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Addressing a member of parliament (MP) involves protocols that can get a bit confusing. When addressing an MP in person or in a letter’s salutation, you’ll usually use an ordinary title, such as Dr. or Mr. If you’re writing them a letter , include “MP” after their name on the first line of the envelope’s address. Things can get tricky if your MP is also a knight, dame, honorable councillor, minister, assistant minister, or house speaker. It might seem complicated at first, but you’ll find that sorting out proper protocol and titles is a breeze.
Steps
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Refer to an MP by their title and surname when speaking to them. When in conversation with an MP, use their title (such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., or Ms.) and their last name. For example, you’d say, “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Smith.” Look on your nation’s parliament website to find your MP’s preferred title.
- It’s important to double check their title instead of making an assumption. For instance, a married woman may prefer to go by Ms. instead of Mrs., or you might not have known that your MP has a doctoral degree. [1] X Research source
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List “MP” after their title and name on an envelope address. In most cases, the format for an envelope address is Title, Full Name, MP. You’d write “Mr. John Smith, MP” on the first line, then include their mailing address on the next lines. [2] X Research source
- Follow the abbreviation conventions of the MP’s nation. Write "Mr" if you're writing to a British MP, and "Mr." if you’re writing to a Canadian MP.
- If you’re writing to a member of the European Parliament, use the abbreviation MEP after their name. [3] X Research source
- Use the abbreviation MSP for members of the Scottish Parliament.
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Use their title and last name in the salutation of a letter. Don’t include “MP” or “MEP” in a salutation, or the greeting at the start of a letter. Just use their title and last name. Write “Dear Mr. Smith,” or “Dear Mrs. Doe,” then follow with the body of your letter. [4] X Research source
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Include “Sir” if your MP is a knight. For a knighted MP, you’ll need to use “Sir” in conversation, on an envelope address, and in a salutation. [5] X Research source
- For instance, if your MP is Sir Steven Ashley, address him in conversation as “Sir Steven” or “Sir.” Write “Sir Steven Ashley, MP” on an envelope address. For the salutation, write “Sir Steven,” or “Dear Sir Steven.” [6] X Research source
- If your MP is the spouse of a knight, she may use the honorific title "Lady" before her surname. If she uses her married name, write "Jane, Lady Smith, MP" on an envelope, and address her as "Lady Smith" in conversation and salutation. If she uses her maiden name professionally, you'd write on the envelope "Jane (Lady Smith) Doe, MP" and address her as "Ms (or Dr or Mrs) Doe" (her listing on the parliament website will list her preferred title). [7] X Research source
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Include "Dame" for women who've received the honorific title. If your MP is a woman who's been appointed to an order of chivalry, such as Dame Angela Watkinson, address her in conversation as "Dame Angela" or "Madam." Write "Dame Angela Watkinson, MP" on the envelope address, and "Dear Dame Angela," or "Madam," in the salutation. [8] X Research source
- Unlike spouses of knights, spouses of dames do not receive an honorific title.
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Check if your MP is a privy or executive councillor. You’ll need to include an honorable title if you’re addressing a privy councillor, federal executive councillor, minister, or assistant minister. Find your MP’s listing on your nation’s parliament website. If “Rt Hon” or “Hon.” is included with the name on their parliament listing, you’ll need to include it in an envelope address. [9] X Research source
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Refer to a councillor by their title and surname. Just say “Mr. Smith” or “Dr. Doe” when conversing with a councillor or writing a salutation. Examples of honorable councillors include members of a privy council (such as the Privy Council of the UK or the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada) or executive council (such as the Federal Executive Council of Australia). [10] X Research source
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Include an honorable title before their full name on an envelope address. The major difference in addressing a councillor is that you have to include an honorable title in an envelope address. For example, in the UK, it’s proper to address a privy councillor as “Rt Hon” (Right Honourable). [11] X Research source
- Since Diane Abbott is a privy councillor, you’d write, “The Rt Hon Diane Abbott, MP” on an envelope address. [12] X Research source
- Since Sir Greg Knight is also a knight, you’d write, “Rt Hon Sir Greg Knight, MP.” [13] X Research source
- For Dame Caroline Spelman, you'd write, "Rt Hon Dame Caroline Spelman, MP." [14] X Research source
- In Canada, it’s customary to use "The Honourable" and include “PC” after a privy councillor’s name: “The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, PC, MP.” [15] X Research source
- If you choose to spell out the title, use honorable or honourable according to the spelling conventions of the MP’s nation.
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See if the MP is a minister or assistant minister. Go to their listing on the parliament website. Look for an honorable title listed before their name, and check for information about their ministerial appointments. [16] X Research source
- If your MP is an appointed minister or assistant, you’ll need to include their ministry in an envelope address.
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Use “Minister” or “Assistant Minister” in conversation and salutations. While you could use Dr. or Mrs. if you’re in an informal setting, the proper title is “Minister” or “Assistant Minister.”
- If you’re speaking with or writing a salutation to Australian MP Julie Bishop, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, you’d use “Minister Bishop” or “Dear Minister Bishop.”
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Include an honorable title and their ministry on an envelope address. You don’t have to refer to them as minister when you write their name on the first line. However, you do have to include an honorable title before their name. On the second line, refer to them as "Minister of," then name the appropriate government ministry. [17] X Research source
- If you’re writing to Australian MP Julie Bishop, your envelope address should look like this:
The Honourable Julie Bishop, MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
- If you’re writing to Australian MP Julie Bishop, your envelope address should look like this:
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Use “Mister or Madam Speaker” in conversation. In any setting, it’s proper to use the formal title when addressing a parliament speaker in person. [18] X Research source
- If you’re conversing with Tony Smith, the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, you’d always say, “Mister Speaker.”
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Include “Speaker” when you write to them formally. If you’re addressing them in their capacity as speaker, you’d use the formal salutation “Mister or Madam Speaker.” You’ll also need to include an honorable title in the first line of the envelope address and list their role as speaker on the second line. [19] X Research source
- If you’re writing to Speaker John Bercow of the UK House of Commons, you’d use “Dear Mr Speaker,” as your salutation. The envelope address should read: [20]
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Research source
The Rt Hon John Bercow, MP
Speaker of the House of Commons
- If you’re writing to Speaker John Bercow of the UK House of Commons, you’d use “Dear Mr Speaker,” as your salutation. The envelope address should read: [20]
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Research source
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Use their honorable title and name if you’re their constituent. If you’re addressing a speaker in their electoral capacity as their constituent, it’s acceptable to omit “Speaker” from the salutation and envelope address. You still need to include the honorable title before their name on an envelope address.
- For example, suppose you live in Casey, Victoria, and your MP is Speaker Tony Smith. If you’re writing to him about a local issue as your elected official, you’d use “Dear Mr Smith,” as your salutation.
- Your envelope address would just read, “The Honourable Tony Smith, MP,” followed by his constituency's (in this case, Victoria) mailing address. Since you’re addressing him as your MP, you wouldn’t have to include “Speaker of the House of Representatives” in the envelope address. [21] X Research source
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QuestionHas the Privy Council of England have power over the Australian legislation to implement new laws?Community AnswerNo. In 1986, both Australia and the UK adopted a piece of legislation called the Australia Act that prevents the UK from creating legislation in Australia or from being involved in the Australian government. Technically, section 74 of the Australian Constitution allows decisions made by the Australian High Court to be appealed to the UK Privy Council, however the Australian Act blocks all ways that this could actually be achieved.
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QuestionHow do you address the start of an email to an MP?RayCommunity AnswerWhen in conversation with an MP, use their title (such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., or Ms.) and their last name. For example, you’d say, “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Smith.” Look on your nation’s parliament's website to find your MP’s preferred title. List “MP” after their title and name on an envelope address.
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References
- ↑ https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m01.pdf
- ↑ https://www.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps
- ↑ https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/map.html
- ↑ https://opm.gov.jm/1-devon-rd/protocol/how-to-address-mps-and-the-attorney-general/
- ↑ https://candicehern.com/regency-world/glossary/titles-and-forms-of-address/
- ↑ https://members.parliament.uk/member/44/career
- ↑ https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/honours-lists-and-recipients/information-honours-recipients/titles-styles-knights-dames
- ↑ https://members.parliament.uk/member/1462/career
- ↑ https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m01.pdf
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/protocol-guidelines-special-event/styles-address.html
- ↑ https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-information-office/m01.pdf
- ↑ https://members.parliament.uk/member/172/contact
- ↑ https://members.parliament.uk/member/1200/career
- ↑ https://members.parliament.uk/member/312/career
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/protocol-guidelines-special-event/styles-address.html
- ↑ https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/New-Code-of-Practice-for-Ministerial-Appointments-to-Public-Bodies-August-2009.pdf
- ↑ https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Guidelines_for_Contacting_Senators_and_Members/How_to_address_Senators_and_Members
- ↑ https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Guidelines_for_Contacting_Senators_and_Members/How_to_address_Senators_and_Members
- ↑ https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=00APG
- ↑ https://members.parliament.uk/member/17/career
- ↑ https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=00APG
About This Article
Article Summary
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An MP is a member of parliament. If you’re addressing them in a letter or conversation, simply use their title, such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., or Ms. followed by their last name. If the MP is also a knight or appointed to an order of chivalry, use “Sir” or “Dame” followed by their full name. Before addressing an MP, you might also check the parliament website to see if they have a more formal title. For example, if they’re a minister, you should always address them as “Minister” followed by their last name. If you’re addressing an envelope to an MP, make sure to include their full honorable title before their name. For instance, if you’re writing to Australian MP Julie Bishop, write “The Honourable Julie Bishop, MP / Minister for Foreign Affairs” followed by their address. To learn how to address the speaker of the house, read on!
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