Learning how to lobby, together

Covid-19 has been the biggest challenge faced by the music sector for generations, if not ever. Overnight, work was cancelled, careers were placed on hold and jobs were lost. But the resilience the music community has shown in the face of such obstacles has been inspiring, and across the country we’ve seen performers and teachers come together to find new ways of working and to protect their livelihoods and future.

At the Incorporated Society of Musicians we’ve been all hands on deck supporting and guiding these efforts, and we’ve built up an extensive library of guidance and resources that has helped our many members navigate the complex challenges that come with working through the pandemic, or preparing to return to work later this year. You can use these resources by visiting our website at ism.org.

Another big part of what we do, often behind the scenes, is engaging extensively with government and Parliamentarians, both MPs and Lords. We work to educate them on the issues that matter to our members and the sector, and we work to influence and support key decision-makers to develop policy that bests represent their interests. We’re proud of the work we’ve done in this regard, and we believe there is no one better in standing up for our members and the sector. But we also know that we are stronger when we all act together.

More than anything, the last few months have shown us the power of collaboration in solving problems and thinking creatively. That’s why at the ISM we work with other sector representatives to amplify our impact, and that’s why we’ve also spent time developing tools and resources to empower our member and supporters to act on their own behalf, especially when it comes to engaging with their MPs. So, here’s some basic tips to get you started and to improve your chances of having your voice heard.

Engaging your local MP

Everyone in the UK is represented by a Member of Parliament. MPs represent your interests and concerns in the House of Commons, they challenge the work of Government, and debate key issues. Now, Parliament is focused almost entirely on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engaging your MP is an effective tool for influencing political change. MPs consider many different views when deciding what issues to support. Although your MP cannot help in every case, they usually point you in the right direction.

Write to your MP

Writing to your MP is a great way for them to hear your concerns and take steps to support you. In response to COVID-19, we have put together template letters, which you can find on our website and use to lobby for the extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, for an immigration system that supports music, and for music education to be at the heart of the catch-up curriculum.

Remember that MPs receive hundreds of emails every day and face a significantly increased workload because of COVID. They aim to reply to their constituents within two weeks and are prioritising COVID related casework, so you should get a response within this timeframe.

If you are waiting for more than two weeks, you can follow up by ringing their offices and speaking directly with the MP’s caseworker. The office numbers can be found online. Another effective way of getting your MP’s attention is to tweet them directly on social media in a respectful manner.

Attend an advice surgery

Most MPs hold surgeries in their constituency, which is an opportunity for you to meet them face-to-face and discuss matters of concern. MPs usually hold surgeries once a week and advertise them locally or online. Because of COVID-19, most MPs are holding telephone advice surgeries and some are running these virtually. We would strongly encourage you to reach out to your local MP to raise issues relating to COVID-19.

Invite your MP to support the APPG for Music Education Help promote the importance of music education by emailing your MP, inviting them to attend the next meeting of the APPG for Music Education. When asking your local MP to join the APPG, explain how their membership of the Group would be a valuable declaration of their commitment to music education and extremely appreciated by their local constituents involved in music education.

Dos and don'ts when lobbying your MP

Do your research

· Know your MP so you can tailor your approach to catch their attention. What issues have they recently spoken about? Do they have a history working on the issues that you are lobbying on? Find answers to these questions, so you can better tailor your approach.

· Get the basics right – make sure you spell their name correctly!

· Which party: government or opposition? This affects what the MP may be prepared to do for you. This should also affect your messaging. For example, when speaking to Tory MPs could you reference the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs or the government’s 'levelling up' agenda.

· What is their voting record? Do they ever rebel against their parties' positions? This might tell you how likely they are to stand up for you on certain issues.

· Are they on the front bench? This can affect what they are allowed to do. For example, a Government minister or an Opposition shadow spokesperson (frontbenchers) have to follow the party line whereas MPs without official positions (backbenchers) do not on many issues. However, if your local MP is a minister or shadow minister for the relevant government department for your campaign issue this may help you make a difference.

Do personalise and localise

· Personalise your messages. MPs are people, and they will appreciate personal touches, relating to your or there experiences.

· What are your shared interests? They may live in your town and have similar experiences to you, so try to frame your argument through a local lense. MPs, after all, first and foremost have a responsibility to their constituency.

Do empathise

· MPs are human beings: they get tired and stressed, and most of them work very hard.

Do simplify and be realistic

· Simplify your messages, and don’t overload your communications with too many asks.

· Be realistic with what you are trying to achieve and what your MP can help you with, and the timeline for getting results.

Don’t antagonise

· If you damage the relationship they will be less likely to help you.

· If you didn’t vote for them in the last general election, don’t tell them this. Try to set party or broader political differences aside.

Don't overcomplicate, but don't generalise either!

· Don’t overcomplicate messages with lots of different policy asks – if it is about Brexit focus on Brexit, if it is about music education focus on that.

· Avoid sending generic emails – MPs are less likely to properly respond to generic emails from 25 different people. So when your using our template letters, try to personalise!

To learn more on how to lobby your MP and how to have your voice heard visit our website at ism.org/take-action. We also recommend watching our new webinar on the subject, which you can watch at ism.org/webinars.