Love 'em or hate 'em, they're the people in power and if you can get them into your pub it could help you make a real noise in Proud of Pubs Week.
No, not Ted Tuppen and Giles Thorley, but the nation's MPs. They may be under the cosh like never before, thanks to the expenses scandal still gripping Parliament - but this July they will be keen to restore their battered reputations by getting out and about and supporting local businesses. Particularly businesses that resonate with the whole community, and where a little positive action could impact on a lot of local people.
This is how it has proved in the first two Proud of Pubs Weeks - and that's why we want you to get your MP into your pub on Friday July 17 as part of this year's event.
Each year we urge readers to make contact with MPs as part of our mission to spread the positive message about the pub trade.
Constituencies stretching from Glasgow to Glossop and Bridgend to Brighton saw their MPs visiting pubs during last year's Proud of Pubs Week, with high profile publicans including James Purnell and Jack Straw getting involved.
Last year the week made such a buzz among politicians that the licensing minister himself, Gerry Sutcliffe, contacted The Publican's offices to find out what he could do to help. A visit to the Six Acres pub in his Barnsley South constituency soon followed.
Former Tory leader Michael Howard got involved for the second year running with a visit to the British Lion in Folkestone, where he chatted to customers and had his picture taken. His visit was one of many which won participating pubs valuable PR in their local media as a result - with Howard himself writing about it in his own column in the local Hawkinge Gazette.
Join in
Getting your MP into your pub is just one of a series of activities we are urging pubs to take part in during Proud of Pubs Week.
The week aims to give publicans the inspiration to shout out to their community and show them what's going on in their local - and to drive more people into pubs as a result.
This year we will be urging pubs to take part in the following activities:
• Monday July 13 - reach out to your locals in a new way by establishing an online community on Twitter or Facebook
• Tuesday July 14 - put on a Proud of Pubs Night, and try something new in your pub
• Wednesday July 15 - get a celebrity in your pub and pin a badge on them
• Thursday July 16 - make a noise in your community, raise money for a local cause and register your fundraising with The Publican
• Friday July 17 - get your MP into your pub!
But we also want to hear your own ideas for how to capitalise on Proud of Pubs Week and promote the positive message about pubs in July. Contact us at proudofpubs@thepublican.com or call 020 7955 3710.
Whatever you do - do something! Proud of Pubs Week is your chance to take part in a national campaign.
What to do
Download and adapt this letter, and address it to your MP.
If you are unsure of the identity of your local MP, visit http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ or ring the House of Commons information office on 020 7219 4272.
Then write to your MP at: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.