Pre-launch recipient lookup testing: UK MPs

UK MP lookup testing

If your action requires matching or selecting a UK MP - especially if you use tailored messaging and/or merge fields - then further testing is advised.

Why?: the wide and growing range of recipient lookup (and supression) plus message tailoring options means it is easy to have incorrect settings.

Basic UK postcode match testing

Test for negative results, not just for positive. e.g. positive: an MP is a current cabinet or party member; negative: MP was a cabinet member in this/previous government, was a party member but switched/removed

1. Minimum: Test postcodes from each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - even if you are excluding a region
2. Suppression list?: if you are excluding regions, parties or individuals from the action, be sure to verify they are excluded

Sample UK postcodes for testing

1. England MPs: MK18 4LN (Labour - backbencher), HX1 1BB (Labour Co-op), HU17 0ZW (Conservative), CV1 1EU (Independent), BA1 0SS (Lib Dem), BS1 1DR (Green)
2. Scotland MPs: AB10 1SN (SNP), G1 1BQ (Labour), KY9 1JF (Lib Dem)
3. Wales MPs: LL36 0TA (Plaid Cymru), CF10 1AE (Labour Co-op)
4. Northern Ireland MPs: BT1 1TS (SDLP, seated), BT411BD (UUP, seated) BT1 1AA (Sinn Fein, unseated)
5. Party-specific: N17 9ZS (Labour cabinet), MK18 4LN (Labour - backbencher), CF10 1AE (Labour Co-op), HU17 0ZW (Conservative), BA1 0SS (Lib Dem), BS1 1DR (Green), AB10 1SN (SNP), CV1 1EU (Independent), LL36 0TA (Plaid Cymru), BT1 1TS (SDLP), BT1 1AA (Sinn Féin), CO15 1AS (Reform)
6. Cabinet Ministers: WC1V 6BS (PM Starmer), LS13 2ET (Labour), CB10 1NA (Conservative, former)
7. Speaker: PR6 0AN (Chorley, Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP)
8. Problematic postcodes: NW3 2AY, N1 9AB (both valid postcodes but are/were rejected by parlimanet.uk MP lookup)
9. Invalid postcodes: W10 (partial), 123 456 (invalid format), BT1 1BG (correct format, old and unused), NW1 1ZZ (correct format, non-existent)

Advanced UK MP targeted image and message testing

If your target specific images and messages at specific MPs or groups, the hirarchy is: indiviual setting > cabinet minister setting > party setting > fallback setting. For example, if you wish to have a different image/message sent to the PM/a specific minister vs the rest of the cabinet, the specific individuals need their own settings to override the fact they are also a government minister (and even in a specific party)

1. Individual targeting?: if you have tailored images and/or messages for specific named MPs, test their specific postcodes and ensure the images and/or message(s) are correct for each
2. Group targeting?: If you are tailored images and/or messages by group (e.g. government minister) then make sure you test with postcodes for 1-2 MPs in each group.
3. Party targeting?: If you have tailored images and/or messages by party, test postcodes for MPs from each party you wish to include and each party you wish to exclude. Note that for some parties they may have different local names e.g. Labour and Labour (Co-op) so be sure to test for MPs of both.
4. Merge fields?: If you are using merge fields into the message either from standard variables or data you've supplied, test to make sure it formats properly on the message step all the key cases.