In a remarkable display of cross party support, the last UK Parliament before the General Election in May 2010 was asked to back a motion welcoming the establishment of the Foundation.
The Motion was -
That this House welcomes the cross-party support at the launch in Parliament on 1 December 2009 of the Steve Sinnott Foundation, a charity set up to promote the United Nations Millennium Development Goal 2 of universal primary education for all by 2015; notes that the Foundation will work with teachers worldwide to set up a global online community through which they can share knowledge and experience and help secure a primary education for the 75 million children who are denied the opportunity to attend school; and further notes that the work of the Foundation will continue the work and commitment of Steve Sinnott, the late General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, who was passionate about the cause of primary education for all.
Early day motions, known as EDMs, are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. They are not normally debated but are often used to demonstrate the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause. The Foundation greatly welcomes the support now given by this motion and the profile which it gives to the Foundation and its objectives.
The signatories to the motion were:
Rt Hon. Jacqui Smith M.P., Former Secretary of State, Education and Skills, former Home Secretary.
Michael Gove M.P., Conservative Shadow Secretary of State, Children Schools and Families.
David Laws M.P., Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State, Children Schools and Families.
AND
Richard Burden, M.P.
Hugh Bayley, M.P.
Phil Willis, M.P.
Londsay Hoyle, M.P.
Peter Bottomley, M.P.
Alan Simpson, M.P.
Lynne Jones M.P.
David Lepper M.P.
John McDonnell M.P.
Alan Meale M.P.
Colin Burgon M.P.
Martin Caton M.P.
Frank Cook M.P.
Ann Cryer M.P.
Andrew Dismore M.P.
Katy Clark M.P.
Greg Pope M.P.
Bob Russell M.P.
Adrian Sanders M.P.
David Simpson M.P.
Kelvin Hopkins M.P.
Joan Humble M.P.
Chris McCafferty M.P.M.P.
Ian McCartney M.P.
Dr. William McCrea M.P.
Susan Kramer M.P.
Linda Riordan M.P.
Colin Breed M.P.
Annette Brooke M.P.
Harry Cohen M.P.
Andrew George M.P.
Charlotte Atkins M.P.
Rudi Vis M.P.
Steve Webb M.P.
John Leech M.P.
Brian Jenkins M.P.
David Chaytor M.P.
Alan Beith M.P.
Matthew Taylor M.P.
Jo Swinson M.P.
Paul Rowen M.P.
Stephen Hepburn M.P.
Chris Huhne M.P.
Paul Keetch M.P.
Lembit Opik M.P.
Menzies Campbell M.P.
Betty Williams M.P.
Roger Williams M.P.
John Hemming M.P.
Stephen Williams M.P.
Nick Harvey M.P.
Charles Kennedy M.P.
Malcolm Bruce M.P.
Tom Brake M.P.
Bill Etherington M.P.
Danny Alexander M.P.
Lynne Featherstone M.P.
Mark Hunter M.P.
Edward Davey M.P.
Janet Anderson M.P.
Andrew Pelling M.P.
Daniel Rogerson M.P.
Lindsay Roy M.P.
Elfyn Llwyd M.P.
Edward O'Hara M.P.
Neil Gerrard M.P.
Andrew Stunell M.P.
Eric Illsley M.P.
Paul Burstow M.P.
Michael Clapham M.P.
John Pugh M.P.
Greg Mulholland M.P.
Julia Goldsworthy M.P.
David Howarth M.P.
Don Foster M.P.
Simon Hughes M.P.
Jenny Willott M.P.
Sarah Teather M.P.
Mark Francois M.P.
