TextYourMP

Submitted by: Helen Cammack (Niggle Ltd)

Describe your idea. What will you do?

We would rent a shortcode number (eg 64445) as the single TextYourMP number.

Any campaign would be able to advertise and promote the TextYourMP number on their posters, banners, websites, etc. They can do this for free, but might want to pay (radical! a possible commercial proposition?) in order to rent a consistent campaign code eg "SUPPORT CLOSE GUAN" for supporting the closure of Guantanamo Bay (for instance). That way all the text messages can be categorised and counted by the campaign organisation and in the MPs' inboxes.

Any individual could use the number to text a short message intended for their MP, including but not limited to support for campaigns. Individuals can use it to tell MPs how they're feeling, what their problems are, etc, as well as what policies they support or oppose.

TextYourMP sends back an immediate auto-reply thanking them for their message, and asking for a second text containing their postcode, to identify their constituency and ensure their message is directed to the correct MP's inbox on the TextYourMP.com site.

Texters would receive a second text message, letting them know they can go to the TextYourMP.com website to add to their comment further online, and giving them a password to do so.

MPs would be notified by email about texts awaiting them, or sent a weekly email summary. MPs could log on to the site, and follow up any texts by writing an online reply which is notified by text to the texter, directing the texter online to read the response.

(Optional extra) Texters engaging with the website could choose to "follow" their MPs in a Twitter style, so MPs can use text message as a way of polling constituents instantly on particular issues.

What will the benefits be?

• Massively increased volume of citizen to MP communication, because texting has the benefits of being easy and immediate.
• Text messaging is just the hook to get people involved. Further, deeper, ongoing engagement is possible, since MPs can continue conversations with texters online.
• A different kind of engagement because texting is possible instantly, wherever you are, capturing thoughts, ideas and opinions "in the moment", rather than "after the event"
• Greater and more direct political engagement among younger audiences familiar with mobile phones.

Who will you target?

• All campaign organisations could be targeted to put the TextYourMP number on their posters, banners, etc, to promote the texting service to their audiences.
• MPs need to be targeted to respond to the service. We could target MPs through partnership or integration with one of the existing services which forwards opinions to MPs.

Is your idea linked to a particular town or region?

No, it's a national idea. However a similar thing could be done at the local authority level (TextYourCouncillor?) as a hook to kick off more continuous citizen-council engagement.

What kind of assistance would you like from others?

We already have the technology in place to implement most of this technically (we do something similar commercially), although it would require some repurposing. We have the skills in the team to do this but it would take some time at some cost.

The main issue is cash for a serious trial using a dedicated mobile shortcode number. These are prohibitively expensive to rent and usually have minimum contract terms. Longcodes are cheaper but harder to remember and use. Depending on the popularity of the service there'd also be a significant cost of outgoing text messages.

Other useful assistance would include:

• Data allowing the linking of postcodes to parliamentary constituency and MP.
• Sponsorship or revenue ideas to offset cost of text messages and number rental.
• Contacts from possible partners with existing scheme(s) which already engage MPs.
• Any contact from campaigns keen to be the first to trial it (maybe with a longcode first).
• Any contact from local councils who might like to trial a local TextYourCouncillor version.
• Ideas on how to develop this or fund it as a permanent project!

Comments

[Anthony Zacharzewski on 30 July 2008 at 10:26 PM]

We at the Democratic Society (where Helen is a director) will be supporting this initiative as part of our work on improving debate and increasing political participation. I think it could really work, and make a difference with an important demographic - the engaged but non-party-political under 25s. It might need a swearword filter, though.

[Gez Smith on 10 September 2008 at 03:49 PM]

Didn't the Hansard Society try this idea relativaly recently and find it didn't work? Certainly we tried something very similar when i was at Bristol City Council and found it received negligible to non existent take up.

Think there's always a risk with these things that they become technology looking for a problem, rather than a problem looking for technology.

A shame really, as it's one of those ideas that on paper looks like it should work, but i've yet to see an instance where it does. I guess the unanswered questions that prevent success each time are 'What's the point? What will my MP do as a result of my text? Does my MP even want my text when i can already write to them, fax them, email them, go and meet them and for some MPs even Facebook them?'