Get your MP to use their influence

If we're going to have a fighting chance of ending poverty, then we need to get political - politicians have it in their power to make a massive difference, and your MP can play their part.

Push your MP in the right direction by following these steps to email them, write to them, or pay them a visit and ask them to make sure poverty fighting policies are in their party’s manifesto.

Step one – find your MP

Head to www.theyworkforyou.com and enter your postcode to search for your MP. Make a note of your MP's political party. Make a note of your MP’s political party (Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats etc), as you’ll need it later on.

Step two – what to write

Now you know who your MP is, have a look at our list of poverty-busting goals - goals which we'd like to see in every political party's manifesto.

Write your own message to your MP telling them what goals we want to see their party's manifesto. You don't have to go into detail - your MP won't expect you to be an expert - but what you write will have a much greater impact if you put the list of goals into your own words, and state why you think fighting poverty is important.

Step three – when to write

Because each party has its own manifesto, they are writing them at different times. So timing is everything and there are different windows of opportunity.

Select your MP's political party from the list below to find out when's the best time to write, and who you should ask your MP to put pressure on.

Please select Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Plaid Cymru SNP

 

Step four – send your message

Nearly there! The last step is to send your message:

• Email

  Return to your MPs page on www.theyworkforyou.com in Step one. Choose the send a message link and submit your letter online. Simple as that!

• Post

  Your message will have an even greater impact if you print it and send it by post – MP’s are obliged to reply to every letter they receive. Return to your MP’s details on www.theyworkforyou.com and look for the link that says ‘Contact details’ for their constituency address.

Go the extra mile – visit your MP

If you really want to shake things up, there's no better way to bring the message home than to meet your MP and have a chat with them about their party's manifesto. It’s easier than it might sound, and you can use our simple guide to get started:
How to influence the political process (92 KB PDF)