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Get your MP to speak out

Turn your MP into a champion for clean water

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The sewage scandal won’t be solved by half-measures or PR spin – it needs bold political action. MPs have the power to hold water companies to account, demand stronger laws, and push for the investment our communities and blue spaces desperately need. That’s why we need them on our side.  

Below you’ll find some practical steps to help you influence your MP on sewage pollution – and if you want to take a deeper dive into the what, how and why of turning your MP into a champion for clean water, download the full action guide for even more tips, strategies and info on the changes we’re calling for. 

Download the action guide

What can MPs do?

MPs are elected to represent you in Parliament – and that gives them real power to tackle the sewage scandal. They can grill water companies and ministers, demand stronger laws, and vote for change. Locally, they can back community campaigns, write to regulators, and shine a spotlight on pollution in the press. In short: your MP works for you – so let’s make sure they use their voice to fight for clean water. 

Influencing your MP

1. Do your homework – who is your MP and what makes them tick? 

To quickly find out who your MP is, visit They Work For You and enter your postcode in the search bar. This will let you know your MP’s name, what party they belong to, their contact details and which parliamentary constituency you live in – this is useful information particularly if you want to get other residents in your constituency involved in your campaigning!  

Once you know who your MP is, you can dig a little deeper. On They Work For You, check their voting record and “interests” tab to see what issues they care about. Do they focus on health, the environment, the local economy or something else? MPs are far more likely to act if you connect sewage pollution to something they already prioritise.  

You can also spot their priorities in other places: their social media feeds, local newspaper quotes, or updates on their own website. These often reveal what they want to be seen supporting in the community – and give you handy clues about the best way to get their attention. 

2. Get in touch

There are a few ways to get in touch with your MP, you can send them an email, give their office or call or even send them a letter. However, most MPs will prefer it if you email them. You can find all your MP’s contact information on They Work For You.  

You can also meet your MP at one of their local drop-in surgery sessions – but do note that your slot at one of these sessions will only be 10-15 minutes and you’ll usually need to book ahead by phone or email.  

Need a starting point? Use our template email to reach out to your MP!  

As tempting as it may be to fill your first message to your MP with complex, heavily detailed information, this isn’t always the best way to influence them. Let’s start with the basics:  

  • Your postcode – so that your MP and their team are able to verify that you are one of their constituents.  
  • Why you’re getting in touch – to set the expectation early that you want to discuss the impact of sewage pollution. This can help save the conversation from being derailed. 
  • What you want to happen – if you’re looking to meet with your MP, set your request out clearly. If you think you might need a little bit longer than 10-15 minutes at one of their drop-in surgery sessions, or you would prefer to meet online rather than face-to-face, then make sure to communicate that too.  

An MP’s number one priority is their own constituency, so focus on how sewage pollution is hitting people, nature, and businesses right on their doorstep. How ever you decide to structure your message, make sure to cover the 3 following points:  

  • You – who you are, how you personally have been impacted by sewage, and that you live in their constituency.  
  • Your community – how sewage pollution is affecting people and businesses locally. 
  • The issue – what’s happening right now that has pushed you to contact them. 

Top tip: making use of personal stories can be especially powerful. They turn abstract problems into real human experiences, making it much harder for MPs to look the other way. 

3. Meet your MP

Meeting your MP can feel daunting but it really doesn’t need to be! Remember, as one of their constituents, it’s their job to represent your interests.  

Whether you meet in person or online, preparation is key to making an impact. Draw on your own experiences – or those of your community – to show that the failures of the water industry aren’t distant or abstract, but real problems hitting people, nature, and businesses right now in your MP’s constituency. 

Try to back your story up with stats and figures to show the scale of the problem. You don’t need to be an expert – the Safer Seas & Rivers Service (SSRS) app and SAS Data HQ have everything you need, from sewage discharge data to local sickness reports, ready to use to help make your case stronger.  

Often, when an MP is feeling under pressure in a meeting, they may try to control the conversation. This is a common defensive behaviour. The best way to try and prevent this from happening is to have what you want to say well prepared. This should recap and expand on the information you put in your first message to your MP.  

Here’s how you can structure your case to highlight your connection to the problem and show your MP why they should care:

Personal introduction
E.g. “I love wild swimming – it’s one of the best things about living here, and so many in our community feel the same.” 

The immediate problem
E.g. “But sewage dumping at our local spot means we’ve had to cancel swims, and local businesses renting paddleboards and kayaks are losing income.” 

The wider problem
E.g. “This isn’t just local – it’s national. Sewage is being poured into waters across the UK, people are getting sick, and water companies are rewarding bosses with bonuses instead of fixing the problem.” 

The solution
E.g. “This has to change. We need full transparency, proper monitoring of sewage overflows, and real consequences for polluters – so our community can enjoy clean, safe waters again.” 

Once you’ve made your case, listen. Ask clear questions to see where your MP stands and look for overlap between their priorities and your concerns. No MP wants to be seen ignoring public health or damaging the local economy, so use facts and stories to connect sewage pollution to the issues they already claim to care about. Keep it calm and constructive – this is about building agreement, not catching them out. 

Many MP meetings lose momentum if the key action isn’t nailed down. Don’t let that happen – make sure you end with a clear, practical next step. Focus on one priority ask, whether that’s writing to the local water company, raising the issue in Parliament, or pressing regulators for answers. You can always build up to bolder actions later. 

Phrase your ask in a way that invites a response – “Can I count on your support?” – to create accountability. And always leave it in writing: a short note or email that sums up your points and what you’re asking for. That way your MP has a record to act on, and you have something to follow up. 

Need support? We’ve made an MP briefing template that you can use to clearly set out your ask and the facts that support it.  

4. Follow up  

This might just be the most important step, and the one most people forget: follow up. If you want your MP to become a real ally on sewage pollution, your first meeting isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning! 

Following up doesn’t mean pestering them every day. It means having a clear plan to stay in touch, keep up the pressure, and make sure they actually do what they said they would. 

At the end of your meeting, make it clear that you’ll be checking in on the key points discussed. How often you then communicate with your MP can depend on the context and how time-sensitive your ask is. However, as a rough guide, here’s what your follow-up plan could look like:  

  • 1 week – Send a thank-you email confirming what was agreed. 
  • 1 month – Check whether they’ve acted. 
  • 3 months – Share updates or new evidence and see if they’ve spoken out. 
  • 6 months – If they’ve delivered, raise the bar with a new ask. If not, ramp up the pressure through media, social, or community action. 

Use our MP Follow-Up Plan template to create your own plan to keep your MP accountable!  

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