How to lobby your MP

CAFOD supporters joined the lobby queue to press MPs to ensure a fairer system of world trade. [Matt Parkes, CAFOD]

So you're going to contact your MP about an issue that matters to you: here are CAFOD's tips for effective lobbying

MPs can be a huge asset to your campaign – getting media coverage, raising issues with ministers, even sponsoring and voting for legislation.

The easiest way to lobby your MP is to write a letter or send a fax or email. Meeting them can be even more effective.

General lobbying tips

When to lobby: before key decisions are made, before elections or when public concern about an issue is high. If you become an MP correspondent, CAFOD will send you request letters at key moments to ensure maximum impact.

Do some research: what do you know about your MP? Have they attended parish events? What is their stance on poverty and justice issues? Are they a minister, opposition spokesperson, or member of an all-party group?

Include hard-hitting statistics and sound analysis: make your points clear and memorable, and back them up with solid information. CAFOD supplies MP correspondents with briefings which you can forward to your MP.

Include the human story: remind your MP that real people are suffering because of UK government policy. Personal stories can be taken from CAFOD letters and briefings.

Use the moral authority of the Church: this is a powerful and specific contribution you can make as a CAFOD supporter. Use quotes from Church leaders on the scandal of global poverty, or draw upon the Scriptures.

Be persistent but patient: update your MP with new information or copies of media coverage, especially from the local press. Build a friendly, constructive working relationship with your MP - they will be in office for at least four years!

Keep in touch with CAFOD: let us know about how your MP responds. Sharing information helps CAFOD enormously as it allows us to track MPs' positions and target them better.

Writing a letter to your MP

Remember, MPs only respond to enquiries from their own constituents.

It is worth writing to your MP whether or not their party is in power - cross-party support for an issue can be crucial.

• ask them to take a specific and realistic action
• be brief and compelling - no more than 2 sides of A4
• make your letter personal - sign your name and don't just copy and paste pro-forma letters
• mention any involvement with local organisation, school or church
• ask for a reply and confirmation that they have taken the action
• don't only criticise: letters of congratulation also make a difference

Meeting your MP

[Caroline Irby]

You can meet your MP at their local surgery, at a mass lobby of parliament or at a local hustings at election time.

Before the meeting:

• if you go as a group, assign roles (spokesperson, note taker etc)
• make sure you are well-briefed - rehearse your key messages
• anticipate common counter-arguments and prepare answers

During the meeting:

• be concise and convincing - get to the heart of the issue
• understand your MP's view and get a promise on what action they'll take
• write down what your MP says
• engage rather than confront
• don't be intimidated or derailed - your MP is there to serve you

After the meeting:

• write and thank your MP
• restate your main points and confirm any action you agreed

What can my MP do?

Inside Parliament

• send a letter to the relevant government department
• write to the minister involved
• see the minister personally
• ask a parliamentary question (written or oral)
• initiate or sign an Early Day Motion
• ask for an Adjournment Debate
• speak in a government debate
• use their influence on a Committee or All-Party Group
• respond to a Green or White paper, draft Bill or Committee Inquiry
• join an All-Party Group on a country or subject. There is an All-Party Parliamentary Friends of CAFOD group

Outside Parliament

• open, chair or speak at an event
• issue a press release or supply a quote for yours
• write to the local media or local authority
• sign a pledge in support of the campaign

take action

Last chance action on the Climate Bill

MPs are voting on the Climate Change Bill in October - we still need them to push for the UK to cut its emissions by at least 80%
Please email your MP now

Stop dangerous mines - email your pension fund

If 6,000 people email their pension fund, we could have £540m of financial power to pressure mining companies with - so, as well as taking action yourself, please send the action to up to six friends