Forum Topic

Are people familiar with Green Carding their MP?

May be useful:Green Carding your MP Turn up at the Houses of Parliament, go to St Stephen’s Entrance and ask to go to the Central Lobby to green card the MP for your constituency.  Go to the reception desk in Central Lobby and ask for a green card. Fill in your name, address, your MP and the purpose of the visit. They insist on having your address so they can check that you are visiting the MP who represents your constituency. It is essential that you give a clear reason for ‘Purpose of Visit’. This is because if the MP is unable to meet you on the day, they have to write to you at the address provided, to respond to your query. Once you have filled in the card and handed it back, staff will go and search for your MP. If your MP is found and comes to Central Lobby, your name will be announced over the loudspeaker. It’s usually difficult to find the MP, so if the MP has not turned up within 30 minutes, it’s unlikely they’re going to show at all.

Colin Murphy ● 6174d4 Comments

If an MP is a minister they will not probably not be in the Commons during working hours, but might be there in the evenings early in the week. The offices may be in the new block on the other side of Bridge Street, so a Green card may have to summon them from there (I don't know if the Green card system summons them from their offices whether in the Commons or across the road, but would assume so). They also might be at a meal (or in the bar)and so face an awkward dilemma, or a more serious one if already meeting a constituent or delegation somewhere in the precincts. I would recommend seeking an appointment, but if you are a known opponent, don't count on getting one. Contrary to the impressions conveyed on this and other forums, most MPs of all persuasions do want to help their constituents but have limited time to do so.

Dan Filson ● 6167d

In the case of our local MPs, I think a Red Card would probably be more appropriate.

MP Parry ● 6170d

A green card to hail one's MP in the Lobby?That's an interesting and perhaps little known facility Colin.I have been reading a footnote:""If the MP cannot be found a message is left. MPs are not always in Westminster as they have a lot of work to do in their constituencies and elsewhere and it is best to make an appointment in advance""

Jim Lawes ● 6173d

I did green card Ann on the evening of the anti-Heathrow mass lobby and rally ?fifteen months ago.Unfortunately Ann did not show on that occasion ( I had wanted to ask her if she got any response from her meeting with Ruth Kelly to the question I had raised at her Paul Ribeson Theatre event.) But I spent an interesting hour waiting, watching what was going on in the Central Lobby and chatting with another two or three constituents who had also green carded Ann. After the hour, I gave up and went to the rally - but it was full up and after spending 45 mins in the mob outside we were admitted to an overflow session.At the end of the rally, as I was coming away, I bumped into one of the constituents who I had chatted with in Central Lobby. He said that Ann had been at the opening of the rally and therefore hadn't been available when we had green-carded her initially. But he had had a good interview with her when she had returned.

Tim Henderson ● 6174d