Remember, you are a voter – your views count! MPs take notice of the letters they get – generally taking each one to represent the views of ten or twenty other like-minded constituents.

One of the best ways you can support the right to pay for peace not war is by writing to your MP. They need to know their constituents’ views on paying taxes for use by the military.

Please feel free to use the example text below for a letter to send to your MP.

If you wish to construct your own letter click here to see some points to bare in mind when writing. You can send your letters to:

MP’s name,
House of Commons,
Westminster,
London.
SW1A 0AA

To find out who your MP is an for information on their activities in parliament please visit www.theyworkforyou.com.

I am writing to you to inquire about your position on non-military security and defence spending.

An estimated 10% of my taxes are currently being spent on war and the preparations for war. This means that a large proportion of my taxes are being used in my name to kill others. There is a direct link between all UK taxpayers and those being killed across the world in wars being fought under the guise of national security. My conscience has directed me to write this letter to you as there are more effective, better value and above all non-violent methods of maintaining security which do not cost lives.

Unfortunately, time and time again governments choose to spend obscene amounts of money paying for military security while tiny amounts in comparison are being spent on non-military solutions to security. This has to stop. I am writing to you to find out you and your party’s stance on this issue and what plans do you have for the future of security and defence spending in the UK?

I am writing this letter in support of the organisation conscience TAXES FOR PEACE NOT WAR which works for a world where taxes are used to nurture peace not pay for war. They campaign for a progressive increase in the amount of UK tax spent on peacebuilding and a corresponding decrease in the amount of UK tax spent on war and the preparation for war.

I look forward to hearing your response.

Yours faithfully,

writing tips

If you wish to construct your own letter below are some points to bare in mind when writing:

• Always make your letter personal, using the correct name and title.
• Make sure your address and postcode are on the top of the letter: envelopes are often thrown away.
• Please mention conscience – it helps raise awareness of the organisation.
• Be polite: always write as if you expect a positive response.
• Be concise: a letter should rarely be more than one sheet of A4 paper.
• Get to the point quickly: state your concern in the first paragraph and only raise one concern per letter.
• Ask a question and then ask for a response.
• Letters are best, though you can always contact your MP by email.
• It is likely you will receive a bland response to your first letter, but it may help to maintain the correspondence. Don’t write too often, but do keep the MP informed of any changes or developments in the specific area under discussion.