Writing to our politicians is one way we can all raise awareness of the impact of BTP’s budget settlement on the travelling public and the communities we serve. It’s easy to do and helps our MPs/MSPs/MSs to represent us in Parliament.
What can my representative do?
Members of Parliament can:
vote on issues in Parliament
write to the government minister responsible for the issue or seek a meeting with them
ask questions in Parliament (‘Parliamentary Questions’) about issues you raise
ask for a debate in Parliament. A relevant minister will always attend this debate to respond to your MP on behalf of the government.
We have written to the Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander MP, and Lord Peter Hendy, the Rail Minister, about our concerns. There is guidance below on how you can share your views with your local representative.
Find your local representative
Find out who your local MP is via the Parliament website. If you’re in Scotland, you can visit the website of The Scottish Parliament. Colleagues in Wales will find the Senedd Cymru Welsh Assembly website useful. Your representative’s entry will list the contact details for their constituency office (in your local area) and their Parliamentary office. You can use either.
Tips for writing to your MP
Include your name and address – this shows the MP you are one of their constituents and lets them know where to send a response.
Write from the heart – explain why this issue matters to you and your local area. You might include a personal story to help your email stand out. But remember to please be polite.
Be concise – MPs receive thousands of letters so get to the point quickly and clearly.
Ask your MP to do something – after you have explained the issue, do tell your MP what you would like them to do about it. Explain how you think they can tackle the issue.
Ask for a reply – ask your MP to update you on what they will do in response to your letter.
Thank them for their time - you are one of many people they represent, so thank them for reading your email.
Email/letter template
MPs are most likely to respond to a personalised letter, but if you need inspiration, you can adapt the template below
[YOUR FULL ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTCODE]
[DATE]
Dear [MP NAME],
My names is [YOUR NAME] and I am a constituent of [CONSTITUENCY NAME]. I am writing to you today because I am concerned about the impact of the recent budget settlement decision made by British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). This is something that’s particularly important to me as a British Transport Police [OFFICER/SPECIAL CONSTABLE/STAFF MEMBER] with [NUMBER] years of service with the Force.
At a Full Authority Meeting held on Tuesday, 10 December, members of the BTPA agreed on a budget settlement of 4.6% for British Transport Police. This falls far short of what the Force had requested. I am concerned about what this means for the essential services and initiatives my colleagues and I deliver that help keep rail users safe and maintain trust and confidence in BTP.
This budget settlement means there is a risk that BTP will be unable to sustain an operational presence at some train stations. There is also a gap between the staffing the force needs and the resources it can afford, which is worrying.
BTP is a national force that works to keep the rail network safe. This budget decision will likely affect commuters and leisure travellers from our area, as well as visitors from elsewhere.
I would like you to contact the Transport Secretary and Rail Minister and urge them to intervene before the end of this financial year. Alternative financial solutions must be found that don’t risk compromising the service my colleagues and I provide and, therefore, public safety.
Please do keep me informed of any progress made.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]