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Representative Democracy

Contact Your MP

Your Member of Parliament works for you. Whether you voted for them or not, they have a duty to represent your interests in Westminster.

What Can They Actually Do?

Casework

MPs can intervene with government departments (DWP, HMRC, Home Office) if you've been treated unfairly or are stuck in bureaucracy.

Change Policy

You can lobby them to vote a certain way on upcoming bills, or ask them to sign Early Day Motions to raise awareness of issues.

Local Issues

While local councils handle bins and potholes, MPs can amplify local campaigns (like saving a hospital unit) on the national stage.

Finding Your MP

You don't need to know their name. You just need your postcode. The best tool for this is TheyWorkForYou.

  • See their voting record (do they align with you?).
  • See their recent speeches in Parliament.
  • Get their email address and constituency office phone number.

Writing effective correspondence

MPs receive hundreds of emails a week. To get noticed:

  1. Include your address: They have a strict rule—they can only help their own constituents. If you don't include your address, they will ignore it.
  2. Be concise: State the problem in the first paragraph.
  3. Be polite but firm: Abuse gets you blocked. Persistence gets you answers.
  4. Ask for a specific action: "Will you vote against X?" or "Will you write to the Minister about Y?"

Face-to-Face Surgeries

Emails are easy to ignore. Sitting in front of them is not.
Every MP holds "Surgery" sessions in their constituency (often Fridays). Book a 15-minute slot. Look them in the eye and explain your issue. It is the single most effective way to get action.

The 'Worthy of Reply' Checklist
MPs ignore 50% of emails. Don't be in that pile.

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