Members

The role of the constituency MP should never be ignored in any issue which has as impact on the local community. The government of the day has the majority vote, but the views of the local MP are often sought by the government, the press and others when a locally contentious matter is under discussion.

Achieving a degree of understanding and sympathy from a local MP for your particular campaign is clearly to your advantage. They can take up points on your behalf, assist with introductions, write letters to ministers (which are treated differently from those from the public in the answering ‘process’) and in media terms can be an asset in putting over the case.

It is important for the elected representative in Parliament to know how national issues will impact upon his or her own area. Therefore their involvement should be sought when they can act as a local voice in those arenas where access by an individual or business may be difficult.

Contact with local MPs is less complicated than contact with ministers. Many will have researchers and secretaries based at the House of Commons, local surgeries are held on a regular basis and letters (in their view a barometer of the local opinion) to their constituency or to the Commons will receive replies. Try to make your letters brief, focus on the key points and be open in your request for assistance.

It is important to remember, however, that letters form but one element in the politics of persuasion of public affairs activity. Creating a grouping of influential MPs to support your cause will take some time and may well be a long-term aim of any major business or trade organization (themselves a powerful lobby). But the value of a group of like-minded, especially cross-party, MPs to exert pressure, negotiate an open up other channels of communication or potential support will be invaluable in the long term.

In this case detailed knowledge of the parliamentary process, achieved by close scrutiny of the Select Committees, monitoring PQs (Parliamentary Questions and Answers) and debates, along with the myriad numbers of party documents, policy papers and the like will be necessary in order to group members together – or consider the use of political lobbyists.

Equally, those in the upper chamber, the House of Lords, can be powerful allies. Political affiliations are less overt, but their influence and persuasion can be a useful counter to the Commons. Many peers have held positions of power and are well connected.

At some point meetings will be necessary with appropriate peers, MPs and/or their researchers. These should be prefaced by then backed up with, short but explicit notes about the issue in question. The value of the succinctly packaged, well-argued and thoroughly researched briefing note cannot be over-estimated.

For a busy parliamentarian there is a huge advantage in having a pitchy aide mémoire to help them understand the basis for the discussion you have sought or to assist them make the (i.e. your) key points in debate, a letter to a newspaper or in a speech.

The constraints on their time mean they are more likely to use something they know will represent the views of the organization because it has been supplied to them – rather than have to do the research themselves.

Underlying all of this activity is some blindingly obvious advice about gaining access:

• establish the correct target(s) for your communication;

• make contact in a businesslike way;

• do it at the first opportunity, but recognize any politically sensitive times such as an election period;

• once in contact, keep up the flow of information.

People in the public eye do not like to be caught out.

Waiting until the last minute, as the bill is going through the House or the local community/business/trade association/ union are already at fever pitch, will make it extremely difficult to find consensus in an objective fashion. By then it is almost too late.

It is better to have established a rapport, earned a reputation for reliability, demonstrated a credible voice in the sector by simply ensuring your public affairs (or was that public relation?) has been carefully planned, managed and sustained over time. Campaigning becomes all the easier against this solid background and the doors of those you need to convince – when necessary – will be easier to open.