in auspicious imposing rooms in the Houses of Parliament, on a par with the most formidable Crown Courts and with Hon Gwyneth Dunwoody MP as chair as foreboding as the sternest Judges I have stood before.
MAG was called to give evidence based on a paper I had submitted on behalf of MAG to the committee in advance of the scrutiny. The hearing took place on 24th January and I am grateful to the support of our President who came along to take pictures then sat in the public gallery.
I was able to put forward the MAG views on issues we are campaigning on, bus lanes, 3DLD, police enforcement, secure parking, and inclusion in local transport planning and other issues. Unfortunately the scrutiny was overly focussed on the mini moto issue for my liking but at least I was able to put forward the good work MAG is involved in by way of partnership arrangements to encourage legitimate mini moto use in safe environments. The real benefit was that I appeared to have struck an accord with the Dowager of Westminster and made the point that MAG is here and we are credible contributors to policy with a voice to be heard.
Questions in the House mobile phones and DVLA blunders
During the debate my brother in law Robert Goodwill MP and Conservative part whip joined us and after the ‘ordeal’ took Mr President and myself to one of the many opulent hospitality rooms where tea and toasted teacakes was served on fine bone china. Within hailing distance the Dowager and members of the committee were sat and a healthy exchange of rib tickling banter took place.
MAG is at the centre of Parliament and our voice is being heard by Government.
Amongst this, as always serious business takes place and I thanked Robert for raising the issue in the house through the shadow transport secretary, Chris Grayling, on mobile phone enforcement. Whilst it is a step in the right direction to increase the penalties my concern is that you could introduce the death penalty but if there is no one out there to enforce then it is little more than window dressing. I raised this with Robert and hence the question in parliament, (apparently that’s one of the things whips do!).
DVLA blunders. This is something that has been going on for some time where peoples entitlement to ride motorcycles has been left off the licence when they have been returned from the DVLA. The issue has come to the fore again recently , ( see press release on MAG website). I have raised this with Robert and he is going to get a question asked in the house. I am grateful to MAG members who have e mailed me with some howlers which he will be able to put to good use as examples of how bad it can get.
Arrangements are in hand for me to have private meetings with the transport minister Steven Ladyman and the shadow minister, Chris Grayling.
The point here for all of you members is that you cant beat establishing good working relations with your local councillors, MP’s, newspaper editors and the like. In reality the most effective business and campaigning is done outside formal meetings.
Trust and respect has to be earned. It takes a long time and can be destroyed and undermined in a second!
Isle of Man TT Races 100 years celebration
2007 marks the Centenary of the most famous motorcycle road races in the world. Whole rafts of celebratory events are taking place including a special conference being run by the Motorcycle Research Unit of Huddersfield University. I was appointed as a visiting research fellow of the University in March of last year in recognition of research work I have been involved with over the years. The conference theme will be ‘The TT races, heritage, culture and place. The conference is something I was helping to set up before I took up employment with MAG. I have submitted a paper on titled ‘The Enthusiastic Spectators Perspective’, (I am a bit of a TT addict, ok not a bit a lot!).
The good news is that my paper has been accepted and I will be giving a presentation. This will now have a MAG spin and present an opportunity to promote MAG in front of the ‘great good and whose who’ in motorcycling.
Local Networking
In my previous life I had to, by nature of the job, be on close terms with the MP’s on my patch. I had William Hague, Richmond, Anne McIntosh, Vale of York, Hugh Bailey York, John Greenway Ryedale and Robert Goodwill Scarborough & Whitby.
Going back to the point I made earlier about establishing the links, be assured it is far more valuable than relying on correspondence, e mails or petitions. I have a diary full of when the North Yorkshire MP’s hold their surgeries and I will be going along and offering my help on issues they are struggling on in relation to motorcycling.
Note the tone here to help their understanding. We all like that don’t we and this will achieve far more than going in with a confrontational attitude.
As a MAG member do you know who your local MP is? Why not find out and go along to a surgery? You may be surprised at what you can achieve by just going along for an informal chat, outlining what MAG is involved in and how we want to engage in a positive way.
If you want any help advice, just give me a call. I will come along with you if you are a bit unsure just to help break the ice.
As MAG members you are the eyes and ears of the organisation and things which are picked up early enough can often be nipped in the bud before they become an ‘issue’.
Political Lobbying and Campaigning
On the 22nd January I went to an excellent seminar on political lobbying run by the MCIA at their HQ in Coventry. The guest speakers were the former transport minister David Jamieson MP, Mr David Padfield, former head of department for in the DfT and Mr Jeremy Sweeney who runs one of the most successful political and corporate affairs agencies in the UK. His company managed the pro hunting campaign when the legislation banning fox hunting was going through parliament.
So much sound advice was given and I learnt a lot which I will put to good use advancing MAG’s cause. The one thing it really did reinforce is that you cannot beat establishing the informal networks of trust and respect. It also emphasised the need to build up the numbers of people who may support the issue, ‘critical mass’ as its called in in campaigning parlance. See the Campaigns Strategy in Network
We need to build bridges and make alliances with interest groups that can promote our cause, identifying the common goals that we are trying to achieve.
Whenever you are considering campaigning on an issue think who else might want to come on board. You will be surprised!
If in doubt give me a call on;
Office, 01347 822214
Mobile, 077389 48080
So much to celebrate, feel proud about to be a MAG Member!!!!
Onwards and upwards!
David Short
Campaigns Manager
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