The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, has called early-day motions “mostly toilet paper” and advised charities to find other mediums to lobby government.

Bercow, who was speaking at a NCVO conference on campaigning, said using the early-day motions to campaign often did not work:

“If you spend weeks trying to ratchet up numbers and it gets to 30 you’d be advised to think again if it is worth it.”

Bercow instead advised campaigners to focus on parliamentary questions and select committees to promote a cause:

“Think of engaging with constituency MPs,” he said. “And approaching the chair of a select committees to see if he wants to launch an inquiry into your cause or complaint.”

Bercow also noted that the influx of new MPs and new systems within government provided ripe opportunity for campaigners:

“Around 35 per cent of MPs are new which brings fresh attitudes and energy which campaigners can engage with.”

He added that charities could make use of the new backbench business committee which had control of the parliamentary timetable 35 times a year:

“Debate will not be chosen by government or opposition whips but a group of independent MPs. I advise you to bid for debates with them.”

Elsewhere, NCVO has said it will maintain an element of campaigning in its activities, after a member of the audience expressed concern that NCVO’s campaigning effectiveness could face demise following a drop in funding for the charity.