Campaigning: keep it simple, post a letter

Edmund Woodfield gives his tips on how to write the perfect campaign letter to your MP.

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What’s the best way to bring about changes in government policies? As campaigners, we are given lots of opportunities to show our views to those in charge – e-mails, letters, demos, and also new creative ways, such as the messages on white bands we took to Edinburgh in July. But which is the most effective? In my experience, nothing matches the plain old postal letter for getting the job done. So, here some of my tips on how to write effectively.

Know who to write to. It’s important to realise that writing to people with the most authority is not likely to get a proper response unless thousands of people are writing at the same time. For example, if you write to the Prime Minister, chances are he’ll not get anywhere near your letter. It’ll be sent to the appropriate department (usually the Department for Trade and Industry) and you’ll get a reply from a civil servant in that department. If you aim lower, you actually get a better chance of changing things, because the relevant politician might actually read your letter for themselves (or even just take the time to sign the reply in person). So, if you want to get things changed, only write to Tony Blair or Gordon Brown when you know they’ll be getting lots of letters at the same time. Write instead to, say, Hillary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development. It’s also definitely worth corresponding regularly with your MP, as they will have a lot more influence with people higher up than you do.

Know what to say. The longer your letter, the less chance of the person reading it properly. Try to limit yourself to two sides of A4. Make it clear exactly what it is that you want and always be polite. Use specific examples in your arguments so it is clear what you are saying is important. Don’t express vague sentiments, as any politician can say that international development is important to them (whatever they think about the issues), but not all can honestly say that they support precisely what you are arguing for. You want to change minds, not let politicians make themselves look good.

Be patient! Half the time, it will be clear that the person you sent the letter to hasn’t so much as seen it. MPs are busy all of the time, so it will be their secretaries who write most of a response. However, when you get unsatisfactory replies, persevere! Don’t let people fob you off with well-wishing statements about wanting to eradicate poverty. Reply to their reply if necessary, and keep writing whenever it will have an impact. You never know where a letter might lead. In a recent letter to my MP, I wrote about trade justice versus free trade, and in his reply, he said he will shortly be meeting the Indian Trade Minister, and will raise my points with him – and this from a humble backbencher. So don’t give up!

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