A slight case of overblogging

• the deadline must be extended
• those with settled status must have some form of proof - eg a printable QR code

• Children in care and adopted children
• Elderly people alone or in care
• Those with dementia or other conditions which make it hard to understand the issue
• People with limited digital skills or English who struggle with the process
• Long-term residents who think Indefinite Leave to Remain or Permanent Residence status counts
• Those married to UK nationals who haven't realised this is not sufficient

• all EU citizens are properly informed before the deadline
• all people are given sufficient time to apply
• all applications are processed fairly
• everyone who has Settled Status has the means to prove it
• no-one is removed from the UK while waiting for an application
• visitors to the UK are not treated with suspicion

Larissa Nolan writes in the Irish Times about being a non-religious pro-life supporter in the current climate, and how she finds the rhetoric of some of the pro-choice supporters to be off-putting: The Repeal the Eighth march will backfire

However I find myself utterly baffled, because nearly everything she describes herself as wanting is totally compatible with a pro-choice point of view, and with the repeal of the 8th amendment in Ireland (and the similar laws in Northern Ireland).

"I do not judge anyone who has ever come to the decision that an abortion is the best choice for them at a given time. That is their own business, borne out of their own individual circumstance."

She thinks abortion should be

"a viable last-resort option in a desperate situation"

And details some of those situations:

"women suffering the grief of carrying a baby with a fatal foetal abnormality should not have to travel to end the ordeal."

"if that mother has six other children at home to look after, surely the only right answer is to prioritise her life in the case of an emergency"

But most shocking for me was:

"I understand that there are woman out there who, deep inside, actually do want to go ahead with the pregnancy, despite the emotional, physical and financial struggle of single parenthood – and despite the shame and the social stigma. [...] It is harmful for women not to allow them this."

No-one I know who is pro-choice considers that abortion should be forced upon anyone. What we should be doing is making sure that all women who become pregnant are properly supported in their choice as to what to do next. And that includes making it easier in terms of support for those who want to keep their children in difficult circumstance.

Finally what could be more pro-choice than this:

"It is grossly irresponsible to push your own beliefs and agenda, whatever they may be, on anyone who finds themselves in a crisis pregnancy situation. It is a decision only they can make, as the only ones who have to live with it. It is not you and your political ideology that could be left with a lifetime of psychological damage."

I think overall she makes a very strong case for repealing the 8th amendment.

Quick post to pass this on. Note from David Howarth's press secretary today:

Just to let you know, David has just told me that there were 1190
signatures on the petition when he handed it in! Am amazed by the response!

Update: It is now too late to sign this petition, but many thanks to those who did, and don't forget you can still sign http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes/

Just received this from CCC. If anyone can print out, sign, and return to address by today's post that would be brilliant.

Cambridge MP David Howarth has an opportunity at very short
notice to present a petition in the House of Commons opposing the
changes detrimental to cycling in the new Highway Code that we
contacted you about last week.

Anyone can sign the petition: it is not specific to Cambridge
constituency voters.

Unfortunately though it has to be physically signed with an
original signature on the correct form. Therefore, please can
we ask you to print the form which you can find at

  http://www.camcycle.org.uk/campaigning/issues/highwaycode/petition.html

fill it in and send it by post *to ARRIVE by this THURSDAY morning*
at the absolute latest (Wednesday if possible) to

  David Howarth MP
  David House, Room 4/11
  Norman Shaw North
  House of Commons
  London SW1A 0AA

(n.b. not just to the usual House of Commons address, please, as that
mail would then end up back in Cambridge)

Please ask friends and colleagues who you can contact to fill in the
form as well. Please feel free to circulate this as widely as you can.

As before further details about the issue can be found at
  http://www.camcycle.org.uk/campaigning/issues/highwaycode

The highway code is preparing for a new version, as it regularly does, and the current version before parliament for consideration contains the phrase "cyclists should use cycle facilities where possible" - regardless of whether convenient or even safe. There's a petition up on the number 10 site requesting that this clause be re-thought. As many of my friends-list cycle I thought I'd mention it here (previously it has travelled through cam.misc, the cambridge cycling campaign mailing list, the #chiark irc channel, and another friend's LJ - it's interesting that I can recognise names from all those places). Anyway it's here if you're interested: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes/.

In other news, and on which I'll try and write more later, since nothing has really happened until you've blogged about it:

• My sister is married and the wedding was utterly utterly lovely.
• We still don't have a desk, but may do tomorrow if we're lucky.
• And 65 Days of Static were excellent last night at the Junction 2 - proper tour later this year, do catch them if you can.