Remember you are trying to influence the MP’s thinking, not alienate them. So use courteous language. Don’t be sarcastic, judgmental, or question their motives.
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Don’t get emotive
You feel strongly enough to write to them. That carries weight, but it will also make it temnderstate rather than overstate. Don’t use exclamation marks, heavy underlining, italics, or bold font. And don’t write words in capitals to make your point ( GET IT!!!!!!!!)
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Keep to the point
Like all the rest of us, MPs are very busy people. They do want to know what you think on an issue but they don’t want to hear about several issues at the same time. For example, if you are writing to express your concern about the high level of child poverty in New Zealand then keep to that subject, even though you think something needs to be done about school truancy levels also.
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Keep it short
This is related to point three above. Books have been written about child poverty and much research has been done on the subject. You don’t need to convey all that information in your letter. Your MP is most interested to hear that you think ending child poverty should be a policy priority for the incoming government.
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State the purpose of the letter at the beginning
It is useful also to give your letter a heading that sets out what the subject of the letter is, e.g.,
Incoming government must end child poverty in NZ
“I am writing to tell you that I think the levels of child poverty in New Zealand unacceptable …”
