“We started out thinking the consultation was just a formality, most of us would have voted for the Bill. By the time we’d learned from the community, almost every one of us thought the Bill was too dumb to be rescued, even if we tried to amend it. It would have damaged a system that was working well.”
Select Committee oral submissions are an important way to show MPs how the legislation they are scrutinising affects real people. But you need to make your submission compelling. The following is some simple things you can do to make yourself heard -
Think about the prejudices and misconceptions the Select Committee will have. MPs are people too and will come to the committee with their own ideas on who is worth listening to. Anything you can do to confront any assumed stereotypes of your group is likely to get the Committee curious about your point of view.
You have a right to put your view before the Committee. But if it just pure ideological, do not expect to be influential.
Abstract statements of principle get no traction in front of Select Committees. They tend to be used by adversaries on the Committee to grandstand to the media by making it plain that they disagree.
The Committee did not draft the Bill. Do not take your anger out on them. That does not mean you have to pretend your submission is not vitally important. You can be passionate – just not offensive.
Assume that MPs have read your submission or at least read a summary of it. Never read from it. Instead tell your story – how did you come to represent this group and how will the bill affect your life.
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Want advice, feedback or training for your Select Committee submission? Contact our Senior Consultant Brigitte Morten
