Lobby my MP

Whether newly elected to the Commons or re-elected as an MP, this is your chance to welcome your local political representative wishing them well in their new role and highlighting the important work that needs doing to secure religious freedom for all…

Lobbying to influence decision makers has in the past resulted in a dramatic improvement for prisoners and victims of religious persecution. Torture has been stopped, access to doctors or lawyers has been granted, death sentences have been overturned and prisoners have been released. 

MP lobbying launch

We know that our determined, targeted and faithful advocacy for the persecuted bears fruit!  How?  Here’s a few brief examples:

We know that because of our briefings and representations to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,  they now acknowledge and recognise the widespread persecution of church leaders in Colombia.

The UK Foreign Office has used CSW’s in-depth briefing in making religious freedom recommendations to Nepal as the country’s parliament embarks on its groundbreaking constitution-writing process.

We know that due to our involvement the EU makes regular monitoring calls to the Perez family, who were separated due to the imprisonment of pastor Omar Gude Perez as part of a wider suppression of Christian leadership in Cuba.

Why lobby your MP?

Whether you voted for them or not, it’s an MP’s responsibility to listen to you as their local constituent.  MPs know that being in touch with grassroots voters gives them insight on which issues local people care about, and from that MPs decide how much time to devote to resolving these issues. That’s why your voice is so valuable in putting religious freedom on the government’s agenda.

How to lobby your MP

You can use CSW’s ready-prepared lobbying letter, and choose whether to personalise the message or use the existing wording. Posting letters is particularly beneficial because the letter itself has to be physically opened by your MP’s office, and this represents time spent dealing with your request, and an acknowledgement that you’ve taken the time to write it and send it by hand.

Never doubt that your letters are effective! They must be read and formally acknowledged by an MP’s office. So as long as you’re faithfully raising the case with them then you’ll be giving a local voice to the globally persecuted – primarily in getting the MP to raise it in parliament, for more attention to be focused on remedying the issue.