TAKE ACTION: WELCOME YOUR NEW MP

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The results of the General Election have just been announced, and after a period of more than four weeks of campaigning, debates, hustings and polls, it’s time to welcome your new MP.

650 people have just been elected to represent each constituency across the UK and Northern Ireland. One of those people is your new MP and their mandate will be to represent you and your views in Parliament for the next five years.

As a constituency campaigner, most of your campaigning is done by building a relationship with your MP. One of the most effective ways to ensure that your new MP is aware of your campaigning in the local area, is by introducing yourself to them early on. In this case, as soon as they’ve been elected.

This is a golden influencing opportunity – MPs are very likely to listen to your advice and campaigning when you have engaged with them from the beginning of their mandate, as yours will become a familiar voice in their day-to-day work.

To help you in welcoming your new MP and highlighting to them the issues that you will engage with them on, we’ve put together a template email that you can use.

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WELCOME YOUR NEW MP

Use the email to write to your MP. Please adapt and personalise the letter as you see fit.

Find your MP

Name

Email Subject

Message to MP

Dear {{name}},

Congratulations on being elected as the new MP for [insert constituency name], I look forward to getting to know you as my MP.

I’m writing to introduce myself as a local constituent of [insert constituency name] as well as a volunteer constituency campaigner with Oxfam GB.

As I’m sure you’re aware, the global climate emergency is affecting everyone. Yet it is the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people – those who rely on rain to grow crops, live in poorly built structures or on land susceptible to flooding, and lack savings to fall back on – who are hit hardest, despite having done the least to cause the problem. I’m very concerned about climate change and would like to see the next Parliament tackle the climate emergency. But I’m excited that the UK will be welcoming world leaders to Glasgow next year for COP 26- this, together with the start of the “Decade of Delivery” for the SDGs in 2020 presents an opportunity for us to do more in tackling climate change.

Another issue that I’m very concerned about is the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and the use of UK-made arms in that conflict. The humanitarian toll the conflict has taken on Yemeni civilians has led to the conflict being labelled by the UN as the worst humanitarian crisis of our times.

Hopes for a solution to the conflict have grown in recent months, as warring parties have come together to negotiate. But we must seize on this moment and push for a nationwide ceasefire, as well as an end to exports of UK-made arms that may be used in Yemen and contribute to breaches of international humanitarian law. After nearly five years of war and conflict, it’s about time the people of Yemen see a future without war.

As your constituent, I would be grateful to hear how you will address these issues in Parliament. I'm aware of your party’s policy positions on climate change and Yemen, but I'm keen to know what you in particular are going to do on these issues in Parliament.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards,

[Insert your name

Phone number

Email address

Postal address]

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