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Thank you for making poverty an election issue

The dust has finally settled. The deals have been made. We have a new Prime Minister and a new era in British politics with the first peace-time coalition government in 70 years. But how did CAFOD supporters help put poverty and climate change on the agenda this election?

Whatever happens in the first weeks or months of the new government, it’s clear that your hard work has put the plight of the world’s poorest communities on the agenda of all the major political parties.

Thank you for raising issues around aid, climate change and making business work for the poor with the candidates who will now represent you in Parliament.

You made climate change matter in marginal seats

We 'asked the climate question' at hustings in 45 marginal seats in England, Wales and Scotland, as part of the Ask the Climate Question coalition of development and environmental agencies. Read our blogs from the York Outer constituency hustings .

An average of 85 people attended each climate or Churches Together hustings, which attracted local, regional and church media coverage. Voters in marginal seats showed how much they cared about climate change, pushing all the candidates to think about and justify their position on this crucial development issue.

Thank you for joining the hustings, asking questions, advertising events in parishes and putting up posters in your windows.

You put climate change on the national political agenda

We will be working with the new government and parliament to ensure the needs of the developing world are heard and we hope you’ll join us every step of the way.

Rachael Varney, CAFOD

The major parties recognised the high level of the public pressure for action on climate change and agreed to focus their campaigning on climate change on 26 April.

Ask the Climate Question hosted a lively debate with Ed Miliband, Simon Hughes and Greg Clark of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties and Darren Johnston from the Green Party. Over 200 people were part of the specially invited audience, including six CAFOD campaigners. Read our blog from the event.

You responded to our request to email Sky News with a climate question for the second TV leaders' debate. Although the question asked focussed on what the leaders' would do to cut their personal carbon emissions, they used it as an opportunity to talk about the bigger picture. Millions of people were able to hear what the parties were planning on climate change if elected.

You questioned your local candidates on poverty and climate change

Nearly 2,000 email actions on poverty and climate change were sent to prospective parliamentary candidates, prompting replies and commitments from candidates from all parties.

Local CAFOD groups and individuals wrote to or visited their candidates and organised local hustings, often alongside Churches Together groups.

Your feedback is invaluable, and helps us hold MPs to account now they are in office. It’s not too late to fill in our feedback form and let us know what your candidates pledged.

You committed to keep up the pressure

As a result of election campaigning, 28 people signed up to join our 450-strong network of MP correspondents. MPs tell us time and time again that personal contact from local constituents strongly influences which issues they take action on.

Backed up with information and support from CAFOD, MP correspondents write to or meet their MPs three times a year – and make sure poverty and climate change remain on their MP’s agenda.

Find out more about how you can join them.

Thank you

“If you have taken part in this election in any way, please be assured that your efforts as constituents do make a difference on behalf of poor communities worldwide,” concludes CAFOD’s parliamentary and government relations co-ordinator Rachael Varney.

“We will be working with the new government and parliament to ensure the needs of the developing world are heard and we hope you’ll join us every step of the way.”

Read our response to the new government from CAFOD Director Chris Bain.