Weekly Action - 17 July 2024 - Welcome Your New MP

Welcome your new MP

This Wednesday 17 July is the King’s speech and the state opening of parliament. As is traditional, the King will open the new parliament, following the recent election, with a speech, written by the government, in which he will set out the government’s legislative plans for the year ahead. It will be the first opportunity for newly elected MPs to properly take up or resume their seats in the House of Commons and begin regular meetings. It is quite a changed intake. More than half of the 650 MPs elected on 4 July are new. There is the highest proportion of women ever elected to parliament, and the new intake is also the most diverse and one of the youngest ever seen. There are also dozens of Christian MPs who will be taking up their seats.

MPs play a crucial role in the running of our country, whichever party they represent. They scrutinise legislation and improve it, they represent the issues that matter to their constituents, and they challenge government and hold them to account. Of course, we are familiar with examples of bad behaviour by MPs which rightly receive a lot of coverage and challenge in the media. But, the vast majority of MPs work incredibly hard and do a good job, trying to make the country and the world a better place as they see it (even if we might not always agree with them on every particular policy). It’s a tough job. Most face a growing number of threats and online harassment. As Christians, the Bible teaches us to pray for our leaders, as Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim 2: 1 – 2). We should certainly pray for our MPs as part of that. We should applaud them when they do well and uphold good standards of integrity in public life and pursue efforts to tackle social injustice, inequality, poverty, to care for all in society and protect the environment. We should challenge them when they fall short of this.

Last week Arise asked you to write to the new Prime Minister and to the new government expressing congratulations on coming to power and setting out what action you would like to see in their first 100 days to rapidly transition the UK to a green and fair economy and to strengthen democracy and human rights around the world. These are the focus of Arise’s 4 Shifts and Reform Movements campaigns.

This week will you take action to send the same message to your new MP, and use it as an opportunity to congratulate them, get to know them, and begin to build a relationship with them?

Take Action

Speak out in advocacy

Write to your MP in your own words, or better still send them a ‘congratulations on your new job’ card with your message within it.

Congratulate them on their election. Let them know that you will be praying for them and that you look forward to corresponding with them and meeting them.
Set out in your own words that you would like them to urge the new government to take significant action in its first 100 days to rapidly transition the UK to a green and fair economy and to strengthen democracy and human rights around the world. Use Arise’s first 100 days blog for ideas, but also add your own.

Find your MP and their contact details here. If you contact then via email or social media do include a link to the first 100 days blog.

Pray

Pray for your new MP. Pray for wisdom, and that they will act with integrity and good standards. Pray that they will be champions in the UK parliament on issues of democracy, human rights, justice, good governance, reducing poverty and inequality, international aid, tackling climate change and environmental crisis, and other vital issues.

Give

As well as our MPs taking action for a green and fair economy and democracy and human rights, there are lots of great organisations out there active in these areas that we should consider supporting financially ourselves. Considering giving to Christian organisations like A Rocha or to secular groups like Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, and your local Wildlife Trust who are doing great work caring for the environment. On protecting democracy and human rights, give to Christian organisations like International Justice Mission, and to secular groups like Freedom House, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, who are again all doing great work in these areas.

Ethical Consumption

One of the areas considered in Arises’ top priorities for the new government’s first 100 days is the crucial importance of effective taxation and social spending. We can support our MPs and the government in rapidly transitioning the UK to a green and fair economy, and in strengthening democracy and human rights around the world, and indeed in its other important responsibilities, by ensuring we help play our part and only buy goods and services from companies that pay a fair share of tax wherever possible. (Search online to find this out.)

Practical Action

Another way we can help with the crucial issue of social spending to support the sick, disabled, unemployed and other marginalised, but essential, parts of our society, is by taking responsibility to help with this, and directly supporting the members of our own extended family who find themselves in these situations, or in need in other ways.

Encourage us and others by letting us know what actions you have taken – message us at info@ariseuk.org, or via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Find out more

It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested in joining or starting a local Arise group in your church or area.

Find out more in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world. It looks at what the Bible says, and what we can learn from the best data and the world’s leading experts on the five major areas of evangelism, discipleship, social justice, development and the environment. It then draws these lessons together into a practical road map for the changes we need to see in our world, which the Arise movement campaigns to achieve.

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