By Caroline Smith, Director of Special Operations, Great British PAC.
Recently, one of our Email Warriors at the Great British PAC wrote to me with an honest question: “Are we making a difference? I’ve never seen a response to any of our email campaigns.”
It’s a fair point. On certain days it can feel as though we’re shouting into the wind… ignored, sidelined, drowned out. But let me assure you: every single email, every post shared, every comment left, and every petition signed is a brick laid in the foundation of real change.
Movements are not built overnight. They are built through persistence, through the courage to keep speaking out even when the establishment would rather we stayed silent. When ordinary people see others raising their voices, it emboldens them to do the same. And once that momentum begins, the tide turns.
Real-World Impact
Let me give you concrete examples.
Blasphemy/Islamophobia Consultation
When Labour attempted to rig the consultation, silencing the public and risking a deathblow to free speech, our actions mattered. Collectively, we challenged the stitch-up. As Nick Timothy MP himself confirmed, our Great British PAC pressure forced the consultation onto indefinite hold. That was people power in action.
British Wheelchair Basketball
At first, there was silence. No response to our complaints. But then… an apology. An official, public recognition that their conduct was unacceptable. Behind the scenes, you can imagine what unfolded: inboxes full, staff under pressure, uncomfortable questions in boardrooms, advisors warning that public outrage could not be brushed aside.
That apology was not given freely. It was won by persistence. And it sent a warning shot to every other organisation: the public will not tolerate conduct that undermines British values. Read the report here.
Writing to MPs
Yes, too often you’ll get a standardised reply, or none at all. But don’t mistake silence for impotence. Every email adds to the pressure behind the scenes. Admin staff brief MPs. Concerns filter into corridor conversations. Items land on meeting agendas. Public opinion can no longer be waved away.
Petitions: More Than Signatures
Some say petitions achieve nothing. I disagree. They shine a spotlight, create publicity, and can open doors in Parliament. In our Chagos campaign, one petition reached 10,000 signatures. That exposure led to fresh donations, helping fund the judicial review that defended Chagosian plaintiff Misley Mandarin. Without the petition, none of that momentum would have been possible.
The Death of a Thousand Cuts
Think of our movement not as one mighty blow, but as the relentless pressure of a thousand cuts. Each challenge chips away at the arrogance of an establishment too used to going unopposed.
We are now over 300 Email Warriors strong. Imagine what we can achieve in the next four years as we continue to grow.
So to those who wonder if it matters: yes, it does. The victories may be quiet, often invisible, but they are victories nonetheless. Together, we are shifting the ground beneath their feet.
This is people power. And it is only just beginning.
JOIN the Great British PAC email warriors by emailing info@GreatBritishPAC.com
