Help us change UK law on surrogacy – act now
Following Jessica Lee MP’s Parliamentary call for surrogacy reform, the Minister for Public Health (Jane Ellison MP) has said the government will consider in early January whether UK surrogacy law should be reviewed. But she first wants to hear what other MPs think. This means we need your help, and we need it now.
Please consider writing to your MP to ask him or her to contact Jessica Lee MP with their support before the end of December. We have prepared some guidance to help you write a letter or email (see below). Personal stories carry the most weight, so make it your own.
You can find out who your MP is and how to contact them here: http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/contacting-your-mp/
We want to collate as much information as we can to help in our campaigning work. It would be great if you could let us know who your MP is and that you have written to them. If you are happy to share your letter with us (and any response), please do – we will treat it in the strictest confidence.
Thank you.
Guidance on a letter to your MP
Introduction
Say that you are aware of the current legislation and read the debate about surrogacy reform in Parliament on 14 October, and that you are writing because you understand that the Minister wants to know what other MPs think. Say that you are eager to know further details of how the government are going to assist families/surrogates to achieve changes to UK surrogacy law.
My/our story
If you are a parent or an intended parent:
Say why you need a surrogate to help you build your family. If you do not yet have a child, say about your wish to do so. How long have you been considering surrogacy? What are your options for finding a surrogate? Would you rather stay in the UK or go overseas? What do you perceive to be the obstacles and challenges? How many other people do you know in a similar situation to you?
If you have a child, say how he or she was born. What problems did you experience, if any? What were the good things about your journey?
If you went through surrogacy overseas, what problems did you experience and what were the good things about your journey? Why did you decide to go abroad? Would you have preferred to stay in the UK? How long did it take you to get home?
If you stayed in the UK, how long had you been trying with a surrogate and had you tried with more than one? How did you make contact with your surrogate? What kind of obstacles did you encounter? What was the most positive part of your journey (over and above having your child)?
If you are a surrogate:
Say why you decided to become a surrogate. What motivated you, and how do you feel about your commitment to your intended parents and to handing over the child?
If you are pregnant or have been a surrogate in the past, how did you match with your intended parents? What are/were the good things about your journey? What were the challenges?
If you are planning to be a surrogate, who would you like to match with and how will you make contact with them? What do you perceive to be the obstacles and challenges of becoming a surrogate in the UK?
If you are a professional:
Explain your experience of surrogacy and why you care about these issues.
Why you should support Jessica Lee’s campaign
Jessica Lee MP has called for:
- Pre-birth orders enabling the intended parents to be recognised as the legal parents from birth
- Written contracts at the outset for UK surrogacy
- An international structure for surrogacy so that arrangements are recognised in the UK
Explain what a difference this would make to you personally, and to others in your position.
Conclusion
Ask your MP to contact Jessica Lee MP before the end of December to give his/her support to her campaign, and ask him/her to update you with their efforts.