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How to pray for your MP in 2026

Five practical ways to pray for your Member of Parliament as they represent you and address issues of injustice

Written by Eve Paterson | 19 Nov 2025

Close-up of Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) with its clock face against a cloudy blue sky.

Will you commit to praying for your MP in 2026?

Look at any news outlet and it’s clear that political leadership is a challenging responsibility in today’s world. Mindful of the burdens of leadership even in his time, the Apostle Paul encouraged that ‘petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority.’ (1 Timothy 2:1–2)

As well as engaging in dialogue with our MPs, we want to commit to praying for them, both as individuals made in the image of God, but also as leaders with the opportunity to stand against injustice and speak up for people living in extreme poverty.

A word on the side effects of praying for others

When we commit to praying for something, not only does it impact the person or situation we pray for, but often God also works in our own hearts.

Along this journey of prayer, perhaps look out for ways you find yourself becoming more invested, more compassionate, or more hopeful than you expected – particularly if your MP represents a party or worldview you disagree with!

As promised, here are five ways you can pray for your MP…

Smiling woman in blue shirt and wrap in a field with trees.

Beatrice is a grandmother of seven children who all live with her in Malawi. She grows and sells enough crops to pay for her grandchildren to go to school. Credit: Alex Baker/Tearfund

For safety and wellbeing

According to a recent government report on MP security, more than half of all candidates in the 2024 general election reported experiences such as threats, harassment, material damage and even physical assault. Many MPs experience regular abuse online and, in some extreme cases, threat to life, as tragically demonstrated by the murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP in recent years.

  • Pray that your MP and their family will be kept safe from harm in all its forms.
  • Pray that your MP can manage the pressures of their role alongside family commitments and looking after their own health and wellbeing.
  • Ask God for a de-escalation in divisive and sometimes violent political language, moving towards a peaceful, constructive environment in Parliament and the media.
Smiling women in colorful traditional clothing sit on the ground outdoors.

A self-help women’s group called Talimbika, which means ‘working hard’, gathers for a meeting in Malawi. Credit: Alex Baker/Tearfund

For a global mindset

What we do in the UK impacts our global neighbours around the world, for good or bad, especially people living in extreme poverty. Jesus’ call to love our neighbour includes those who may live far away from us, but are no less worthy of our care and consideration.

  • Ask God to give your MP a fresh sense of responsibility and excitement about how they could positively impact our world and bring an end to extreme poverty.
  • Pray for your MP to speak up for communities in extreme poverty, especially when discussing the aid budget and our support for less economically developed countries.
  • Pray that our government will recognise how the needs of people in the UK are deeply connected with those of our global neighbours, inspiring them to secure a fairer, safer and more sustainable future for all of us.
Woman and child walk down a dirt track in a corn field . The woman holds a hoe over her shoulder.

Olga and her daughter Rocío grab their farming tools and go to work on their vegetable garden in Guatemala. Credit: Caroline Trutmann/Tearfund

For courage on the climate

Communities living in poverty are being hit first and hardest by the climate crisis, but all of us are starting to feel the effects, from higher food prices to increased flooding risks. Given the far-reaching impacts of the climate crisis, we need courageous leaders who will take the bold and ambitious steps needed to tackle the root causes as well as the symptoms.

  • Thank God for the many ways that the UK government has supported climate-positive initiatives and policies over the years, even when it hasn’t been popular.
  • Pray that your MP will drive positive change to protect nature in the UK and around the world, and that they will back policies which support people affected by the climate crisis, especially communities in extreme poverty.
  • Pray that your MP will listen more to the voices of marginalised groups than the pressure of powerful lobby groups, to ensure the UK delivers on existing climate commitments and is ambitious on what more can be done.
Farmer inspecting a corn cob in a field, wearing high visibility work clothes.

Davies is thriving through access to knowledge and materials around sustainable farming methods for products such as onions, maize, honey and tomatoes. Credit: Chipema Chinyama/Tearfund

For integrity

The trust put into our MPs by their constituents means they are expected to live up to certain standards in their conduct. While we want our MPs to model integrity and good intentions, we must also remember that our MPs are normal, imperfect people, just like us.

  • Pray for your MP to carry out their responsibilities earnestly and with integrity, treating their public office with the respect it deserves.
  • Ask God to give you grace for our politicians when they make honest mistakes, showing them the same mercy and compassion that God has shown us.
  • Pray for your church to build a good relationship with your MP so you can encourage and support them, ‘speaking the truth in love’ (Ephesians 4:15) when appropriate.
A woman speaks with a microphone on stage to a large crowd, back-lit by sunset.

Gemma Hunt speaks about Tearfund on the main stage at Big Church Festival 2023. Chris Hoskins/Tearfund

For opportunities to speak up for justice and peace

It can sometimes feel like there is no end in sight to the mounting list of conflicts in our world. Yet we serve the Prince of Peace who inspires us to believe a better, more peaceful world is possible, and invites our leaders to use their platforms to promote a lasting end to conflict.

  • Thank God for the seen and unseen ways that your MP has acted on their convictions and spoken up for justice and peace in our world.
  • Ask God to shift hearts and minds so that defence policies are based on a desire for a just peace achieved through dialogue and mutual respect instead of the threat of military force.
  • Pray that your MP will make every effort to stay informed on and speak up for global crises and conflicts, especially those that receive less media attention, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria and Sudan.

Written by

Written by  Eve Paterson

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