Resetting the relationship between local and national government. Read our Local Government White Paper
Engaging with MPs: A communications toolkit
This toolkit is designed to support councils and combined authorities in their engagement with Members of Parliament elected at the 2024 General Election.
Introduction – Why your political affairs approach is so important now
Many leaders, mayors, councillors and officers have long standing relationships with MPs that work well. However, following this year's general election there will be at least 131* new MPs in place. Now is the time for councils to think about how best to build upon existing relations or forge new relationships with MPs to ensure the best outcomes for residents. Here are some things that might help.
Much of the advice is common sense and will centre on activities and approaches you may already be well skilled in. However, it can help – and is certainly more timely than ever to revisit your plans and approaches here to make sure that you are best placed to maximise the opportunities, and minimise the risks, which this new political landscape represents.
Building strong new relationships now may help you further down the line when you have specific needs for your organisation or area and where strategic influencers like MPs are pivotal. These relationships provide a platform to both promote the positives of your place and can be the basis on which to resolve conflicts.
Identifying their views and beliefs on key topics, their sphere of influence, your common ground and the opportunities to work together could make a huge difference in this next parliament.
So, the benefits of sufficiently resourcing your public affairs capacity, plan and approach to this new audience in mind shouldn’t be understated.
Creating and delivering an engagement plan for MPs sets a strong foundation on which to achieve effective outcomes for your place in the future, from briefing and preparing your own politicians to make a case for local change or support, all the way through to lobbying government to encourage a policy change on a national issue.
* Latest number can be found on the House of Commons website.
Preparing for change
Councils and combined authorities will already be anticipating and planning for what the changes outlined in manifestos will mean for them and their priorities. Our dedicated General Election hub sets out the key commitments in the Conservative, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat national manifestos relevant to local government, recognising that smaller parties and independents are also running.
In addition, we've published our own white paper, setting out six national challenges that we want to work on with the next government alongside five priorities for change and three new opportunities.
The LGA is keen to ensure councils can get involved in progressing our white paper and it is worth considering if and how your council can get involved.
This section will be updated after 4 July 2024.
Why engage with your MPs
The key benefits and opportunities
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Putting in place a planned approach is recommended so that there is a clear strategy for how you will engage with MPs, who will lead engagement, what you want to talk to them about, understand their views and matters of mutual importance, and think through the best ways for you to develop these new relationships. Positive relationships with MPs could help drive long-term positive outcomes for your area and residents for the benefit of all. There is the potential for your MPs to be powerful ambassadors and allies.
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Post-General Election is a great opportunity to build or reset relationships with any MPs in your area.
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It’s a chance to discuss, explain and put the ‘big’ policies into local context – what matters to your residents (their constituents) and how can you work together on these issues? Consider how to best utilise your MP to lobby on the council/combined authority's behalf, a proactive approach is advised to push back against or gather support for a particular project.
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It’s an opportunity to understand their positions on key policies and issues.
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You can illustrate how your work, priorities and projects support national policy and new party or candidate manifestos in 2024 and beyond.
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It’s an opportunity to explain your narrative – for both organisation and place – and to explore shared values and visions.
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You can try to garner support and advocacy for your work from MPs of all parties, including small parties and independents.
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It’s a window to help facilitate joint working across the public sector and/or your area.
Risks
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MPs criticising council decisions, policies or performance in the local media, online or in communication with residents/constituents.
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Negative commentary about the organisation in Parliament.
How to engage with MPs
Key recommendations
Start planning your engagement now and establish your internal approach – who will contact MPs how, when and why? This will vary as some MPs will have several councils covering their constituency, and some councils will have multiple MP relationships to manage. Agree with the Leader who is going to engage with a MP, who is going to be involved and what the issues you want to raise. It may be that the Leader has an existing relationship with the MP. Agree regular, scheduled contact, as well as contact for emerging issues and crises.
Create communications and engagement opportunities – Create a process for identifying the opportunities for invitations to events and visits which will be of interest to them and provide a platform for discussion. Consider communication with all your MPs as a group – bulletins, briefings etc.
Set out your processes for contact management – Make sure you have a clear policy on responding to all MP enquiries or complaints – including your escalation routes and RAG ratings. Agree internal processes and contacts for dealing with MPs enquiries, as well as response times, and in turn make the MPs office aware of your central contact officers.
Prioritise emerging issues – Ensure timely communications with them on emerging issues that could impact within their constituency and keep them up to date on progress/developments. Work on the premise of ‘no surprises’. Be absolutely clear with them what is shareable in the public domain, what is not and why.
Constituency queries – Every MP will have their approach to dealing with constituency queries on services that the council has responsibility for. Note that any letter sent as a response to an MP in relation to the query will more than likely get passed on to the constituent who has complained/raised the query.
Consider required resources – Do you have a political affairs 'lead'? How are you resourcing this work?
Getting to know your MPs
Managing relationships with MPs – a Chief Executive’s checklist
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Do you or your leader already have a relationship with the MP?
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Does your MP have local government background and have they been a local councillor?
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What local issues featured in their election campaign and how do these align with your priorities?
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What can you share with your MP to increase their knowledge / influence their perspective on issues of mutual interest?
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What is their political alignment with national government?
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Is your MP in a ministerial position, shadow ministerial or spokesperson position? If yes, how does their portfolio align with your council’s priorities?
Resources to help you and support available from the LGA
The LGA also provides a range of public affairs and communications support and advice to councils, including:
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briefings
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Comms Leaders Network
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advice on specific issues
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workshops to help your council develop its public affairs strategy and/or priority communications campaigns
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communications and public affairs audits and peer reviews.
LG Inform
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The LGA’s LG Inform tool provides a wealth of data about your council area which will be of use to MPs.