Contact your MP

Your MP is elected to represent you and their constituents, and are usually happy to help if they can. By hearing from you, you might even highlight an issue they are already interested in.

There are lots of different ways to get in touch with your MP. You can send a letter, or an e-mail, or you can phone up their office to make an appointment to meet face-to-face.

It can be daunting to contact your MP – particularly if you’ve never done it before – but don’t worry, thousands of people contact their MP every week. Here are our top tips:

• Check who your MP is: MP’s can only represent and respond to you if you live in their constituency – you can check who your MP is at www.theyworkforyou.com, all you need is your postcode.
• Learn a bit about your MP: the more you know about your MP, the more you can tailor your correspondence – for example, what party do they belong to? Have they spoken about refugees and asylum seekers before? Are they a government or an opposition MP?
• Be polite and respectful: MPs are human beings like the rest of us. They might be acting from good motives. If you disagree – listen to them, allow them the chance to listen to  you and to potentially change their view. That is what lobbying your MP is about.
• Keep it to the point: whether its a letter, e-mail, phonecall or tweet, MPs receive lots of correspondence everyday – so be clear and concise in why you’re contacting them and why the issue concerns you.
• Include your contact details: so they can contact you to update you on what action they will take in response to you raising an issue with them.
• Don’t forget your postcode!: MP’s can only respond and act on behalf of people who live in their constituency, and your postcode is the easiest way to prove this.

Don’t worry if you don’t hear back from you MP immediately – it can sometimes take a few weeks  get a full response. If you’re worried that your communication may have gone astray, call up their office and ask if it’s been received.