Lobbying your mp - What you can do

There is still time to lobby your MP, following the Second Reading of the Bill, before it reaches the Lords. Send them a copy of our MPs' Briefing and ask what their view is. The Second Reading is the beginning of a process that will be only be complete when the Bill receives Royal Assent (scheduled for November 2011).

You can help by emailing your MP sending them a copy of the RTPI Briefing on the Localism Bill. Some organisations provide a generic letter for members to lobby their MP. We have chosen not to as we know that personalised communications from their constituents addressing local concerns works best with MPs (read this interesting article by Robert Halfon MP on lobbying).

In your email you could:

• Ask them to read the briefing and ask them what they think as it relates to planning
• Offer to meet them to explain how the planning aspects of the Bill affects their constituency, and how you think the Bill can be improved
• Reinforce some or all of the points in the briefing using local examples that you and they will understand
• Ask them to speak in the debate.

By contacting your MP about the Bill you are reinforcing and complementing the work that the RTPI does centrally.

How do I find out who my MP is?

MPs will only respond to their constituents (people living in the area that they represent). Parliament provides a service that allows you to identify your MP using your postcode. This can be found here.

Alternatively, you can phone the House of Commons Information Office on 020 7219 4272.

You can find out the email address of your MP here.

How can I find out more about my MP?

The site www.theyworkforyou.com allows you to find out more about your MP.

How do I measure success?

In a perfect world, your MP will write back to you and say that they have read your briefing and raised the RTPI’s points at the appropriate times. Of course life is rarely that simple.

However, by contacting your MP you are raising awareness of planning, emphasising the importance of getting the Localism Bill right, and raising the profile of the RTPI to MPs. In short, you are helping the democratic process work more effectively.

Please do send any substantive replies you receive from your MP to james.butler@rtpi.org.uk

House of Commons Second Reading of the Localism Bill can be read here.

What is the RTPI doing to influence the bill?

Details of all the RTPI responses and activities relating to the Localism Bill are available.

RTPI Member? How to get involved

• We will continue to consult our members on the Bill, through the RTPI Networks & Associations, the Regions & Nations structure, Planning Policy and Practice Committee, General Assembly, and the RTPI Executive Board;
• We will continue to consult with our members before responding to consultations by government on measures related to the Bill. A full list of Open Consultations the RTPI is responding to is available;
• The "Living" Brief for members will continue to be updated in light of comments and reactions by RTPI members. We will use this as the context for a wider consultation on the details of the Bill to enable us to respond robustly, clause by clause, as the Bill progresses through the "committee stage";
• We will continue to keep our members and partners informed of latest developments and thinking, via our website and member bulletins. See Localism Bill: RTPI activity for details;
• Do get involved. Email localismbill@rtpi.org.uk with your views.

Localism Bill: RTPI activity, Localism Bill: Latest Government Announcements, Parliment UK: Localism Bill

Author:

james butler

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

16-Mar-11

Categories:

Policy, Practice 

Sections:

News & Media , The RTPI

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