14 July 2008

With less than a month to go before the opening of the Beijing Olympics, dozens of MPs will gather tomorrow outside Parliament to show their support and concern for the people of Tibet.

The cross party group of sympathetic MPs includes former ministers Kate Hoey, Frank Field, Chris Mullin, Michael Meacher and former Academy Award winner and MP, Glenda Jackson. They will show their support for Free Tibet Campaign’s “T for Tibet” project by being photographed making a T sign with their hands. Their photos will join those of other leading celebrities such as Joanna Lumley and Jeremy Irons who have already signed up.

For further information on the T for Tibet Campaign, which will be formally launched on 15 July: http://www.tfortibet.org (website will be live tomorrow morning).

Ex Sports Minister Kate Hoey said: “With this campaign we want to send a message to the Chinese government that the fanfare surrounding the upcoming Beijing Olympics cannot be allowed to divert attention away from its ongoing and worsening human rights record in Tibet. It would be wonderful if a British athlete were to exercise their conscience whilst in China and make a similar signal of concern for the plight of the people of Tibet.”

Explaining his involvement in the campaign Phil Glenister, star of Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, commented: “My message to the British government: Get off your backside and do something to free Tibet.”

For further information and contact at the photoshoot:

Matt Whitticase t: +44(0)20 7324 4605 / m: +44 (0)7515 788456

Anne Holmes     t: +44(0)20 7324 4605 / m: +44(0)7798 666658

Where: College Green (opposite Parliament, due south of Jewel Tower. Jewel Tower is marked on map: http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/faxmap.pdf)

When: 12:30pm Tuesday 15 July