Finding out about your MP
Background information on the MP will help you plan your lobbying and target them in the most effective way. The main questions you’ll need to ask are:
Is their party in government or opposition?
MPs from the governing party will obviously have more sway amongst senior politicians and be heard more sympathetically than opposition MPs.
Is your MP a Minister/Shadow Minister or a backbencher?
MPs with senior responsibilities will be tied by party policy. They are less free to take up local campaigns than backbenchers, but are more likely to have an influence over policy.
What are the MP’s politics? Are they likely to be sympathetic to your cause?
If your MP is prepared to back your case, even if it’s against party policy, this could be a great help to your campaign – he or she will gain a lot of press coverage.
Does your MP have a direct interest in the subject?
- Your MP could have financial or policy interests. Financial interests such as sponsorship or business affairs will be recorded in the Register of Member’s Interests. Your MP may develop specialist policy interests by sitting on select or backbench committees. He or she may be a member of an all-party group.
- The Times Guide to the House of Commons or Vachers Guide will contain this information. These guides should be held in your local library.
- You can find out if your MP has a direct interest in the subject by checking their voting record using the index of Hansard. This is held in most libraries and is available by clicking on the Parliament link.
- The Public Information Office at the House of Commons (telephone number 020 7219 4272) will tell you on which subjects your MP has recently spoken and questions they have asked. They can tell you about the last ten occasions they have spoken.
Information supplied by The Fawcett Society. www.gn.apc.org/fawcett
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