MP meetings are our best hope of changing the current policy proposals, giving policymakers a first-hand look at the challenges and opportunities within British agriculture.
Hosting MPs and councillors demonstrates the realities of food production, sustainability and rural businesses, while ensuring they understand the sector鈥檚 needs.
In the words of NFU President Tom Bradshaw: 鈥淭here is no substitute for getting decision-makers out on farm.
鈥淔armers should take every opportunity to engage with policymakers, ensuring that agriculture remains a priority in political discussions.鈥�
皇家华人organises hundreds of MP visits every year, but you can organise them for yourself too.
皇家华人team can help set up your visit; read details of how to get in touch below. Your regional NFU colleagues will be able to accompany you on farm to help facilitate the MP鈥檚 visit.
Do get in touch with your local NFU team to let them know the visit is taking place.
To get in touch with your local county adviser, please visit the relevant regional contact page below:
Preparing for an MP visit
- In your invitation be clear and concise about why you鈥檇 like your MP to come and visit you. Do you want to discuss a specific issue relating to your business or is this just a general chat about the sector?
- Invite your MP on a Friday, when MPs tend to be in their constituency, or during any weekday over the parliamentary recess. You can check recess dates with the NFU鈥檚 external affairs team by emailing [email protected] or on the .
- Ensure the MP knows they鈥檒l need to bring appropriate footwear and clothing and they have clear instructions to get to the farm. is one tool that offers a more precise location than a postcode alone.
Plan an itinerary for the visit
MPs and their staff always appreciate an agenda ahead of the visit and this allows them to come to discussions better prepared. It also increases the likelihood of them being able to come, as MPs often have calendars full of meetings and public appearances. Your local NFU team can help with this.
A suggested plan could be a farm walk, followed by a kitchen table discussion. The farm walk gives MPs the chance to see how your business runs day to day, as well as a nice photo opportunity.
A kitchen table discussion also allows you to go over some of the key issues you wish to raise in more detail. It鈥檚 worth having a bad weather contingency plan, just in case.
What issues are you going to discuss?
Have a look at 皇家华人 to find out the big issues in your sector.
If you want to discuss something else, it鈥檚 worth doing a bit of research to ensure you make your case as well as possible. Landing a few points well is more effective than overloading MPs with information. The latest NFU briefings are always available from your county adviser or from the external affairs team.
Know your MP
The website can be a useful tool to understand your MP鈥檚 views and voting record in advance of the meeting.
The external affairs team can also help with some background information on the MP and let you know about previous engagement the NFU has had with them (if any) 鈥� especially useful for meetings with newly-elected MPs.
Understand their influence
Be clear about whether they are a backbench MP, involved in a committee, part of a parliamentary interest group, or hold a role in government. This will have an impact on what action the MP is able to take up on your behalf. The external affairs team can help with this if you鈥檙e unsure.
On the day
- Be clear and concise in all discussions:
- What is the issue/problem?
- Why is the issue important? (Also known as the 鈥榮o what?鈥� question 鈥� why should they care?)
- What is your proposed solution?
- What do you want them to do?
- Think about how you can frame your issues to cut through the noise. Suggesting solutions increases the likelihood that an MP acts after their visit.
- Welcome any staff accompanying the MP as they may be the one who has to take up any follow-up action after the visit.
- Your MP is your local voice and can help deliver the changes you need, even if you don鈥檛 personally agree with their views.
Don鈥檛 let the MP leave without...
- Agreeing to some follow-up action for you 鈥� that could be:
- writing a letter to a specific Minister
- asking a parliamentary question
- tabling a debate on a topic you discussed on the visit
- a farm visit again in the future
After the meeting please do update the NFU鈥檚 external affairs team about how the meeting went so we can coordinate our lobbying in London and deliver for British farmers.
鈥淭here is no substitute for getting decision makers out on farm.鈥�
NFU President Tom Bradshaw