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		MEPs join MPs call on public to back our cricketers Thursday, 30 January 2003 East Midlands Euro-MPs Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer have joined cross party MPs in calling on the public to back England’s cricketers in their stand on Zimbabwe. At a Westminster press conference today, MPs from all parties launched 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. Among those showing support was: 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 and the conference was chaired by Dr James M Smith (Aegis Trust). The campaign has also received the full backing of Tory MEPs in Brussels including East Midlands Euro-MPs Chris Heaton-Harris and Roger Helmer, who have both made donations to the campaign. Speaking from Brussels, Conservative Euro-MP Chris Heaton-Harris said: "I have written to the England Cricket Board asking them to reconsider their decision to go ahead with the scheduled tests in Zimbabwe and to the players offering my support. I urge people to call the national vote line and register their support for the national team. The government should be taking a much stronger stand on this issue and at the very least be matching the fund pound for pound."