You can search for your MP by their name, by your postcode or constituency on the UK Parliament website. When you click on your MP, you’ll be able to see their political party, any roles they have in Parliament, and how long they have been an MP for. You can also see how they like to be addressed, which is important to make the best first impression. A little further down the page, you’ll find all the ways you can contact them. You can find your devolved representatives on their websites too:
Depending on the contact details you find, you can either email or call to ask for a meeting. If you speak to someone on the phone, it can be helpful to ask for the diary secretary. It’s essential that you state that you are a constituent and explain clearly why you want to meet. Politicians’ diaries are always very busy so be flexible about the day and time of your meeting if you can.
Make sure you let us know as soon as you’ve got a date in the diary to meet so we can share any useful information we might have to help you prepare.
Whether you are meeting for the first time to introduce yourself as a Cancer Research UK volunteer Campaigns Ambassador, or with a particular campaign ask, make sure the purpose of your meeting is clear. This will help you decide what you want to say and make it memorable.
The more you know about the person you’re meeting, the better you can prepare with the necessary facts, statistics and stories.
You’ll often be able to find out about your politician on their Parliamentary page, including their voting record and policy areas they have spoken on or have a role in. You can also find out more on TheyWorkForYou and their personal webpages, if they have them.
You can also find out about cancer in your local area using our local stats data hub.
You can prepare for your meeting by talking to yourself in a mirror, asking family or friends to help, or speaking to the Campaigns team. Practicing with someone else can help you feel confident in what you want to say and prepare for possible questions that might come up too.
Make sure you know where the meeting is going to take place and check the route to arrive on time. Some people find it helpful to listen to motivational music or stand in a powerful pose before the meeting to help them feel ready – remember your body language is as important as your words.
You won’t always agree with the politics of the person you’re meeting but it’s important to be professional, polite and focus on the purpose of the meeting. If you’re not sure about an answer during your meeting, let them know that you’ll follow up with us and get back to them.
After your meeting, let us know how it went so we can update our records and help you follow up too.
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