Parliamentary engagement
With so much of the work we do being dictated by the government, engaging with and influencing members of parliament is a crucial part of our mission.
What we work on
We work with MPs, the civil service and other political actors to help influence UK politics for the good of our members and the communities we work with.
We are working with all the main parties and building the relationships that ensure we will have an influence over the next government.
We brief MPs before debates in Parliament, submit evidence to Select Committee enquiries and co-ordinate letters to government.
The impact our work has
The policies of the UK government have a real impact on the UK’s international development work, and on how the UK uses its role on the international stage to advance the causes of global justice and solidarity. The government is influenced in turn by Parliamentarians, and this means it is important that MPs and Peers across the political spectrum are also engaged with the work of our members and understand its importance.
As the organisations that work with communities on the ground, our members have insights into how aid and development can be better delivered, and how the UK can best work in partnership with other countries, and with global institutions, to achieve the SDGs. They often also commission policy and research, based on their own work, into wider issues such as global tax and trade, development financing and the reform of global institutions that impact on the countries and communities they work with.
As a convening organisation, we provide forums for our members to influence Parliament, government and opposition parties in a variety of ways, from engaging with FCDO policy processes to joining meetings with MPs, Ministers and Shadow Ministers to help shape policy debates.
Bond manifesto 2024: A global system for people and the planet
Read our manifestoUnderstanding electoral campaigning rules
Find out moreMajor development shortfalls and global system failures
Read moreWe are launching a new project soon that will help connect up our smaller and medium-sized members with their local MPs, helping to benefit their own work and to connect more MPs across the political spectrum with the work of the aid and development sector.
If you have any questions about our work on parliamentary engagement, please get in touch.
Get involved
Join the Policy and Lobbying Working Group
Get political intelligence and insight on lobbying and campaigning related to UK aid issues and parliamentary engagement.
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Join the Policy Directors Working Group
Leading the long term policy discussions facing the aid and development sector and influencing government.
Join nowNot a member? Join us now.
Find out more about membershipBlogs and resources
We have a wealth of blogs and resources on parliamentary engagement and politics, and regularly host events and webinars on the subject.
Related Content
Historic elections and disappointing budgets: politics in 2024
Our Government Relations and Public Affairs Manager, Paul Abernethy, takes us through the year in UK politics, looking at the general election, the Bond Manifesto and the budget, before looking ahead to next year and what we can expect from parliament.
What happened at the 2024 party conferences?
Over conference season, we met with political supporters, supported our members advocacy efforts, and ensured international development remained a key topic at the conferences. Here are some key takeaways.
What’s going on at the party conferences 2024
Following the seismic change in the makeup of parliament following the general election in the summer, anticipation for conference season is high. We decided to put together a list of events that Bond and our members are hosting over the next few weeks.