MPs call on Public:
Use your phones to back our Cricketers

At a Westminster press conference tomorrow, MPs from all parties will call on the public to back England's cricketers in their stand on Zimbabwe by ringing a national vote line, set up by the Aegis Zimbabwe Fund. By ringing the vote line - 0906 1200 005 - every caller automatically donates £1.00 toward the £1million ICC fine the English Cricket Board would face for pulling out of the match in Zimbabwe, set for 13 February.

Speakers will include Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary (Con); Lindsay Hoyle MP (Lab); Michael Moore MP, Foreign Affairs Spokesman (Lib Dem); Lady Hermon, Culture Media and Sport spokesman (Ulster Unionists), Lord Hoyle of Warrington, Chairman of the All Party Cricket Group. The conference will be chaired by Dr James M Smith (Aegis Trust).

"The vote will sends a message to the England team that it's not alone in this moral stand," says campaign initiator Dr James Smith. "It will also show the millions of Zimbabweans being deliberately starved by Mugabe that ordinary people in Britain do care."

Former England cricketer Robert Croft today joined Sir Bob Geldof and Booker winner Yann Martel in backing the campaign. "It is great that ordinary people on the street are coming out in support of the national team," he stated, "but it is important if ordinary people are showing solidarity, that the Government should come out in support too. Perhaps they can match us pound for pound."

Press conference venue: Jubilee Room, House of Commons, Westminster: 12 noon, Thursday 30 January

For more information, contact:
David Brown, Press Officer, Aegis Zimbabwe Fund (Tel: 01623 836627, Mob: 07812 640873)

Jonathan Collett, Senior Media Officer, Conservative Party (Tel: 020 7984 8224, Mob: 0774 089 6805)

Please note - there will be a significant photo opportunity.

The Aegis Trust, Charity No. 1082856