GET POLITICAL WITH EASE

How to make your MP listen

NFU Graduate Trainee Emma Crosby has had her fi nger on the pulse of Westminster happenings since her days as a politics and parliamentary studies undergraduate

Fundamentally, the role of a Member of Parliament is to represent you as their constituent. However, with the vast majority of our 650 MPs not having a farming background, MPs need you as their constituents to communicate your interests and experiences so they can better represent you.

Your voice as a young person who’s passionate about what they do and making a real diff erence is one our greatest lobbying assets and one of the main weapons in our armoury that makes sure our voice is heard in parliament across the vast range of policy issues that can impact farming.

MPs take heed of what their constituents say – they rely on them for their job after all – so it's vital that you take every opportunity to engage with MPs and discuss the topical issues that, for better or for worse, are going to aff ect your future farming career.

Before joining the NFU, I worked for an MP in parliament where part of my role was assisting the MP in responding to constituents. I saw fi rst-hand what communications caught their attention and which correspondence slid down the priority ladder, and there is a clear formula for success which I hope you will use to ensure your voice is heard.

ABOVE: Emma with MP Mike Amesbury RIGHT: Emma with MP Mark Francois

Emma's top tips

1Be respectful and polite. This is my golden rule above all else. MPs are normal people and, just like everybody else, are unlikely to go above and beyond the call of duty for you if you’re just plain rude to them. If you send them a ranting email or letter, don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back from them.

2Try and fi nd common ground. Do your research about the MP – what issues do they care about? The website www.theyworkforyou. com can be a useful tool to understand MP’s views and voting record. If you can relate their interests to your own, you have found a way to grab their attention!

If you can’t easily identify common policy interests, it is worth looking at their political party’s manifesto to see if you can relate farming to it. A great example of this is the environment. Every main political party has made climate change one of the biggest cornerstones of their manifesto – however, many MPs may not appreciate the role farmers are playing in tackling the climate emergency.

3Be clear and concise in all discussions. MPs receive a staggering amount of correspondence every day, so don’t go round the houses. Get to the point! Consider structuring your email or letter as followed: • What is the issue/problem? • Why is the issue important? (also known as the ‘so what?’ question – why should they care)? • What is your proposed solution? • What do you want them to do?

If you’re unsure on what you want them to do, consider asking them to write a letter to a specifi c Minister, ask a parliamentary question, table a debate or even ask them to come visit you on farm – what have you got to lose? It really is that simple, so if there is an issue you care about, follow those three simple steps and make your voice heard!