The 2024 General Election did not just change the balance of power. It changed the people in Parliament, and that shift matters for any organisation trying to engage MPs in a credible way.
Our new report, Understanding Members of Parliament, explores what MPs are prioritising after the election, what they are hearing from constituents, and how they currently view business and regulation. The headline is the scale of renewal. 335 MPs were new to the role, the biggest intake since 1945, and this is also the most diverse Parliament on record, with 263 women MPs and 90 MPs of colour. With so many first-time MPs, assumptions based on long-established relationships and familiar ways of working risk missing the mark.
What unites MPs most strongly is a focus on tangible delivery for constituents. In the short term, that means pressure points such as healthcare and the NHS, housing and planning and the reliability of local services including transport. Economic strain also features heavily, particularly cost of living and inflation, alongside ambitions around jobs and growth. Immigration has also risen in prominence as a concern, especially among Conservative MPs. For organisations, the implication is straightforward: engagement is more effective when it connects directly to these lived issues, with clear, practical outcomes.
The report also highlights a tougher environment for corporate influence. There is growing scepticism towards big business, with many MPs believing large companies take advantage of ordinary people and that government should do more to regulate business behaviour. That scepticism is reflected in calls for stronger intervention in certain sectors, particularly gambling and processed foods, with proposals ranging from better support for problem gamblers to restrictions on vape sales to under-25s and measures to curb unhealthy food environments.
In this context, trust is built on fundamentals. MPs’ perceptions of businesses are shaped most by whether companies pay the right tax, contribute to the UK economy, treat workers well and offer fair value to customers. Sustainability and innovation matter, but they tend to come after these basics. Just as importantly, MPs are more likely to engage with organisations that feel close to their constituencies. Businesses are rarely named as trusted voices in policy debates, so organisations need to earn credibility through visible local impact, not just national messaging.
For a deeper look at MPs’ priorities and perceptions, plus practical guidance on how to engage this new Parliament, download the full report here.