Postal Competition Briefing for MPS: BIS Select Committee

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 761/14 - Postal Competition Briefing for MPS: BIS Select Committee



No. 761/14

Ref: GS11.0

Date:21st November 2014

TO: ALL BRANCHES





Dear Colleague



Postal Competition Briefing for MPS: BIS Select Committee



As mentioned in LTB 757/14 please find attached the briefing which was sent to MPs on the 20th November 2014, for the upcoming BIS Select Committee meeting on the 26th November 2014 at which the CWU will be giving evidence.

Also please see bellow a guide on lobbying your Member of Parliament.

Lobbying your MP

Lobbying

Lobbying is the practice of making representations to Members of Parliament and Government. This is done by individuals and organisations in order to change policy or bring matters to the attention of the Member.

The procedure is to submit a Green Card, available from Central Lobby, in person to the barrier staff of the House of Commons. The officials in the building will then make every possible attempt to find the MP and ask them to meet you in the Central Lobby.

Why Lobby?

Lobbying is simply trying to influence a decision in person, by letter or through the media. At its most fundamental level, it's a potential exchange of interests: "If you support us on this issue, people like us will vote for you". Or, in more extreme cases "If you support us on this issue, we'll stop making your life a misery in the media."

Although MPs can be powerful national figures, their chief function is to represent their constituents. Nearly all MPs are keen to get good local press coverage, which means they have to take account of local campaigns in their constituencies.

You might decide to approach your MP:

To influence a decision which is about to be made in Parliament
To gain their help with your campaign
To persuade them to take action on your behalf
To force an MP, who might be sitting on the fence to show where their allegiances lie.
Because your MP could be useful to you in the future.
Because, through garnering the support of policy makers, you may be able to influence decisions on potential legislation.
Rules to follow when meeting your MP

1. Be clear about the purpose of the meeting
2. A lobby visit is a conversation, don't give a lecture
3. Stick to the basics
4. Keep the conversation on track
5. Don't lose your temper
6. Get a commitment
7. Don't be intimidated
8. If you can't answer a question, don't try.
9. Remember to follow up

Any further enquiries regarding this LTB should be addressed to the General Secretary's Office at gsoffice@cwu.org quoting the reference GS11.0/LTB 764/14.



Yours sincerely





W HAYES D Ward

General Secretary Deputy General Secretary (Postal)