Will the government support my move against modern-day slavery?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/03/modern-day-slavery

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This week, David Cameron had the opportunity to take action to advance the cause once espoused by William Wilberforce and support a move against modern-day slavery. He didn't take it.

I have always thought there are issues and principles that stand above the usual party political point-scoring. And until recently, I thought that slavery and human trafficking were two of those. Last year, the prime minister made this bold statement: "The UK will lead the world in eradicating modern-day slavery and human trafficking" and to support that sentiment, the government has slowly moved closer to fully implementing the Council of Europe's convention on human trafficking. So when I succeeded in the ballot for a private members bill, it was therefore logical, as vice chair of the parliamentary group on human trafficking, to propose a bill that would tackle modern-day slavery.

The relevance of such a bill – one that would require UK companies to audit their supply chains – has become all the more obvious following Felicity Lawrence's exposure in the Guardian of what was described as the worst case of modern-day slavery ever seen in the UK. In this particular case, the gangmasters have been arrested, but not due to any vigilance on the part of the high street companies that sold products contaminated by slavery to innocent customers.

Indeed, most organisations trying to eradicate human trafficking recognise that large numbers are held in enslaved conditions for the exploitation of their labour. My bill would create a framework for large UK companies to audit their supply chain in order to drive out modern-day slavery from their goods and services (this model has recently successfully become law in California).

Support for the bill, which I tabled with cross-party support, has been widespread and church leaders, ethical business groups, civic society and specialist anti-slavery groups campaigned together in the runup to its second reading in the Commons on 19 October. I know it is tough to get a bill through that is lower down the ballot, but even Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP who toadied up to the government whips by agreeing to talk the bill out, spoke strongly in favour of its ideas and principles.

During PMQs two weeks ago, David Cameron said he would "look very carefully" at my bill and write to me. I know he has had other troubles since then, but I asked the chief whip, Sir George Young, to consult with the prime minister and seize the opportunity to take a stand on the moral high ground, and take a step to eradicate modern-day slavery from the UK.

On 2 November, the government had a second opportunity to allow my bill to pass to the next stage of the parliamentary process, but once again, whips organised filibuster and objection. But this bill and this issue will not go away. It will come before the gouse again on 18 January.

Cameron needs to keep his pledge – that the UK is to lead the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Dropping his opposition to the bill would help ensure that. I have still not received the letter he promised me, but a lot of non-governmental organisations are writing to urge him to pay close attention – this includes ManpowerGroup, The Centre for Social Justice (founded by Iain Duncan Smith) and the Church of Scotland and Unseen.

We won't give up until we achieve what we thought Wilberforce had already done all those years ago.