SIR – With the General Election fast approaching, now is the time to empower those who have long been neglected by successive governments to shape the future agenda.

Because 250,000 people in the UK are affected by ME, nearly every T&A reader will know someone with the illness.

Recent press coverage about Lynn Gilderdale’s tragic story yet again highlights how devastating ME can be.

Action For ME and the Association Of Young People With ME have produced a joint manifesto.

We urge everyone with ME, together with their relatives and friends, to use this document to lobby their local MP and all other Parliamentary candidates.

It spells out the issues and demands answers on how each candidate in the election would tackle them.

By joining forces, a significant number of voters will be able to transform the collective voice of people with ME, a deafening cry that can no longer be ignored.

The election manifesto for ME and a template letter to send to MPs can be found at afme.org.uk.

Sir Peter Spencer, chief executive, Action For ME, and Mary-Jane Willows, chief executive, Association Of Young People With ME