There are a lot of reasons why people write their MP’s, as your elected representatives it’s their (and their office’s) job to provide constituents assistance with their concerns (where appropriate, more info on responsibilities of different levels of government here).
Writing to your local Member isn’t the only way you can get into contact with them, you can also call their offices, but writing, whether via email or post, should get you a response back.
Writing to a Member of Parliament can feel intimidating, but use these quick tips make contacting your representative a breeze.
Start with the ‘who, what, how and why’:
Who? Finding your local Member’s details
It is often a good idea to start by writing to your local Member of Parliament. If you’re not sure who that is, you can find out here.
What? Introduce yourself and tell them why you are writing to them
Start your letter by telling your local Member who you are, including if they are the representative for your electorate. You can also include detail about a local group, or organisation you’re involved with.
How? Include lived experience, statistics, or information about the issue
You might want to include facts and figures, local connection to the issue, your experience of the issue, or recent news. If you are using a template or prewritten message, then adding your own words can help your message stand out.
Why? Specify the action you want your local MP to take
If you want change, you have to ask for it! It could be to support a Bill, attend a local event, or change a policy. Outlining the action(s) you want to see will help you get results.
Now that you’ve covered all that you’re almost done! Finish and check over your letter using our writing tips.
YACSA’s tips:
Include your preferred contact details for a response.
Tell your local Member your full name and include your postal or email address so they can respond.
Use the right title!
Some Members are MPs, some are MLCs and some need Hon before their name – don't worry we have an easy explainer on titles here.
Keep it to one page, being concise and focused.
MPs get lots of letters so keeping it as short as possible is best. If you want to include more information you can include an additional document setting out other information.
Be passionate and make sure to keep it polite.
Even if you disagree with your local Member on issues, being polite and respectful is more likely to get you a positive result.
Ask the Member to reply to you.
Include a line at the end saying that you look forward to their reply and if you do not get a reply, there’s no reason you cannot follow up with them. Remember that MPs get a lot of emails and letters so you may need to be patient.
That’s it! Presenting your concerns to your representatives is a cornerstone of democracy, so congrats!
