Campaign Update

Since the initial Court decision was announced just before Christmas there has been a huge amount of positive and constructive coverage and media interest in the plight of the Museum. Supporters have continued to lobby their MPs and our Supporters in Parliament have sponsored an Early Day Motion  - please ask your MP to sign it - and Lord Flight of Worcester has put down an Oral Question for the Minister in the House of Lords.

There has been wide coverage of John Caudwell’s incredibly generous offer to “Save the Collection” – he is a native of the Potteries and recognises the importance of the collection for Staffordshire and beyond. Any future offer would be conditional, of course and he has stated that he regards himself as a “lender of last resort” – a safety-net should all other efforts fail.

As reported in The Daily Telegraph on 11^th January,  the campaign still awaits the decision of the Attorney-General as to whether he will seek leave to appeal – until this is determined, any necessary fundraising appeal cannot be launched. It remains the objective of the campaign to seek a legal or political solution that will safeguard the collection within an inalienable trust for the nation.

Thank you for your ongoing support – please continue to lobby your MP and Ministers.

Media Coverage round up:

· "Wedgwood Family fight for their Family History" Daily Telegraph, (11th January 2012)

· Letter from Dr Alan Wedgwood, Dr Janet Wedgwood and family, Daily Telegraph, (10th January 2012)

· Victoria Lambert article "John Caudwell: 'I can't stand by and see our Wedgwood heritage shattered'"in The Daily Telegraph (24th December 2011)

· Alison Wedgwood's letter to The Staffordshire Sentinel "Wedgwood Family React to news about Museum Collection" (23rd December 2011)

· BBC Midlands Today segment on the Court Case - watch the clip on our YouTube Channel. (19th December 2011).

In Parliament: House of Lords - Oral Question.

Lord Flight of Worcester has tabled an Oral Question in the Lords for 14th February 2012. The question reads: 

“To ask Her Majesty’s Government if they intend to legislate in the light of the Wedgwood Museum case to prevent “last man standing” rule applying to the assets of charitable museums or other charities.”

Lord Flight wishes to press the point that when the legislation establishing the PPF was passed, there was no intent by Parliament that the “last man standing” rule would be interpreted to result in seizing the Collection of a Museum established as a charity.

We will report the Hansard transcript when available.

In Parliament: Wedgwood Museum Early Day Motion

Hon. Dr Tristram Hunt MP is the Primary Sponsor of an Early Day Motion in support of the Wedgwood Museum. Early Day Motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. Whilst few are actually debated EDMs allow MPs to draw attention to an event or cause. MPs register their support by signing individual motions.

Please ask you MP to support Early day motion 2585 "Wedgwood Museum Future" and click through to see who is already supporting it.

Please use this (MS Outlook) e-mail template if you wish or download example e-mail text and background narrative.