19 July 2017

Meet your MP this summer

With Parliament's summer recess approaching, the next week or two presents the best opportunity all year to engage with your MP.

On 20 July, the House of Commons will ‘prorogue' until September 5th, and during this time MPs spend the summer out and about in their constituencies. As well as meetings and surgeries with individual constituents, they'll be visiting local businesses and charities (as well as opening countless summer fetes!).

A visit to your business is an effective way to make your MP aware of your contribution to the local economy, skills and employment. It's also an opportunity to promote the BPIF's key messages around the print industry, raise awareness of current areas of concern and to make change happen on behalf of the whole sector.

Perhaps you've never met the MP who represents your business, perhaps you've got a new MP following the 2017 election or maybe you've never considered it at all - in any case, inviting them to your business premises is by far the best way to engage them. If you can offer them a tour, a chance to meet staff (in other words, potential voters!), a cup of a coffee and a photo opportunity, they are more than likely to say yes.

Download our 'Meet Your MP' pack, designed especially for BPIF members, to help organise an MP's visit. There's also a template press release you can use to send to your local papers after the visit, with the MP's permission.

Carys Davis, the BPIF's Public Affairs Adviser, can help make arrangements and give you ideas for topical issues to raise during the visit. She will often be able to attend the visit as well, so do let her know on [email protected] if you're interested in meeting your MP.