Jack of all trades: how can MPs fulfil all their roles?
About the event
Following the general election of May 2010, 226 new MPs arrived at Westminster – a larger intake than any election since 1945.
In this context, the Institute and the Hansard Society decided to explore the different roles MPs play through a treble of seminars at the three party conferences. This page contains a summary of the fringe meeting at this year's Liberal Democrat party conference on 20 September, held in the plush, post-modern surroundings of the Hilton Hotel in central Liverpool.
The panel
Our panel comprised three MPs with varying levels of experience of the strange world of Westminster:
- new member Julian Huppert
- Jo Swinson MP of the 2005 intake
- veteran David Heath MP, who is now Deputy Leader of the House.
Joining them was Jackie Ashley of The Guardian, whose father was a longstanding Labour MP, whilst Institute for Government Senior Fellow Peter Riddell chaired the discussion.
Back
What roles are MPs expected to play?
The three politicians all highlighted the myriad functions that MPs are expected to play, a list that includes:
- legislator
- scrutineer of government
- social worker
- community leader
- active campaigner
- committee member (for some at least)
- immigration lawyer
- housing adviser
- manager of staff
- and – according to David Heath, 'D List Celebrity' when village fetes need opening.
Each of these roles requires a rather distinct and different skillset. Few MPs will have the ability – or the time – to perform all functions effectively. Moreover, they are expected to acquire the relevant skills and knowledge without structured training and career development processes that are the norm in other professions.
How are MPs currently inducted?
Upon arrival at the House of Commons, new members are given a brief induction. This mostly covers basic information such as how to table parliamentary questions. But for the most part, new MPs are treated like kids arriving at 'big school'. They are left to learn the rules of the place by making mistakes and watching what the old-timers do.
In his talk, David Heath focussed on the role of MPs in parliament itself. He suggested the Liberal Democrats had sometimes underplayed as a result of a focus on local campaigns.
In his view, parliament is currently underperforming in its core functions of scrutinising government and legislation. He expressed hope that this would be partly corrected by recent procedural changes. These have strengthened committees and boosted backbenchers' influence over the parliamentary timetable.
MPs' heavy workload
Jo Swinson estimated her average working week lasted 88 hours. Aside from putting a strain on MPs' personal lives, the heavy workload puts off many people from standing for parliament in the first place.
Those who aspire to a life outside politics, and those with children or other dependents, might be deterred. This would result in career politicians coming to dominate.
Jo also pointed out that parliamentary candidates were expected to devote significant time to local campaigns and casework during the campaign, though without the benefit of drawing a salary. This might put off those of lesser means, further reducing the diversity of parliaments.
More structured support for MPs needed
Jackie Ashley recognised the hard work of many MPs and the greater professionalism of parliament today, compared to the booze-fuelled debates of decades past. However, she suggested it was still possible to be a lazy MP and that a few bad apples could undermine the reputation of parliament as a whole.
Despite this caveat, the general conclusion to be taken from the session was that being an MP was a tough and under-supported role.
There is a real need for more structured training and development for MPs, along with other support mechanisms such as mentoring programmes, where experienced MPs take responsibility for helping newcomers learn the ropes.
