How to Lobby your MP

What is Lobbying

As part of the FBU continuing campaigns we need Government MPs to hear directly from their constituents that the cuts in spending will hit our service, threatening the social fabric and increase inequality.

The best way to deliver this message is through joint delegations of FBU members and those who rely on the service we provide or those who will be directly affected by the cuts.

Every MP should recognise that their constituents have a right to lobby them regardless of who they voted for. You can lobby your MP either in Parliament or at the constituency surgery which most MPs will organise on a regular basis. If they don’t have regular surgeries they will usually list a phone number on their website where you can make an appointment to see them.

Its more important that coalition MPs hear a strong message from their constituents whether this takes place in Parliament or in their constituencies.

The aim of our campaign is to persuade Government MPs that the cuts they plan are too fast, too deep and unfair in their impact. This means that this is a continuing campaign – not just a one off lobby event. The message needs to get through that their constituents are deeply concerned about the impact of the cuts and want the Government to change course. It may  be unrealistic to expect an MP to announce complete change in their views after a single meeting, but the more they get the message that their constituents are opposed to the cuts the more worried they will be.

You should therefore use a meeting with your MP to:

• Make sure they understand the impact of changes to the FRS on both a  national and local scale
• Find out their views on the key issues in the cuts debate.

Meeting your MP

In theory you can turn up at Westminster any time that the House of Commons is sitting and request a meeting with your MP. But there is no guarantee that they will be available to meet you.

Particularly when you are joining a lobby such as ours, you should do everything you can to arrange a meeting in advance.

Arrangements in advance

The best way to contact your MP is to write to him or her at the House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA. Most MPs also use email and should treat emails in the same way as a letter. You can find out your MPs email address at the following website

www.parliament.uk and follow the links to MPs and Lords and then find your MP

MPs have had a letter from the FBU about the lobby so should be aware of the event. So keep your letter simple and polite, perhaps just stating that you will be coming, the size of your group and asking for a meeting. It is always useful to make it clear in the letter that you are a constituent of the MP.

It is always worth giving your MP your mobile phone number. This may help them track you down on the day.

Because of the pressure on Central Lobby – the area in the House of Commons where visitors traditionally wait for MPs – there is a limit of 100 lobbyists.

It is therefore a good idea to suggest to your MP that you meet elsewhere. They may suggest that you meet outside the main Palace of Westminster in one of the other office buildings for MPs around Westminster. Portcullis House may be a popular choice for this as it has communal areas where it is easy to meet and has efficient security procedures.

If you are meeting your MP in the Central Lobby or elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster, you will enter through a ramped entrance to the left of St Stephens entrance to the Commons. Any FBU steward or police officer will tell you where this is.

After clearing the security search point you will be routed through Westminster Hall and then up a staircase and along to Central Lobby. Stewards or FBU Officials will be available to help you. Before you queue for the security check, inform a police officer if you have a meeting arranged with your MP and show them any correspondence you may have. This should allow you to go straight into the security checking area without queuing with the general public for tours of Parliament. Your MP or member of their staff will usually come to meet you in Central Lobby. You need to go to the desk in Central Lobby and ask them to telephone your MPs office.

Remember you will have to go through “airport type” security to gain access to Parliament – on a busy day this can take up to 15 minutes – and you may need to queue until there is a space. You should take as little as possible with you into the Palace. NB – If you are wearing a fire tunic please remember to remove all personal cutting equipment (knives) from your kit before entering the security area.

What if you don’t have an arranged meeting?

If your MP has greed to meet you, but not given any details of where and when, or of you have not already arranged a meeting with your MP, you will need to queue outside the new entrance next to St Stephen’s.

The police will only allow 100 people, including lobbyists and other visitors, into Central Lobby at any time. Pass through the security check and proceed to Central Lobby, go to the desk and ask for a “Green Card”, which is a request for your MP to meet you. This should be filled in and returned as directed. It is important that on the card you make a clear statement as to your reason for visiting such as “to discuss the public spending cuts on the FRS” or more specifically with a local issue.

This is important because, if you don’t manage to meet with your MP the card will be sent onto him or her. The MP should then respond directly to you in due course – clearly the more they know the better they can respond to you.

The desk staff will take the card and officials will be asked to look for your MP and let them know you are asking to meet them. While you should wait for a while don’t forget that lobbyists with firm commitments to meet their MP will be waiting to get in so you should be prepared to give up waiting after 20 minutes or so.

Meeting your MP

It is best to be as brief, clear and courteous as possible. In particular have in mind what you actually wish to say to your MP and what questions you want to ask them. If they send their researcher instead treat them in the same way.

You should thank him or her for taking the time to see you, establish how much time they have, have your arguments ready and most importantly ask them to explain their views. Being good a dodging questions is part of every politician’s job. While there is no need to turn into Paxman you should be prepared to press if necessary.

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