The Working for an MP website aims to serve all MPs’ staff: those based in the constituency as well as those working at Westminster. These FAQs will also be of interest to politics students and those of you looking to work in politics.
Whether you are new to the job or have been in it for ever, fresh questions keep cropping up. This list of FAQs is entirely random so, if you think we have missed anything essential, let us know. We want to keep the site up-to-date; if you have alternative answers to these questions or if you have new queries you want answered, please get in touch by using the Feedback Form.
Our Ask Us a Question facility is for MPs' Staff only. If you don't work for an MP, contact the Commons Information Office.
There's lots more information and advice on our Guides and Good Practice pages.
If you haven't looked at our basic induction guide, "How to Survive Your First 10 Days Working for an MP", that should be your next stop.
- How much do Members’ staff get paid?
- What kinds of jobs are available in
constituency offices?
- How many hours does a Staffer work?
- Will
I meet Cabinet Ministers and other prominent politicians?
- How do you go from being a Staffer to being an MP?
- What happens to my job at election time?
- Where can I eat on the Parliamentary
Estate?
- How do I get a parliamentary email
address?
- Where can I get hold of telephone hotline
numbers for use by MPs and their staff?
- Does anyone run induction courses for
Members’ staff?
- I understand that Members’ staff are
entitled to a pension, paid on top of their salary.
Where can I get more information?
- MPs have a responsibility to declare
their outside interests. Does this involve me as well?
- Is there any organisation that represents
the views of MPs’ staff?
- What is the basis of the oft-quoted
“strict parliamentary protocol” that MPs don’t take up problems
on behalf of constituents of other MPs?
A constituent has challenged us and I need to be able to quote
chapter and verse on this.
- We are using a couple of volunteers in
our constituency office. Does
anyone have a simple agreement which we can ask them to sign – to
cover things like observing confidentiality etc?
- I want to work for an MP. How do I
find out about jobs vacant and internships?
- Where can I use my pass?
- I’m confused by aspects of parliamentary procedure. Is there a useful guide?
- I
am finding it hard to establish exactly which Minister has
responsibility for a particular area of policy. Where can I get
this information?
Theoretically, staff can get paid between £13-37,000 – but in reality the range is about £16-25,000. MPs get a staffing allowance of £87,276 from which they pay all their staff and it is intended to be enough for three full-time Staffers. Practice varies widely amongst MPs on how many staff are part- or full-time and whether they are based in the constituency or at Westminster.
Have a look at the pay scales effective 1 April 2006. If you hear of any MPs paying £37,000 for a Researcher, then let us know and we’ll begin a long-term charm offensive.
There are no rules on how MPs divide their office functions between Westminster and the constituency. However, in the main, you will find Caseworkers in constituency offices. You may also find Staffers responsible for organising local events or managing the local media from the constituency offices.
In some ways being in politics is like being in the priesthood and you do whatever hours are required because you believe in what you are doing. The hours to which you are contracted will usually be 35 per week but we know of few Staffers who restrict themselves to these times and there are some who are breaching the EU working time directive. Even so, MPs rarely have space in their budgets to pay overtime!
We would be concerned if this was your reason for wanting to work for an MP. But yes, you do find Cabinet Ministers ahead of you in the coffee queue and you do occasionally bump into the PM and his entourage in the Colonnade prior to PMQs. However, try not to get star-struck – the best time is at party conferences when you get to meet Members at three in the morning when tired and emotional after a hard day’s intellectual exertions.
Crikey, you could write a book about that! There are several MPs who began as Staffers and there were a number of Staffers who stood at the last election. Your main advantage is that you are exposed to all the current political arguments. If you’re on top of that, it will be hard for local political opponents to catch you out on national issues.
At the Dissolution (i.e. when the current parliament ends), an MP becomes an "ex-Member" and assuming he or she is standing again, becomes one of the candidates. Neither the MP nor any of her/his staff may use any of the facilities of the House of Commons. The Serjeant at Arms Dept will help with specific questions and the Palace Authorities are already planning detailed arrangements for the next General Election. During the Dissolution it is quite legitimate to carry on with casework and advice surgeries, but your MP will be doing this (as will you on her/his behalf) as a candidate, not as an MP any longer. So you cannot use House of Commons stationery, envelopes, etc and access to MPs' hotlines will be limited. You will continue to receive replies from Government departments and other agencies. Have a look at our guide on Dissolution arrangements for the 2005 election.
As a quick guide, have a look in Day Five of "Exploring Westminster - How to Survive Your First Ten Days Working for an MP". For more detailed information, look at the Refreshment Department site on the Parliamentary Intranet. There's lots of information on opening times, access, menus, bars, cafeterias and souvenir kiosks.
In theory, you first have to attend a Parliamentary Network (PN) course. You are then allocated an email address and given access to the parliamentary Intranet. Ring 020 7219 2001 to book yourself on a course. If you work in a constituency, you can then link up as a “remote user” and use the facilities on a 0800 line, which is free. We strongly advise that you do this as soon as possible; don't wait until your start date to ring. However, if you are confident that your Microsoft Outlook skills are sufficient already, then express that confidence to PCD on x2001 and they may let you forego the training.
Several agencies, which you will have to contact regularly on behalf of constituents, have set up hotlines for use by MPs’ and their staff only. These are not for use by the public. We periodically update the list and publish information on how to access it on http://www.w4mp.org/html/library/guides/hotlines.asp The Guardian Unlimited web pages include a facility, aimed at the general public, but of some use to caseworkers and others. It's called "MP's Surgery" and you can access it at: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/mpsurgery
A company called WWP runs induction courses for staff as well as a number of other training courses. Details can be found in the Training Courses section of the w4mp site at: http://www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/training/default.asp The Library also organises training sessions and you can find out about them on the same page.
There’s lots of information on the Parliamentary Intranet, including application forms. You first stop is the intranet and you can get detailed advice by emailing pensionsmpstaff@parliament.uk. Staff are entitled to a 10% non-contributory pension. Sadly, some don’t bother to sign up for their pension; don’t be one of these. It’s free for goodness sake!
Yes. As staff of Members, you have to register: (1) any relevant paid employment you are engaged in outside Parliament and (2) gifts or other benefits which relate to your work in Parliament of a value greater than £290. There’s full information on the Internet at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmsecret/memi01.htm The Office of the Commissioner for Standards administer Registers of Interest and advice can be obtained by emailing standardscommissioner@parliament.uk.
The
Secretaries’ and Assistants’ Council acts as a channel between
Members, Officers of the House and those secretaries and assistants who
are members of the Council. Contact
Peter Vines (020 7219 4591 – vinesp@parliament.uk) for more information.
The
Parliamentary branch of the Transport & General Workers Union
represents the interests of its members and is the most active union
amongst MPs’ staff of the major parties, both at Westminster and in the
constituency. Contact Joanne
Milligan (milliganj@parliament.uk
or 020 7219 2779) or Kevin Flack (flackk@parliament.uk
or 020 7219 6273).
The
Labour Staff Network exists to deliver the following to all staff
of Labour MPs, whether based in Westminster or the constituency:
social events, opportunities for involvement in campaigning; and training
opportunities. Contact lsn@labourstaff.org.
The
Liberal Democrat Staff Group provides backup for LibDem staff – Currently
the staff chair is is Jonathan Eddy, who can be contacted by email on EDDYJ@parliament.uk
or phone 020 7219 4588.
The Interns Network looks after the interests of those many interns who work in MPs' offices
Our section on Staff Representation: www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/represent.asp lists all of the above as well as Sporting, Social and other groups staff can join but if you know or hear of, or form, any other staff groups, let us know by emailing: editor@w4mp.org.
Have a look at: http://www.w4mp.org/html/library/guides/0403_protocol.asp
Yes, we have exactly what you need. Look in our “Setting up the Office” Guide on the old website; see Section 2.7 for some helpful guidelines on using volunteers, including a model Confidentiality Agreement which you are welcome to modify.
Our Job Vacancies page is at: www.w4mp.org/html/personnel/jobs/list_jobs_ref.asp or go to www.w4mp.org/html/library/guides/0402_looking4job.htm for advice on looking for a job. We have a page on Internships at www.w4mp.org/html/library/guides/0404_internships.htm.
Here’s
the official definition of where you can use your pass: "Members’
staff are authorised by their photo identity pass to enter areas of the
Palace and outbuildings which are not accessible to the public. These do
not include the Chamber and surrounding areas when the House is sitting or
areas and rooms reserved for Members only."
That’s
a bit thin on detail so ask your colleagues or anyone you come across. You
really only learn by trial and error. Our advice is to risk some errors;
just bumble along and if you find yourself somewhere you shouldn’t be,
someone in a uniform will set you straight.
ALWAYS wear your pass.
Still lost? There’s some information we put together on maps of the parliamentary estate at: http://www.w4mp.org/html/library/hoc/maps.asp
Yes, there are several. We've put together a list of useful sources and you’ll find it at: http://www.w4mp.org/html/library/guides/0405_procedure.asp
Get a copy of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities which contains full details of all the Government Departments and individual Ministers within them. This is quite indispensable as it lists all the government departments and shows the responsibilities of each Minister together with addresses, telephone and fax numbers. It also lists many other government agencies. To get a copy pick one up at any of the Vote Offices (x 3631). Also available on the Cabinet Office website at: www.knowledgenetwork.gov.uk/elmr/minister.nsf which has the advantage of being updated regularly to reflect Ministerial changes.
As we said at the beginning of these FAQs, if you haven't looked at our basic induction guide, "How to Survive Your First 10 Days Working for an MP", that should be your next stop.
AH/May 2004
DR/April 2005
Last revised: 3 April 2006