Research Report — March 2026
Influence & Information
Discover how MPs consume media, which platforms they use, and where their attention genuinely goes — as opposed to where conventional wisdom assumes it does.
Now in its second year, this proprietary research from MessageSpace reveals a fundamental restructuring of the parliamentary information diet — and what it means for anyone trying to reach Westminster.
88%
of MPs visit news websites once a day or more
77%
of MPs recall seeing political or societal advertising in the last 6 months
38%
of MPs have clicked, liked, shared or commented on a digital ad
14%
uplift in awareness, consideration and intent to take action
Key Findings
The Westminster information ecosystem has fundamentally changed
There is no single platform, no single publication, no single format that reaches Parliament as a whole. Reaching Westminster in 2026 requires a layered, platform-literate strategy.
Social Media is the #1 News Source
94% of MPs use social media daily, but platform choice splits sharply along party lines.
Digital News Dominates
88% of MPs read digital news daily. 70% subscribe to a newsletter.
Podcasts are Mainstream
46% of MPs cite podcasts as a news source. Among the 2024 intake, 79% listen weekly.
Advertising Works
52% of MPs recall seeing issue advertising on social media. Among new Labour MPs, ad engagement rises to 43%.
Why This Matters
The question is no longer whether to advertise to MPs — it's how to do it most effectively
MPs notice advertising and engage with it. Repeated exposure to messaging via their favourite media channels has a direct impact on their recall, engagement, and ultimately their action on real-world policy change.
Our independent research shows a 14% uplift in awareness, consideration and intent to act after exposure to our campaigns — 50% above the advertising industry average.
The most effective campaigns don't pick one channel. They layer social, digital news, out-of-home and podcast advertising to create compounding exposure across the environments where MPs actually spend their time.
Ready to reach Westminster?
MessageSpace is the UK's only media agency built exclusively for political influence, financial services and reputation campaigns. We combine the proprietary audience data in this report with years of campaign experience to plan and execute paid media strategies that turn attention into policy outcomes.
Whether you need a targeted digital campaign ahead of a Bill's second reading, a multimedia push around a party conference, or an always-on presence across the platforms where your priority MPs spend their time — we can help.