If you can only do one thing to help save jury trials, the most valuable way you can contribute to the campaign is by writing to your local MP. Twenty letters to an MP from constituents is more powerful than twenty additional signatures on a petition.
Write to your MP
How do you find out who your MP is?
Enter your postcode at They Work For You to find out who your local MP is.
Is it worth writing to an MP in Scotland or Northern Island?
Yes, but less so than English or Welsh MPs. The changes will only affect England and Wales but any MP can speak or vote on the bill. If your MP is part of party that also operates in England and Wales they can feedback the depth of concern on their party leaders in England and Wales.
Is it worth writing to an MP in Wales?
YES! This is an English Justice Minister and Prime Minister forcing their ideas on the people of Wales. This is supposed to the the Court system of England and Wales but they have treated Wales with complete disrespect. At the very least they should derogate this change and allow the Welsh assembly to decide this Welsh matter for Wales.
Tips for writing to your MP
Email or handwritten letter?
Handwritten letters really stand out because they are so rare nowadays. But all MPs answer emails, and some prefer emails.
Always include your name and address!
If it’s your first letter to your MP, start by introducing yourself.
Make the message personal, no-one likes chain emails. Use your own words to explain why you care about juries. You could talk about relevant facts, figures, local impacts, but particularly personal stories. This will make your letter more memorable – MPs get lots of letters, so you want yours to stand out.
After you’ve explained the issue, let them know what you want them to do. In our draft letter we have set out 6 specific asks. We also explain how we think these actions will help. Feel free to personalise those explanations.
Keep it brief!
MPs are busy people. Be concise and get to the point quickly. Make your letter one page by preference, two at most. Stay focussed, only cover a single issue. It’s better to send two letters if there’s another issue you’d like to cover.
Ask for a response
Ask them to confirm that they have, or will, help. And if you don’t hear back, send a follow-up email or phone call.
Say thanks
If your MP has helped or agreed to help, say thanks – they’ll appreciate it and it will remind them of the promise they made.
Letter template
Remember to personalise the details in curly brackets and capital letters.
{YOUR FULL ADDRESS} (even for emails)
{YOUR POSTCODE}
{DATE}
Dear {MP NAME},
My name is {YOUR NAME} and I am a one of your constituents. I am writing to you today because I am concerned about the prospect of jury trials being reduced in Crown Court cases.
Juries are a vital mechanism by which ordinary people participate in the legal process. People should not be subjects ruled over by a King, Ministers and Judges but full participants in the running of the country.
Juries are micro democracies where ordinary people decide where the line between innocence and guilt is in a way that makes sense to ordinary people, and not just to lawyers.
I am asking you to;
* Vote for the amendments laid down to remove the changes affecting juries from the Bill.
* On my and my fellow constituents behalf make your voice heard supporting juries at the Report stage and the Third Reading in the House of Commons.
* Ask the government what their democratic mandate is for making such a massive constitutional change.
{ADD PERSONAL REASONS WHY YOU WANT TO KEEP TRIAL BY JURY, EG TRUSTING PEOPLE, JUDGES HAVE CAREERS TO WORRY ABOUT, 12 PEOPLE MAKING A BETTER DECISION MAKING FORUM THAN ONE, THE LAW BECOMING LESS UNDERSTANDABLE TO ORDINARY PEOPLE, ETC}
It concerns me that you can vote for an MP based on a Manifesto only to find out they will do something quite different that you might fundamentally disagree with. If this is the new normal how can I have any faith in political system?
I'm keen to hear how you get on with these key issues. Please do keep me informed of any progress you make.
Many thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
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