CONTACT YOUR MP
What can your MP do?
Government ministers, unless they are your constituency MP, are not obliged to respond to you directly but they will respond to a letter from an MP. For more information and sample letters click here.
- EDMs and Private Member Bills
Your MP can support actions on cluster munitions within parliament. For information on current actions click here.
Your MP can ask questions in parliament on cluster munitions. For more information on parliamentary questions click here.
As a public figure, your MP will have many opportunities to raise awareness of the issue of cluster munitions with a wide audience.
Why should politicians listen to you?
Your local MP needs your support. It is only through local support that they are able to become MPs and it is your constituency MPs job to listen to your concerns.
MPs need to keep on top of a wide range of issues. Like most people, they are unlikely to be experts on every one.
In approaching your MP, it is possible that you may be introducing them to an issue they know very little about but in which they may develop a keen personal interest.
Several people voicing concern over the UK Government’s use of cluster munitions will highlight the issue as a subject requiring further investigation. The more an MP hears about an issue directly from their constituents, the more likely it is they will take action.
How should I contact my MP
The best way to engage with your local MP is in writing. This way, you can keep a record of your correspondence and it makes it easier to follow up on actions or new information that may be provided.
For more information and sample letters click here.
You can find many MPs email addresses by going to the Guardian Aristotle page at http://politics.guardian.co.uk/aristotle/
A quick way to see if your MP has their contact details on this site is to Google their name and write Aristotle after it.
It is also possible to arrange to see your MP in person. The majority of MPs hold a surgery to give the people in their constituency the chance to meet them and express their concerns. Constituents are free to raise any issue that is of concern to them during this time. Surgeries are usually held once a week but vary from MP to MP. Times and dates are usually advertised in the local press or library and on MPs websites. The way a surgery is run is very much up to the individual MP and their constituency office, so it is best to check in advance whether or not an appointment is required.
I’m not an expert, what do I say?
MPs need to keep on top of a wide range of issues. Like most people, they are unlikely to be experts on every one.
The information on this website should provide you with enough information to feel confident in approaching your MP.
You do not need to remember every detail relating to cluster munitions. Refer to the source of your concerns – campaign materials, newspaper or magazine articles, television programmes – whatever sparked your interest and anything additional that strikes you as interesting or important.
Who is my local MP?
If you are not sure who your MP is or just need contact details for them you can find this information at:
http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/
This handy website allows you to search by postcode, constituency, or MP name to quickly find the contact information you need. |
