HOW TO LOBBY YOUR MP
Published: 26th May 2025
What is lobbying?
The word ‘lobbying’ comes from the process of MPs gathering in the lobbies of the House of Commons. It just means getting in touch with an MP about something you want them to pursue on your behalf.
You can lobby your MP in person, by letter, email or telephone. We can do this to inform them about WASPI, either as an individual or as a local WASPI group. By getting your MP to support, you can help put pressure on the government to bring about change.
Who can you lobby?
You can only lobby your own MP, not one who doesn’t represent your constituency. Only your own MP can act on your behalf.
How to go about it
A face-to-face meeting is ideal if you can arrange one. Many MPs run local surgeries for this purpose. It’s likely that you won’t have much time, so prepare well in advance. That way you can put across your issues as clearly and quickly as possible. There is more information below to help you with putting your points across and counter arguments should your MP not be supportive.
It’s always good to have a clear idea of what you want your MP to do . This could be writing a letter to the Minister or asking a question in Parliament, for example.
Does your MP support WASPI?
You can find out if your MP is supportive by using our interactive map. This also links to a template email to send to him or her. Click here to find the map.
The website www.theyworkforyou.com is a useful source of information or try your MP’s own website.
The main discussion points:
- We are not against equalisation.
- We are not asking for the State Pension Age (SPa) to be put back to age 60.
- We are asking for fair and fast compensation for the lack of notice we received.
- The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has already found that there was maladministration by the DWP in the way it failed to inform women adequately. There is nothing to stop the Government taking immediate action to compensate women affected.
- We protest about the lack of/lateness of notice and the resulting speed of implementation.
- Explain that many women only received one or two years notice of a six-year increase.
- Tell your MP how the lack of notice has affected you. What decisions you would have taken if you had known earlier about the SPa increase? (Not given up work to provide care, worked part time, saved more into your pension etc. Also tell him/her how not knowing about the increase to your SPa has affected you emotionally and physically.)
- Tell your MP this must NOT be means-tested. We have ALL paid in and those of us who have managed to save should not be punished again.
- If your MP tells you that ‘there is no money’ point out that there is ALWAYS money and that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. WASPI women are only asking for a fraction of what they have lost by way of compensation for the lack of notice. The Treasury have saved £220billion by increasing the State Pension age.
- Ask your MP to support you/us/WASPI, to put his/her weight behind the campaign and to make representations to Pat McFadden, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions., Further information on waspi.co.uk
After the meeting
Follow up your meeting with an email or letter thanking your MP for seeing you. Remind them of the main points of the discussion and what you would like them to do.