The political team ensures that politicians of all parties and in all parts of the UK understand the needs and concerns of rural communities and that laws and policies respect and support the rural way of life. We aim to be the voice of the countryside across government and within parliament. We highlight key issues, respond to proposed laws and policies, and seek to build relationships of trust and understanding with parliamentarians, civil servants, ministers and other stakeholders. We support the work of our directors in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and their engagement with the devolved administrations.

We also support members’ engagement with their MPs. The lobbying of MPs by constituents and the feedback we receive from members and supporters helps to give us a better understanding of MPs’ views across a broad range of issues. This matters when responding to political threats and challenges, as well as identifying opportunities to promote a positive rural agenda.

Lobbying is the process of making known to decision makers the views and concerns of individuals or organisations. Whether it is an individual raising issues with their MP directly or organisations engaging with parliamentarians, ministers and government departments this is all lobbying. The purpose of lobbying is to engage in the political process to inform the development of policy and the law making process. Lobbying is key to promoting rural interests as well as defending them from those with hostile agendas.

The country faces enormous challenges from food security to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Those of us who live and work in rural communities are key to meeting these national challenges. The country needs to be united and not divided and the focus of rural policies must be on working together and not fighting ideological battles. Too often the work we undertake to produce the food we need, protect the environment, and manage wildlife is not understood. Our communities are underfunded, and often lack vital services and infrastructure. We need fair funding, decent services, housing, and proper infrastructure that can meet future need.

As a constituent you need to make your concerns and views known to your MP. As elected representatives MPs speak for their constituents and are uniquely placed to raise issues with government and within parliament. They can only speak up for you if they know what matters to you. If they hold views with which you do not agree they still need to understand why you take a different view. Unless we build relationships with our representatives we cannot expect to be understood and our way of life respected and supported.

MPs can be contacted by email, letter, or phone. You can also arrange to meet your MP either at Westminster or in the constituency. MPs hold regular surgeries in the constituency. These are usually arranged by the local constituency office and it is normally necessary to book an appointment for a given surgery. The easiest way to find your MP and their contact details is via the parliament website here. 

Parliamentary rules mean that MPs are only able to act on behalf of their own constituents so make sure you include your full name, address and postcode in any letter or email. As a constituent you should expect to receive a response to your correspondence. 

If you need assistance in lobbying your MP please contact the Countryside Alliance political team at political@countryside-alliance.org or on 0207 840 9260 

MPs are generally most interested in issues that matter to you and are based on your own situation and experience. However, there are issues which may not directly affect you but are still important to the countryside and its communities and on which MPs can act, both by raising matters in parliament and with the government. Some broader issues that you may wish to raise are set out in our Rural Charter, such as the need to tackle the blight of rural crime, champion British farmers and producers, recognise the role of wildlife management and the value of trail hunting, shooting, and fishing, ensure a truly connected countryside and the need for rural communities and the rural way of life to be respected. The Rural Charter can be found here.