Notes from our conversation
What’s your gut feeling say?
- There’s so much. How do you pick one thing?
- If we want to see a better world real democracy would need us to be involved in politics
- If you don’t write to them then how do they know how you feel?
- It’s definitely worth letting them know and it can help you to formulate your thoughts
- I feel like I should, but every time I sit down I never finish
- It’s easy to think “Oh, I can’t be bothered” because we are so busy
- Why not? You will get an answer even if it just a stock one. You may have asked a stock question
- Politics can make you feel small
- It’s probably not worth it. What can you expect?
- What do you expect?
- MPs do have some power.
- They might have more skin in the game if it’s local It doesn’t take long and it lets them know that you don’t agree with them
- It’s easy to think “what’s the point”
- It’s a total waste of time. By the time someone becomes an MP they’ve already sold out.
Our discussion
Next, we looked at what we had said and there were mixed feelings. It is worth writing to your MP. They will know how you are feeling. This can give them ammunition in future debates. It can also encourage them. We are also letting them know that we don’t agree with them. If you do this as part of a campaign or strategy you are adding your voice to an ever-growing group. It isn’t worth writing to your MP. You are just looking into the abyss. There are other things going on that might be better served by your time and energy. If you are disillusioned by politics then there is no point in writing to your MP. Similarly, if you have no trust in politicians then why would you spend time writing to someone that you don’t trust? On the whole, we didn’t feel that we knew enough about the political process. There are a lot of constraints on MPs and they have to toe the party line. They are constantly having to watch how they appear in the media and the backlash that will occur if they step out of line. If they are ambitious and want to move their career forward in politics, then any rebellion could halt this. And, at the end of the day, they are just plain busy.
Resources
If you decide you want to write to your MP here are some web pages that offer help and advice:
Greenpeace ‘Why it’s worth contacting your MP about the environment – even if they don’t seem to care
One political campaigner makes the case for writing to your MP
They Work For You
Find out who your local MP is and how to contact them.
Hope for the Future
A charity that aims to help constituents communicate with their MPs
Write to Them
Contact details for your councillors and MPs.
Greenpeace ‘Let’s Lobby Our MP’s’
Advice on how to write to your MP including a sample letter.