Meet Your MP

An illustration of the houses of parliament in the colours of the trans flag.

You’ve written. You’ve Instagrammed. You may even have gone on a demo. But if you want your MP to understand, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting. For many MPs, trans people are just another ‘issue’ they read about in the press. Meeting you and hearing your story could help your MP understand the issues you face as a trans and/or non-binary person.

It’s a great way to put your concerns and issues directly to your elected representative. More importantly, you are there to educate them.

Remember: your MP has a duty to respond to your queries and meeting the public is part of the job.

You can arrange a meeting with your MP by writing to them, phoning their office, or attending one of their surgeries (regular sessions where they meet with constituents).

You can search for your MP and find their contact details on the Parliamentary website. If your MP has a website, there is likely to be information about the time and location of their regular surgeries – sometimes you might need to book a slot.

Keep your emails or letters brief and to the point. Outline what you want to talk about. Include your address so they know you live in their constituency. MPs receive a lot of letters, so make sure you write less than a page of A4.

 [Your full address]

[And postcode]

[Date]

Dear [MP’s Name],

My name is [your name] and I am writing to you today as a resident in your constituency. I am writing to request  a meeting to discuss….[insert topic here, it could be trans healthcare, transphobia, tackling misinformation etc.]

This matter is important to me because [insert your concerns but also its very impactful to include your own experiences]

I would very much welcome a meeting with you to discuss these issues further. I look forward to hearing back from you. 

Yours faithfully,

[Your name]

If you have accessibility needs, make these clear when arranging the meeting. For example you may request an online meeting, require step free access or need to bring a carer. 

In Wales you can contact your Member of the Senedd (MS), they can be found on the Senedd Cymru website. In Scotland your Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) can be found on the Scottish Parliament website. In Northern Ireland you could contact your Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), they can be found on the Northern Ireland Assembly website.

For more information about which representative would be best to contact about the issues you want to talk about, check our Who Should I Contact page.

Prepare beforehand. Write down what you want to say: questions you want to ask; points you want to make. It is up to you to pick the topics that are important to you. 

Click on the links to go to resources:

Research your MP. What issues do they care about? Which committees do they sit on? What do they regularly speak about in parliament? What is of interest to their political party? What do they seem to be setting as their priorities?

You can use the TheyWorkForYou website to find information about your MP, including their voting record and recent appearances. 

A bit of background work should help you anticipate how your MP may respond in the meeting, however sometimes they will surprise you.

Tell us that you have set up a meeting.

Don’t be nervous, you don’t have to be an expert on the issues and it’s likely they won’t be either. Remember: they’re human too.

Focus on your key points. Tell them your story and how these issues affect you and your community.

Make it clear what you want them to do and ask for a response. Be aware that they won’t necessarily have answers to all of your questions – but they can go away and find out.

Do not: turn the meeting into an argument; insult them; threaten them (implicitly or otherwise).

If they will allow it, record the meeting – but always ask for permission first. Otherwise, make notes: write up what was said. Confirm it back to them by email after. You can also ask permission to take a photo with them to post on social media. 

Remember: Each MP is different. Don’t be disheartened if the meeting hasn’t quite gone to plan. You have been to talk to them and they’ve had the opportunity to listen.

Congratulate yourself! Meeting your MP is a huge achievement.

Send a follow up email to thank them for meeting with you. Outline any actions they agreed to.

 [Your full address]

[And postcode]

[Date]

Dear [MP’s Name],

I am writing to thank you for meeting with me to discuss….[insert topic here.]

You agreed to.. [bullet point list of any actions they agreed to or further info they agreed to supply.]

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you again about [anything they have agreed to contact you about]. 

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

Post about the meeting (with permission from your MP). Use the hashtag #MeetUsHearUs This might encourage others to meet with their MPs about issues that affect them. When you’re posting do consider your safety and wellbeing. Tips for digital self care can be found in our Mental Health and Wellbeing resources.

Let us know how it went.

Build the relationship. One meeting is good. But a relationship built on mutual respect and trust is even better. So don’t be afraid to go back.

In between meetings, keep the dialogue going, by writing to your MP, asking questions about their views on issues before parliament or in the news, and just engaging with them regularly. 

Remember: you can talk to them about any matters of concern, it doesn’t have to be trans related.

Talking about your lived experience can be draining. Take time after your meeting to check in with yourself on how you’re feeling. You’ll find ideas and resources for self-care on our Mental Health and Wellbeing Page.

5 Top Tips

1. You’re entitled to a meeting: It is part of an MP’s job to meet with their constituents and respond to their queries.

2. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert: It’s likely your MP isn’t an expert either. Telling them about your lived experience can be very impactful.

3. Research your MP: You can find information about your MP and their voting records on the TheyWorkForYou website.

4. Make a list of key points and questions: Think about what you want your MP to know and what you want to ask them.

5. Build the relationship: Follow up after the meeting and keep a dialogue going.

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