1 in 4 MPs don't bother with party conferences
Monday, 14 September 2009 12:09 PM
by Ian Dunt
Nearly a quarter of MPs do not bother attending their party conference, according to a survey released today.
Thirty per cent of Labour MPs, 18 per cent of Conservatives and 13 per cent of Liberal Democrat MPs said they did not attend conference.
The survey, released by consultancy nfpSynergy's Charity Parliamentary Monitor, led some third sector strategists to conclude that charities should concentrate their lobbying activities elsewhere.
"Many charities assume that campaigning via a costly stand or fringe meeting at a party conference is an effective way to reach MPs and Peers," said nfpSynergy researcher, Sarah Lincoln.
"However, politicians themselves - a significant proportion of whom don't even bother attending conference or, if they do, are unimpressed by any charities that may be present - say that voluntary organisations would prove far more persuasive lobbying them face-to-face in Westminster, or operating at constituency level."
The 150 Mps and 100 peers questioned for the survey seemed to believe that only the use of 'house business' was a less effective lobbying tool than attending conferences, and implied that face-to-face meetings in Westminster or at constituencies was the best route towards influencing political opinion.
Thirty-nine per cent said constituency correspondence was a good way for charities to spread their policy agenda, while 37 per cent suggested constituency events.
Just 27 per cent suggested Westminster events, and only 19 per cent cited media coverage.
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