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Summary of SALAM DHR virtual workshop:
Engage, Connect and Influence: Empowering stakeholders with parliamentary work mechanisms and communication with MPs in the United Kingdom
- On the evening of 17 September 2025, Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM-DHR) hosted a virtual workshop titled “Engage, Connect and Influence: Empowering stakeholders with parliamentary work mechanisms and communication with MPs in the United Kingdom”. The event, which featured Arabic translation, brought together activists, advocates, and community members from the Gulf region who are committed to advancing human rights and strengthening their advocacy in the UK.
Opening the session, Alex Buckham, Head of UK Advocacy at SALAM DHR, welcomed participants and introduced the organisation’s work as an independent NGO promoting democracy and human rights in Bahrain and the wider Gulf. He emphasised the importance of understanding how the UK parliamentary system operates, as MPs serve as the crucial bridge between communities and national decision-making. With the right knowledge and tools, activists can ensure their voices are not only heard but also acted upon.
The keynote address was delivered by Callum Robertson, a Liberal Democrat politician, educator, and experienced campaigner. Robertson structured his presentation around how Parliament works, how to engage with parliamentarians, effective lobbying, and practical examples of successful advocacy.
He began by explaining the UK’s bicameral legislature: the House of Commons, which consists of 650 elected MPs, and the House of Lords, composed of appointed peers, including retired politicians and experts. While the Commons is more overtly political and constituency-driven, the Lords often have more time for legislative scrutiny and are easier to engage with directly.
Robertson distinguished between working with backbench MPs and frontbench MPs. Backbenchers often have a strong democratic mandate, are motivated by causes, and can be influential drivers of legislation. He highlighted Tom Gordon MP, a Liberal Democrat backbencher, as an example, who advocates for healthcare and civil rights. Gordon played a key role in advancing the Assisted Dying Bill. Frontbench MPs, by contrast, can shape party policy and benefit from more resources, but are less likely to deviate from party lines. He pointed to Victoria Collins MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology, who has led work on digital rights and regulation, showing how frontbenchers can embed issues within party platforms.
Turning to lobbying practice, Robertson emphasised that politics is procedurally driven but governed by relationships. MPs receive dozens of requests every day, and campaigners must think carefully about what they are offering in return whether publicity, political advancement, or expertise. He advised that effective lobbying is never generic: market research is essential, messaging should be tailored to MPs’ interests, and conversations should be framed in ways that make MPs feel valued while offering a tangible outcome. While mass lobbying can show breadth of concern, it often only produces template replies. Personalised engagement, he argued, is far more effective.
Robertson also underlined the opportunities presented by Select Committees and All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). Both routinely call for evidence, and submitting credible contributions is a powerful way to add to debates and shape parliamentary scrutiny. The House of Lords was highlighted as particularly responsive, given peers’ relative freedom from constituency casework and staffing limitations, which means they often pick up outreach directly.
Throughout, Robertson stressed that relationships and reputation determine whether MPs and peers respond to requests. Factors such as prior knowledge of the campaigner, alignment with their political values, and the credibility of the organisation all matter. Advocacy, therefore, must be long-term and relational, rather than transactional and one-off.
The presentation concluded with worked examples of successful advocacy and an interactive Q&A. Participants raised questions about sustaining engagement, ensuring Gulf-related human rights are not overshadowed in UK politics, and overcoming hesitancy in contacting MPs. Robertson encouraged persistence, coalition-building, and confidence, emphasising that MPs are ultimately accountable to their constituents and responsive to those who engage constructively.
Closing the session, participants were invited to commit to personal advocacy goals, such as writing to their MP, attending a surgery, or collaborating with others to amplify their message. SALAM-DHR reaffirmed its support in helping activists take the next steps and stressed that advocacy is an ongoing process of relationship-building, persistence, and credibility.
This workshop forms part of SALAM DHR’s broader programme to empower UK-based activists connected to the Gulf with the skills, networks, and confidence needed to influence decision-makers. By deepening understanding of parliamentary mechanisms and strengthening advocacy, SALAM-DHR seeks to ensure Gulf human rights concerns remain visible and acted upon in UK public discourse.