For Effective Parliamentary Liberty Has a Strong Reputation Ork and Lobbying, We Make Campaigning
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www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk Liberty has a strong reputation for effective parliamentary campaigning. Through policy work and lobbying, we make the arguments that matter in the corridors of Westminster to MPs of all parties. We strive to hold the government to account by undertaking groundbreaking test case litigation and high profile media campaigns. As a result, we are now an essential voice in the national political debate. But that’s just the public side of the story. This work is only possible because of people like you, who care about protecting civil liberties and promoting human rights. You can help make effective campaigning possible by writing to your MP, signing petitions and debating with your friends. Even more importantly, join Liberty as a member and provide the vital support that keeps us going. This campaign guide is about making action count. It provides you with advice on how best to lobby and raise awareness of the important issues we face today. Like charity, human rights start at home. Our Common Values campaign is all about increasing respect for human rights and countering the negative myths. As a Liberty supporter, you are the key to helping us achieve this. We hope this guide will help. Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty Promote Uphold d respect for justice an human rights the rule and civil liberties of law dvance h ct A r nd muc Prote ights fo a r le ore... privacy and ulnerab m v es free speech minoriti Liberty – Then and Now For the best part of a century, Liberty and our members have acted as the conscience of a nation, fighting injustice and placing principle above populism when others have faltered. Among periods of political turbulence and financial instability, what has remained constant is our sense of purpose. Today, with accusations Ronald Kidd of the UK’s complicity in torture and threats to privacy, free delivering a speech and protest, our work is far from over. petition the old Join Liberty as a member by calling 020 7403 3888 or fashioned way visiting www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/join. Find out more about Liberty’s campaigning work and www.liberty- “Passionate in his hatred of injustice, how you can take part by visiting human-rights.org.uk/take-action. wise in judgment, fearless in action, he championed the liberties of the Why not add your name to our campaigns egular updates about people in the fight that is never done.” email list to receive r our work? Just drop us a line at A tribute to our founder Ronald K idd, by his [email protected]. friend and Liberty’s first President, E.M. Forster How Parliament Works The role of a Member of Parliament (or MP) is to represent their constituents in Westminster and to pass laws. In doing so they must balance the views of their constituents with their own, and the position of their political party. The best way to influence your MP is to show them that your view is supported by a number of their constituents and by providing clear and persuasive arguments on a particular issue. You can ask your MP to vote for or against clauses in parliamentary bills, ask a particular question in the House of Commons, or pressure the relevant Ministers, Committees or even their Party leadership. If you want to contact your MP you can email or write to them. Alternatively you can usually meet them in their regular ‘surgeries’ for constituents. This booklet will help you learn more about how to influence your MP. P can visit www.theyworkforyou.com for Contacting your M MP voting records. You can also find out: HOW? G what party they belong to? G if they sit on any influential them.com to find out G Visit www.writeto d them an email. committees? who your MP is and sen G if they are a Government Minister or a letter to their G You can also send ach them at the part of the Shadow Cabinet? If they constituency office or re ndon, SW1A 0AA. are they may have more influence. House of Commons, Lo G Not online? Why not call up their FIND OUT MORE office and ask about their position bout on the issue? Let them know you pay finding out more a G Tailor your letter by websites and you attention to how they vote. your MP. Most MPs have MAKE YOUR POINT G Most MPs will read and respond to your letter if you are a constituent, so let them know this. G Focus on one issue and make sure GET YOUR ANSWERS your argument is clear and polite. G Make sure you ask for a response, and G Use facts and figures where appropriate, include your full n ame and contact detail and if you can, explain how it affects s – remember to le t us know what they say you. Let them know your interest is not ! G Why not follow up their reply? Thank them going to go away. if they are suppo rtive. Is there something G Make it clear what it is you want them else they could do? If they disagree, try to do – for example, to vote for or and convince them of your argument. against a provision in a bill; to ask a particular question in parliament; to If you lobby your MP on a human rights issue pressure the Home Secretary. please contact us to tell us how they respond by writing to 21 Tabard Street, London SE1 4LA or emailing info@ commonvalues.org.uk CAMPAIGNING WORKS Case Study CHARGE OR RELEASE In 2008, after much pressure from Liberty and others, and an overwhelming defeat in the House of Lords, the Government abandoned plans to extend the pre-charge detention time limit for terror suspects to 42 days. Our award-winning Charge or Release campaign used human rights arguments to show that the plans were unjust, unnecessary and counter-productive. Together with our supporters, we showed that lengthy detention without charge is wrong in principle and counter-productive in practice. The active support of our members was crucial to the campaign’s success. By lobbying MPs and Peers, writing to local papers and convincing friends, Liberty members helped us build a consensus of support for the campaign. Write to your Local Paper Help us counter damaging myths about the Human Rights Act and stand up for rights and freedoms by raising awareness. Our Common Values campaign aims to show how the Human Rights Act is one of the most valuable pieces of legislation on our statute books, enshrining and protecting our shared values. Local newspapers are a respected source of information for many people, and we want to make sure that everyone knows the facts about human rights. Help us get the truth out there! If you see a negative story about human rights or the Human Rights Act, why not use our Common Values myth-buster to write a reply explaining the other side of the story? Your MP will keep up-to-date with public opinion in local media, so it can also be a good way to get your voice heard by decision makers. A few tips: G Keep it short and simple G Whenever possible stick to one issue G Remain polite and respectful G Check your facts first – find out more on our website and point people to www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk for more information Want to find out more about what the individual rights in the Human Rights Act mean? Visit www.love.commonvalues.org.uk to find out why we all have something to love about the Human Rights Act. CAMPAIGNING WORKS Case Study ID CARDS AND THE NATIONAL IDENTITY REGISTER When the Government initially drafted their plans for ID cards and the National Identity Register, polling suggested that the scheme was well-received, with nearly 80%* of the population supportive. But years of effective campaigning have succeeded in educating the public about the cost to our wallets and personal privacy that the National Identity Register threatens. The dramatic drop in support for the scheme can be seen in polling results taken in 2008 which showed that less than 50%** of those polled supported the scheme. In 2009 polling found that only 25%*** thought the Government had made a case for the scheme that justified the cost. Public opposition to the scheme and persistent lobbying has meant a number of delays and re-thinks for this deeply unpopular policy. *2003 polling by YouGov showed that 78% of people polled supported the ID card scheme; ** 2008 ICM poll for No2ID; *** 2009 YouGov polling for Liberty Meet your MP Most MPs set time aside each week to meet with constituents at their office in the local area. Find out where and when this is via their website or by calling their office and booking an appointment if necessary. Before you go to meet them, make sure you are clear about what you want to say and what you want from them. To get the most out of the visit, write down your key questions or arguments and bring along any materials you think might be helpful. Try to anticipate counter arguments and prepare responses. You can also tailor your argument to your MP by researching their position beforehand. For example, are they in government or opposition? What is their party’s official position? How have they voted on this issue in the past? ow know h What is their position in parliament – are they in the Cabinet let us Shadow Cabinet? Be clear about what you want from them s or the meeting goe and follow up with them later.