Lobbying - UK Parliament

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id="secondary-navigation"> <ul><li class="parent"><a href="/web/20120220191457/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/">Have your say</a><ul><li class="selected"><a href="/web/20120220191457/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/lobbying/">Lobby an MP or Lord</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120220191457/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/petitioning/">Petition Parliament</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120220191457/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/submit-evidence-on-a-bill/">Submit evidence on a Bill</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120220191457/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/take-part-in-committee-inquiries/">Take part in a Committee inquiry</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120220191457/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/have-your-say/online-discussion-rules/">Online discussion rules </a></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Lobbying </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120220191457im_/http://assets3.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_1025.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/> <div class="inner">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Lobbying is the practice of individuals and organisations trying to influence the opinions of MPs and Lords. Methods of lobbying vary and can range from sending letters, making presentations, providing briefing material to Members and organised rallies. </p> </div>   <div id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlMainBody_wrapperDiv" class="rte"> <p></p><div> <h2>Who lobbies Parliament?</h2> <p>Anyone can lobby an MP or Lord. Examples are:</p> <ul> <li>individual members of the public</li> <li>groups of constituents</li> <li>local businesses</li> <li>organised pressure groups/campaigners</li> <li>commercial organisations</li></ul> <h2>Does lobbying get results?</h2> <p>MPs and Lords are the target of many different lobbying interests. Often the result these lobbyists are seeking is for the MP or Lord to vote a certain way on a specific issue. However, this decision will ultimately be down to the MP or Lord's own judgement and the influence (if any) that existing party policy will have on them.</p> <h2>Who do I lobby?</h2> <p>A good place to start is with your local MP. You can use our Find your MP service if you don't know who your MP is. <br/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120220191457/http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/">Find your MP</a> </p> <p>You can also use the Register of All Party Groups to see which subjects MPs and Lords are particularly interested in. <br/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120220191457/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmparty/memi01.htm">Register of All Party Groups</a> </p> <h2>Mass lobbies</h2> <p>Organisers of mass lobbies should contact the following offices as soon as possible:</p> <ul> <li>Serjeant at Arms' Office (020 7219 3050)</li> <li>Police Operations, Palace of Westminster (020 7219 6882)</li> <li>Operations and Events Office, Charing Cross Police Station (020 7321 7524)</li></ul> <p>Staff will be able to give further details of how to organise a mass lobby successfully around the daily business of Parliament.</p> </div> </div>  </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div id="find-your-mp">  <h3>Find Your MP</h3>  <fieldset> <legend></legend> <ol> <li> <p class="introduction"><label for="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_txtSearch"> Enter your postcode to find the name and contact details of your local MP.</label> </p> <input name="ctl00$ctl00$SiteSpecificPlaceholder$ctlRightHandModuleContainer$ctl00$txtSearch" type="text" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_txtSearch" class="mp-postcode"/> </li> </ol> <input type="submit" name="ctl00$ctl00$SiteSpecificPlaceholder$ctlRightHandModuleContainer$ctl00$btnSearch" value="Find" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_btnSearch" class="find"/> </fieldset> </div> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl01_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Lobbying and petitioning - what's the difference?</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p> </p><div> <p>On a very simple level, the public lobby their MP or a Lord directly but petition either the House of Commons or House of Lords as a whole. <br/> <br/> Lobbying is an attempt to influence the opinions of MPs and Lords on specific subjects. <br/> <br/> Petitioning is making a request to the House of Commons to take action on a specific issue, which is presented to the House by an MP, often on behalf of their constituents. 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Lobbying - UK Parliament