In this blog, SMK Associate and expert campaign Jo Gibbons offers four pieces of advice to campaigners trying to influence parliament.
Summary: In order to effectively influence the UK government and Parliament, strategically plan your messaging and timing, work with constituents, and be pragmatic with your relationships. Learn how to do all of this in SMK’s How To Influence in Government and Parliament workshop.
In a democracy, third sector organisations have just as much right to seek to influence government and Parliament as businesses, professional bodies, or any other organised interest. In fact, policymakers need to hear from organisations rooted in communities and lived experience if they are to make good decisions.
Campaigning obviously means engaging people, building public support, and creating pressure for change, but if the ultimate aim is to change policy, legislation, or government practice, you also need to focus on the people and institutions that can actually make that change happen.
That means thinking beyond Parliament. Many organisations have developed strong relationships with backbench and opposition MPs, and those relationships can be hugely valuable. Whitehall is another place where much of the detailed policy development and implementation happens.
SMK’s How To Influence in Government & Parliament workshop will walk you through all of this.
So, what should campaigners know before they start?
1. Get your message right
Your job is not simply to tell politicians what you want. You need to equip them to make your case to others. Think about what motivates the person you are trying to influence, what they are interested in and who they themselves need to persuade. Then target your approach accordingly.
Be clear about the change you want, why it matters and what evidence supports it. Give people something they can use – whether that is a compelling statistic, a constituent’s experience, a suggested amendment or a practical policy solution.
2. Get the timing right
There is always a huge amount happening in politics. The best intervention at the wrong moment can easily get lost. Understand the political and parliamentary timetable and look for opportunities: a relevant Bill, a spending review, a consultation, a report, a debate or a moment when government is looking for solutions to a problem.
Good influencing is often about being ready when the window opens.
3. Bring constituents with you
MPs have to respond to their constituents. A powerful local voice can therefore be much more influential than a generic national campaign. Think about how you can connect your issue to the experiences of people in an MP’s constituency and give them a reason to care about the issue locally as well as nationally.
4. Be pragmatic in relationships
It is fine to ask for everything – but be clear about the one or two changes that would make the biggest difference. Build relationships, go to parliamentary and policy events, have conversations and look for opportunities to collaborate with organisations pursuing similar goals.
And don’t be afraid of Parliament or Whitehall. Parliamentarians and civil servants are generally very welcoming and genuinely interested in hearing from organisations with expertise, evidence and insight. You know things they don’t. Your job is to make sure they hear it – and to give them the tools to act on it.
Want to learn more about all of this directly from Jo Gibbons? Sign up now for the How To Influence in Government & Parliament workshop on 5 Nov.
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