Supporting Parents and Carers' Spotlight Day – How to lobby your MP

Date: 09 May 2008

Supporting Parents and Carers' Spotlight Day – How to lobby your MP

Fair Play for Working Carers.

Introduction

Usdaw is involved in politics to win improvements for our members.

You can make a real impact by going to see your own MP in person. Most MPs, particularly Labour ones, want to help Usdaw members and support our campaigns. They will be pleased to see you and to talk about issues of concern to you and the members you represent. You might want to go as a group or individually, whichever you feel will best get the points over to your MP and secure their support.

Who is my MP?

To find your MP please visit: www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/ and enter your postcode. Alternatively you can telephone the House of Commons on 020 7219 3000 and say that you want to find out who your MP is.

Where do I meet my MP?

Most MPs operate what are known as 'surgeries' or 'advice sessions'. These are simply regular sessions where they meet local people who raise issues or problems with them.

The best way to find out when these surgeries take place is to phone your MP's office. You can call 020 7219 3000 and ask to be put through to your MP's office or look in the Yellow Pages under 'Political Organisations & Representatives'.

Many MPs also have their own web sites where you can find contact details and in many cases details of their forthcoming surgeries.

Some MPs also advertise their surgeries in local libraries, council offices and newspapers. MPs normally hold their surgeries on Fridays and/or Saturdays.

It is always helpful to telephone the MP's office to say you are coming and to let them know what you want to discuss. That way the MP can be better prepared to help. Remember, we are trying to get the MP to work with us, not catch them out.

Workplace visits and branch meetings

When meeting with Labour MPs you might want to suggest that they visit your workplace or attend a branch meeting to talk to our members about the issues. Labour MPs are usually more than happy to make such visits, particularly over the summer when Parliament isn't sitting.

What do I say to my MP?

Here are some suggestions of what you might say when you meet your MP - remember:

• Don't be nervous - your MP will want to help.
• Be polite - you're not Jeremy Paxman and no-one expects you to be! Remember we want your MP on board.
• Agree action by the MP - ensure the MP agrees to do something after the meeting.

(NOTE: This script is written for a working carer. If you are not yourself a working carer but you represent working carers, please adjust the script accordingly.)

Introduction

"Hello, my name is _________________and I'm a working carer and a member of the shopworker's trade union, Usdaw.

"I care for my _______________ I work__________ hours a week as a __________and care for__________ hours each week."

Congratulate the Government

"I'd like to start by thanking the Government for reviewing the National Carers' Strategy. Carers need significantly improved rights and support."

Usdaw's Campaign

"To coincide with Carers Week, Usdaw is campaigning for the review to deliver properly funded improvements to carers' rights and benefits that will make a real difference to working carers' lives. In particular we are campaigning for the extension of Carer's Allowance to many more low paid working carers."

Why we want the rule removed

"At the moment carers who earn more than £95 a week lose their entitlement to Carer's Allowance. This rule doesn't reflect the reality of carers' lives. We know from research carried out by Carers UK that 7 out of 10 carers have financial worries. Carers need to work to live, but they also need Carer's Allowance.

Current rules prevent carers from working flexibly. Even if they only go a few pence above the £95 limit they lose all of their Carer's Allowance for that week."

Agree action

"Thank you for your time. Here is a copy of the campaign briefing, it explains the issues in more detail and makes the case for more support for working carers.

We are asking MPs to do 3 things, will you please:

1. To support our campaign?

2. Sign the Early Day Motion (EDM)?

3. Write to Anne McGuire MP and Ivan Lewis MP about this issue? Would you please let me have a copy of your letter?"

Finally ... Let us know how you got on!

Once you have been to see your MP let us know how you got on by telephoning the Equalities Section on 0161 224 2804 or e-mailing (equalitymatters@usdaw.org.uk) or writing a note to:

Equalities Section
Usdaw
188 Wilmslow Road
Manchester
M14 7DJ

This will enable us to build a picture of how the campaign is going across the country and feed this back to you and other members campaigning on this issue.

Supporting Parents and Carers' Spotlight Day - How to lobby your MP was correct at date of publication May 2008.

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This page: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/equality/resource_library/1178885409_8855.html
Last Modified: Friday, 09-May-2008 23:50:54 EST