Three Roles of a Member of Parliament
Guide book for new Members of Parliament
Prepared with contributions from the
International Offices of the Conservative,
Labour and Liberal Democrat Parties.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD ..................................................................................................................... 5
1.
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 6
2.
The Member as a Parliamentarian ............................................................... 8
Case Study 1: Reasonable and Controlled............................................ 8
Case Study 2: Dangerous Dogs Act ....................................................... 9
Case Study 3: Ten Minute Rule Bills ..................................................... 10
Case Study 4: The Fearless Investigator .............................................. 12
Tips & Advice ............................................................................................... 13
3.
The Member as a Community Representative .................................... 15
Case Study 5: Everyone knows Simon ................................................ 15
Case Study 6: Getting Fair Resolution ................................................ 16
Case Study 7: Keeping in Touch........................................................... 17
Expenses ...................................................................................................... 18
4.
The Member as a Party Representative ................................................... 21
Case Study 8: The Campaigner ........................................................... 21
Case Study 9: The Leader..................................................................... 22
Tips & Advice ............................................................................................ 24
5.
Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 26
Annexure 1: Asking Questions ........................................................................................ 28
GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................ 31
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FOREWORD
I first joined the UK Parliament in 1992 after
being a local councillor in Plymouth for six years. I
was fortunate to join parliament with many years
experience in local government and the support
of a well resourced Conservative Party, the
world’s oldest political party.
As Chair of the Westminster Foundation for
Democracy, I have been able to observe the
challenges for Members of Parliaments (MPs) in
developing democracies. Many MPs entering
parliament these days have never served in local
government. They are often part of political
parties that are just a few years old and have limited experience and support.
They also have varying levels of education and life experience.
One of the comforts I had as a new MP was being able to learn from those
around me with more experience. With this in mind, our three main UK
political parties together with the Westminster Consortium for Parliaments
and Democracy, have compiled this guide as a collection of useful tips and ideas
we think would help you as a new MP.
This advice is based largely on the personal experiences of UK parliamentarians
and may not always translate into your local context but it is generic enough to
benefit every MP. We hope you will find it useful and applicable to your
everyday life as an MP.
Gary Streeter MP
Chair Westminster Foundation for Democracy
May 2012
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
We wish to thank
The contributors: James Plaskitt (Labour Party), Steven Gauge (Liberal Democrats), Keith
Stafford (Conservative Party), The Conservative Party International Office, The Labour Party
International Office, The Liberal Democrats International Office and the WFD Westminster
Consortium for Parliaments and Democracy team.
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1. Introduction
People enter politics for different reasons. Some have a utopian vision of a world they
wish to see. Others are drawn by a desire to oppose injustice, corruption or
incompetence. Many simply want to represent their community and speak up for its
needs.
The opportunities to achieve great social change through political action are huge.
Galvanising the support of a nation, winning a strong electoral mandate, seizing the
reins of power can enable politicians to lead their nations or communities to great
heights. However, the machinery of government and the competing pressures and
demands of the modern political arena can distract, disorientate and disempower the
keenest of political activists.
Recognising the different elements of being an Member of Parliament (MP) can help a
newly elected member to navigate through the choppy waters of the parliamentary sea.
Identifying the opportunities that suit your own political priorities and personality can
create a clear route to success.
However, politicians around the world aren’t universally popular. Perhaps the ones that
get the balance wrong and fixate too much on only one part of the role, are the ones
who lose support of the people who elected them in the first place.
There are many things you can do as an elected MP. In many ways, the beauty of the
role is that it is often undefined. Remaining unpredictable, not being ‘pigeon-holed’,
keeps the parliamentarian free to innovate and adapt to changing political
circumstances. What works in one era in Westminster may not always work in modern
day Warsaw, Washington or Windhoek.
The job of being an MP can be broadly split into three roles. Parliamentarian,
Constituency Representative and Party Representative:

Parliamentarian – Generating new laws, amending old ones.
Openly questioning and challenging the Government.

Constituency Representative – Speaking up for the
community that elected you and helping individuals to sort out
problems.

Party Representative – Developing and promoting political
ideas and policies. Contesting elections and gaining power for
your party.
Three very different roles combined in one job, each requiring a different skill set and
strategies to be successful. A patient, meticulous, intellectual MP may be excellent at
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the finer points of drafting and amending detailed legislation and outwitting government
ministers in debate but may not be wholly comfortable meeting ordinary people,
understanding their concerns and helping to sort out their problems. Similarly a great
political campaigner may be able to develop and implement an election-winning strategy
but, once elected, might not be able to get on top of the constitutional rules and
procedures required to change anything at all from the benches of the parliamentary
chamber.
Where politicians sometimes fail it is perhaps because they neglect one or more of the
three roles.
Successful political figures will be those who can master all three roles and spot the
overlaps. MPs who intelligently use the parliamentary processes to address concerns
relevant to the people who elected them, will only get re-elected if they are also able
to communicate directly with the electorate, and maintain a party political organisation
that campaigns effectively.
Of course, it is worth bearing in mind that, for all the strains and pressure, being an MP
is a considerable privilege and, as one British Labour MP pointed out, it does have its
compensations.
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2. The Member as a Parliamentarian
Being an effective parliamentarian is thought to be about razor sharp debating skills, a
comprehensive understanding of the constitution and rules of procedure in the
chamber and the ability to spot the perfect question that de-rails a government minister
in a committee. However, these skills and techniques should perhaps be thought of as a
means to an end. The objective of effective parliamentarians should be to ensure that
legislation is passed which benefits the communities that elected them. Effective
parliamentarians will seek to ensure governments do a better job for the nation.
Case Study 1: REASONABLE & CONTROLLED
David Steel MP
David Steel was elected to parliament for the Scottish Border seat of Roxburgh, Selkirk
and Peebles at a by-election in March 1965. He held the constituency at eight general
elections from 1966 to 1992 before handing over the seat in 1997 to Michael Moore
after more than 30 years in parliament. He became Leader of the Liberals in 1976
and steered the party through its alliance and merger with the Social Democrats,
forming the Liberal Democrats in 1988.
As the youngest MP, David Steel was the ‘baby of the house.’ He made his mark as a
parliamentarian by steering through the Commons a controversial Private Members Bill
to permit legal abortion in the UK in limited circumstances. The measure brought to
an end the dangerous back-street abortions which had killed and permanently
damaged the health of many poor women for decades.
As the Bill secured royal assent in October 1967 David
Steel had secured a reputation for hard work and an
effective grasp of parliamentary tactics. He was supported
by the Abortion Law Reform Association and gained the
co-operation of the government to get the bill into the
statute book.
British humanist, writer and broadcaster Ludovic Kennedy
wrote that, “Although Steel does not possess the
commanding Olympian presence of Asquith or Grimond,
nor the ego of Lloyd George or Thorpe, his success and
longevity are founded in his reasonableness and a cool
control of his emotions.”
Useful attributes for an effective parliamentarian.
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Draft in Haste, Repent at Leisure
Parliaments and parliamentarians don’t always cover themselves in glory when
generating legislation, especially when it is done in a hurry or in a climate where it is
deemed to be necessary to be seen to be doing something. Politicians in countries
around the world will have their own pressures to act urgently on particular issues.
The risks of acting with excessive haste are similar the world over.
Case Study 2: DANGEROUS DOGS ACT
In the UK, the Dangerous Dogs Act is often given as an example of parliament passing
a poorly drafted law.
In the early 1990s the British media reported a series of harrowing tales of dog
attacks on young children. Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweilers were often the perpetrators.
The public and the press demanded that, “something must be done”.
The thing that was done was the Dangerous Dogs Act. It became illegal to own certain
types of dogs and sanctions were introduced on the owners of any dog that was
dangerously out of control.
However, its definitions were unclear and
unhelpful as it banned, "the type of dog
known as the Pit Bull". Teams of experts
have battled it out in court to determine if a
dog's legs were too short or its ears pointy
enough to be classified as dangerous.
Meanwhile dogs were held, at considerable
cost, in kennels as the legal wrangles
continued.
One Pit Bull was locked up when its owner removed its muzzle so it could be sick
without choking to death. A Boxer-Collie cross was sentenced to death for barking at a
postman. Princess Anne was fined £500 after Dotty, her Bull Terrier, attacked two
children.
The Act was amended in 1997 but confusion and criticism continued. Inner city thugs
still parade with violent ‘status dogs’ and the media continue to report tragic cases of
children being attacked and sometimes killed by domestic pets.
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Case Study 3: TEN MINUTE RULE BILLS
Andrew Rosindell MP
Members of the UK Parliament can scrutinise and effect
legislation in many ways. When I was a frontbench
Shadow Minister, I sat on the Crime and Security Bill
Committee. This gave me a direct impetus into forming
and improving the Bill before us. My fellow colleague
James Brokenshire and I divided up the different clauses
of the Bill and focused on trying to get the government
to improve the legislation. I focused on tightening up security in prisons, to give
harsher sentences for those smuggling in contraband, namely phones. I also argued
for a ban on clamping people’s cars on private land. I was particularly passionate
about this as the issue of ‘rogue clampers’ in my constituency has been a major
problem. The government amended its legislation to take into account my points and
the current Conservative Government is also supporting these changes.
During my time in parliament, I have also tabled and co-sponsored many, what is
termed, Ten Minute Rule Bills. These are held in the main House of Commons
Chamber after Question Time, at about 12.30pm on most Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. The MP who has reserved the slot gets to present their Bill and is
entitled to speak for up to 10 minutes. After this, another MP may speak for a
further 10 minutes to oppose the Bill. The Speaker then calls a voice vote to decide
whether the Bill should be allowed a second reading, which is when it’s debated at a
later date.
The vast majority of Ten Minute Rule motions are not objected to. When a Ten
Minute Rule motion passes, the Bill is added to the register of parliamentary
business. It is scheduled for debate along with the other Private Members’ Bills, but at
a lower priority. The Bill is generally printed and published shortly before the second
reading. Unfortunately Bills introduced under the Ten Minute Rule rarely progress
much further, since the government usually opposes Private Members’ Bills in the
later stages and, given their low priority in the schedule, there is often insufficient
time for the debate to be completed. Most Ten Minute Rule introductions are instead
used to stimulate publicity for a cause.
In 2008 I presented the ‘Union Flag Bill’. This Bill affirmed the Union Flag as the
national flag of the United Kingdom. It confirmed the proportion and the designs of the
flag as well as endorsing its dual names Union Flag and Union Jack. Whilst due to time
restraints and the then Labour Chief Whip opposing it, the Bill was used as a launch
pad for raising the issue of the Union Flag. I was concerned that for too long our
national flag had been ‘hijacked’ by extremist groups and that the British people
should be allowed to openly display our nation’s flag. This brought a lot of impetus
and publicity to my successful campaign to have the Union Flag flying from the Palace
of Westminster all year round.
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My Bill vastly increased knowledge and publicity of this issue, which helped me garner
support. I received many messages, letters and emails from all over the country
showing me the importance of Ten Minute Rule Bills in influencing the government and
the public. Another example is when I co-sponsored Nadhim Zahawi’s St. George’s
Day and St. David’s Day’s Bill. By tabling this Bill, Nadhim managed to get the
government to agree to a public consultation on the matter, which is so important to
the people of England and Wales.
A variety of devices can be used to minimise the risk of ‘setting in stone’ ineffective
legislation. Pilot schemes can be used to test out the practical implications of new
legislation. Sunset clauses can be inserted into an act so that the legislation lapses
unless it is actively renewed by the parliament.
Scrutiny
Scrutiny is the art of asking the right questions and getting
the answers you need. In a well functioning parliament there
should be plenty of opportunity to test and challenge the
government and expose any weaknesses. A good government needs an effective Opposition otherwise it can become
lazy and careless. Backbench committees, ministerial
question time and simply putting the letters ‘MP’ at the end
of a letter asking for information can all open up government
and extract information.
However, parliamentary scrutiny needs to be precise, as this
exchange of written questions from Westminster shows:
Dennis Skinner:
How many civil servants are a) men and
b) women?
Tim Renton:
All of them.
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Case Study 4: THE FEARLESS INVESTIGATOR
Norman Baker MP
Liberal Democrat Norman Baker developed a reputation for effective scrutiny as an
Opposition backbencher. In 2001 he asked the parliamentary question that led to
the resignation of the Cabinet Minister Peter Mandelson.
He was elected in 1992 and in his first three months as an MP had asked more
parliamentary questions than his predecessor had in 23 years. In 2001 he secured
access to the secret files held on him by the security services MI5 and, from 2005,
he began to campaign using the Freedom of Information Act legislation to force the
publication of MPs expenses. The Daily Mail described him as a “consistent thorn
in the government’s side”.
Jan 2001
Receives written answer from the House of Commons stating that Peter Mandelson
"made inquiries" about how a passport application by Srichand Hinduja, a sponsor
of the Millennium Dome, might be viewed. Led to Mr Mandelson's second Cabinet
resignation.
Oct 2001
Uses rights under the Data Protection Act to win High Court test case forcing MI5
to open secret files for the first time in its 92-year history.
Dec 2002
Compiles figures that disclose that the government's car fleet has grown to 207 the largest number in the government’s history.
May 2003
Obtains letter warning Cabinet Ministers they need to spend £10 million to prevent
radioactive leaks from Sellafield nuclear power station.
Jan 2004
Finds the Foreign Office spent £746,000 on art in 1997-2001.
Jan 2005
Begins campaign to force disclosure of MPs expenses under the Freedom of
Information Act.
Jan 2006
Begins investigating David Kelly's death. He believes the Iraq weapons expert could
have been the victim of a murder that was covered up.
He is now a Transport Minister in the Coalition Government.
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TIPS & ADVICE:

Specialise – Many MPs make an effective contribution by specialising in one
area of policy, becoming the recognised expert in that field. Linking up with
lobby groups or campaigning organisations can help to build up a detailed
understanding of the issues that are important to you. Tabling parliamentary
questions can help groups and organisations in return by drawing useful
information from the government. They may also be able to support you in
drafting parliamentary bills, and lobbying other MPs.

Patience and persistence – Extracting information from government
ministers and their civil servants can feel like getting blood out of a stone.
However, persistence pays off in the long run. Keep asking questions, perhaps
framed in a different way, until you get an adequate answer. Try and use the
media to increase the pressure. Use written questions, oral questions, letters to
ministers, letters to the press. Eventually the ministerial team may give you the
information that you need, just to get you off their back.

Consult – No one expects MPs to be experts in every area of policy. However,
people do expect you to listen and consult. Groups affected by legislation will be
happy to talk to you about the implications of any changes to the law that you
are working on. Remember to keep consulting your constituents, especially on
controversial issues. There are lots of free online polling systems such as Survey
Monkey and Facebook applications that can allow you to rapidly find out what
your constituents are thinking. Encourage them to write in with their views and
count up the letters on each side of the issue.

Beware of the Bubble – It can be tempting and entertaining to get caught up
in arguments about parliamentary procedures, personality clashes and gossip.
Most ordinary people watching televised parliamentary debates are unimpressed
by petty debating points. What they often want to see is their everyday
concerns intelligently and passionately articulated. Always remember who sent
you to parliament in the first place and make sure you arrange your diary to
include plenty of time outside the parliamentary ‘bubble’.

Beware of Parkinsons Law of Triviality – which states that "The time spent
on any item of the agenda will be in inverse proportion to the sum involved."
Politicians often get dragged into lengthy debates about minor issues, particularly
about their own working conditions and amounts of money. Meanwhile
decisions involving massive amounts of cash are regularly nodded through
parliament or local council chambers with no discussion whatsoever. This is
often thought to be because no-one ever wants to look stupid discussing the
larger, more complex issues, so they focus on the trivial instead. Feel free to
challenge the big decisions too. You may find that everyone else understands
them less well than you.
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
Keep Track and Report Back – Count up the number of questions you ask,
speeches you make and meetings with ministers you have. Consider publishing
an annual report to your constituents showing your record of action on their
behalf. Independent organisations and the media may keep track too, setting up
league tables to show which MPs are performing well or badly. Use these sites
to monitor your own performance and encourage your constituents to track
your progress too.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
Are there particular social problems that you want to address through
legislative change?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
What techniques do you need to use to guide legislation successfully through
your parliament?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
What difficulties you might encounter on the way and how would you get
round them?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Annexure 1 gives useful guidance to constructing an effective question.
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3. The Member as a Community Representative
Being elected as a community’s MP can be a huge honour but with it comes a high level
of expectation. Local people are entitled to hope that their MP will work hard for their
area and will speak up for them at every opportunity. Many MPs will often want to be
seen as supporting all the residents in their constituency – regardless of which political
party they voted for.
As a community representative, MPs are expected to take up individuals cases in
disputes that they might have with the authorities. MPs will be called upon to fight for
local services and infrastructure improvements in their area. They may also use the role
to provide community leadership, and bring together people to help tackle local issues.
Case Study 5: EVERYONE KNOWS SIMON
Simon Hughes MP
Simon Hughes was elected to parliament in a by-election in Bermondsey, an inner London
constituency, with a very high density of social housing. Although first elected primarily in a
backlash against an unpopular Labour Party and a controversial candidate, he has held his seat
and increased his vote, primarily because of a concerted effort to help individual constituents
deal with issues affecting their day-to-day lives.
An analysis published on his own website, Simon Hughes
indicates that he helps approximately 4,000 people during a
typical year. Thirty per cent of the work is in connection with
housing issues such as getting repairs done, rent arrears and
tackling overcrowding. Twenty one per cent of his cases are
about immigration issues. The rest range from benefits,
pensions, crime, utilities, to education, the local environment
and employment.
He holds around four ‘advice surgeries’ a month in tenants’
halls and community centres around the constituency. These
typically last for two-to-three hours as local residents wait to
talk to him about issues they need his assistance with. He
employs two full-time and one part-time casework assistants in
his constituency office and typically three interns at any one
time, as well as other people gaining work experience and
local party volunteers.
His local re-election campaigns have often featured the slogan, “Everyone round here knows
someone Simon has helped.” At the last general election in 2010, he won 48.4% of the vote
and secured a 10,901 majority. His vote of 21,590 was the largest personal vote he had ever
secured.
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Case Study 6: GETTING FAIR RESOLUTION
Mark Menzies MP
Variety is the spice of life, they say, and I’ve found in my short time as an MP that
the role is certainly one of the most diverse jobs imaginable.
People from every corner of society, with every problem imaginable, come to me
each week for help and advice. The rich, the poor, the angry and the impassioned
regularly make my office or inbox their first port of call to get an issue off their
chest, ask for help or to simply vent their frustrations.
With the help of my staff I endeavour to answer every email, letter and call. You
cannot always help but in many cases you can and that can be incredibly rewarding. I
hope to use my mandate from the people of Fylde to help the development of the
area – to fight its cause with ministers in Westminster – and to make an individual
difference to people’s lives, if only by making their complaints known to government
departments and seeing that they are fairly resolved.
With power, of course, comes responsibility and you also become a figurehead. From
opening new shops and businesses to representing the area at civic occasions and
events, best behaviour is required at all times. I would not however swap the job for
any in the world. Despite having the weight of expectation of 70,000 people on your
shoulders – particularly at a time of huge change - I am thoroughly enjoying myself.
The work I carry out as a constituency MP could be drawn roughly into three
categories; casework issues - helping people with individual problems; constituency
issues – tackling issues affecting many people in the region; and a kind-of ‘other’
category which could be anything from attending events to getting to know the local
schools, hospitals, businesses and society as a whole.
In terms of social action – facing constituency issues head on and trying to help solve
them – I have tried my best to get involved in as many important issues as I can.
From campaigning to upgrade our local railways to arguing for the future funding of
our local Citizens Advice Bureau, there are a number of vital local problems that need
to be dealt with. Through co-ordinating media campaigns, writing letters and advising
individuals who are fighting for these good causes, I have been able to make a
difference and secure funding for both. This was only possible by working in
partnership with local councillors, rail-users’ groups and Citizens Advice Bureau staff.
Communication, as always, was vital.
Issues with public services make up an important part of my campaigning work.
From opposing the closure without consultation of a local hospital, to fighting a
decision to shut a police counter, I have tried to stand-up for issues that people care
passionately about. From holding meetings to writing to heads of public services, I
hope I have been able to convey the views of the people of Fylde well and make
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their voices heard at the very top level. Again working with the heads of service like
the Chief Executive of the local Hospital’s Trust and our local Chief Superintendent,
I was able to make a difference.
The final aspect, I suppose, are the issues I have taken on as matters of personal
interest. Like everyone who gets in to politics, I am passionate about a number of
excellent causes which make a huge difference to people’s lives and I try to support
these as much as possible. For me, my work with the Fylde branch of Breakthrough
Breast Cancer has been particularly rewarding, while my work as Patron of The
Ormerod Trust – a local group which works with young people with learning
disabilities – has also been a joy.
Case Study 7: KEEPING IN TOUCH
Clement Freud MP
British Liberal MP Clement Freud had a methodical approach to
keeping in touch with his constituents. In the days before emails
and social networking, he would write letters to any of his
constituents if they appeared in his local newspaper. He wrote
congratulating newly-weds, commiserating with the bereaved and
to those celebrating their examination results.
He also had a rule that he would split up his grocery shopping,
spreading his custom between local shopkeepers. As he went
about the local community he would meet people who would
thank him for his letters. He confessed in his old age that he had
written so many letters that he often had no idea what he was
being thanked for. He once replied that he had been pleased to
have been able to help – only to discover that it had been a
completely inappropriate response as the person concerned had
lost a close relative.
In the end he hit on a phrase that would work for any situation
when approached by a letter recipient, saying,
“It was the least I could do.”
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EXPENSES
In 2009 an expenses scandal erupted in British politics that profoundly altered the
relationship between MPs and their constituents. MPs of all parties were shown to have
manipulated the system set up to compensate them for the costs of being a
parliamentary MP. One MP attempted to claim for a duck house, another for the cost
of cleaning his moat. MPs were found to have used the rules to fund the cost of having
a second home, to speculate profitably in the property market.
So whilst there are costs involved in being an MP and running an effective office in a
constituency as well as within the parliament, they need to take great care not to be
seen to abuse the system or be ‘feathering their own nest’. The worst offenders in the
expenses scandal were seriously punished in the ballot box. A handful of MPs were
imprisoned for false accounting and fraud, an ignominious end to a number of political
careers.
TIPS & ADVICE:

Listen – Advice Surgeries Hold regular advice surgeries in your
constituencies where residents can come and see you and discuss any problems.
Find a community building, a church, mosque or public building close to where
people live that is easy to find and accessible. Advertise the times and days you
will be there with leaflets, posters and on websites. Take time to note down all
the information and then write to the head of whichever organisation they are
dealing with to see if improvements can be made. You should find that being able
to use the letters ‘MP’ after your name encourages organisations to answer
questions and improve their service to your constituents.

Listen – Knock on Doors Try a ‘Mobile Surgery’ – knock on doors with your
team of volunteers, introduce yourself and see if there are any issues you can
help with. Voters are always impressed if they see their MPs and candidates
outside normal election time. If they see you offering to help rather than just
looking for votes, they will be more likely to support you in the future. Do it
regularly and you can use the slogan “Working all year round – not just at
election time” on your literature.

Listen – Visit the Movers and Shakers Make sure you have a good working
relationship with all the major opinion formers and meet up with them regularly.
Take up their concerns and report back on any responses. Think about who the
key influencers are in your community. Not only will they know what people are
thinking but they will also let other people know if you are actively taking up
their concerns.
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
Listen – Polls and Surveys Carry out regular door-to-door surveys to find
out what your residents think are the important issues affecting their lives and
their families. Use social networking sites and email lists to conduct on-line
opinion polls on key issues. You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on
opinion polling. You can tell a lot from talking to just 50 people. Asking people
for their views can also be a good way of recruiting volunteers and new
candidates. If you demonstrate that you value their opinions, people will be
more likely to go the extra mile to support you.

Speak out – in the Press Talk to your local papers every week and build up
a good relationship with local journalists. Ask what they are writing about and
see if they would like a comment from you. Get into the habit of sending
frequent press releases to the media and if they don’t use them ask why.
Typically the press are looking for stories about things that have just happened.
News very quickly can become ‘old’ so speed is of the essence when dealing
with the media. Also the media are often more interested in events rather than
opinions. Tell them about things you have done rather than just what you think.

Always carry a camera Everywhere you go make sure you carry a camera
or better still make sure one of your team of staff or volunteers carries one.
You should use every possible opportunity to get an action photo of yourself for
use in your literature or on websites. A picture is worth a thousand words. Try
and generate photo opportunities that visually illustrate your support for the
local community. Avoid the ‘Grip and Grin’ pictures with people in suits in a line
grinning at the camera. Pictures of you with your sleeves rolled up helping
people, getting actively involved in community issues, will be far more effective.

Speak out – in Parliament Use parliamentary questions to raise issues
affecting your constituents. Invite ministers to visit your constituency and see
the problems people face first hand. Use real examples of ordinary people in
your area when speaking in parliamentary debates. Table motions to highlight
local issues and lobby your colleagues to support them. Remember to tell your
local press and constituents what you have been doing on their behalf. If there
are on-line records of parliamentary debates send a link out to your constituents
by email or through social networking sites.

Community Leadership Find ways to bring people together to solve
problems locally. You will have the contacts and the influence to put together
teams of people who can make a difference. You may even be able to work
across party lines to solve local problems.
There may also be times when you need to take a stand and speak out against things
that are going wrong in your community. People may expect you to take a moral lead
on local issues. You may alienate some people in doing so but you may win the respect
and appreciation of others.
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THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
What are the issues affecting the everyday lives of your constituents?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How can you most effectively support them?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How can you make yourself more accessible to local residents?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
___________________________________________
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4. The Member as a Party Representative
An MP is inevitably the primary representative of their political party locally. They will
need to articulate the party’s key political messages to the local electorate, building
support for the party as well as for themselves.
The team and infrastructure that gets them elected is often a party political machine.
That machine needs careful maintenance and lots of energy to keep it running
smoothly. MPs who neglect their party responsibilities may find that they struggle to
retain their seats or achieve anything in parliament in the long run.
Strong party political campaigners however, can find themselves with a well oiled
political machine that helps them to get re-elected and builds them a strong mandate to
get things done.
Being an effective communicator and team leader locally is clearly a vital part of the
role of being an MP. Being able to motivate and inspire staff and volunteers is vital as is
being able to manage your own time and priorities. Maintaining good relationships with
your team is essential as is making sure that the issues you are campaigning on
nationally are relevant to the voters in your particular constituency.
ER
HE CAMPAIGN
Case Study 8: T
ne MP
Lynne Feathersto
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Lynne Featherstone
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2
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Case Study 9: THE LEADER
Oliver Heald MP
Showing leadership and supporting the activities of the officers and party workers is
very important in motivating the volunteers who make up our army of helpers. The
MP is the figurehead and focus of the Conservative Association’s (refers here to the
party’s local branch) main activity of electing a Conservative MP and having a
Conservative Government.
In North-East Hertfordshire, I do this in a number of ways. Most summers I spend
days with councillors or other party workers visiting estates and villages in my
constituency. We ask questions about problems or issues which have arisen locally
and also what the individual’s current thinking is about politics.
We knock on doors house-to-house, go into local shops and talk to shopkeepers,
have a cup of coffee in the local café and stand on the village green or in the
shopping centre and speak to members of the public. This generates a range of
issues in each estate or village which I then take up and try to resolve. This work is
best done outside election periods because it shows that the work of an MP and of
the Conservatives is not just at election time, and that you are keen to tackle local
issues. In my constituency this has led to many small changes including a new
CCTV camera being installed outside a parade of shops in Southfields, Letchworth
and improved traffic markings on the main A10 road. This work complements the
ongoing work of answering correspondence and emails and joining in many local
campaigns for improvements.
I address the Annual General Meeting of my Association, giving an overview of my
work in Parliament in the previous year. It is important never to forget that the
Association works hard to elect its local MP and is entitled to know what work they
have done in parliament.
22
The Association is also supported by the parliament through its various clubs. We
have two Conservative Clubs (social clubs for Conservatives) in my area. Separately
from the Association but as importantly, I also run a Business Club, where I meet
local businesses regularly. It has about 62 members including a FTSE 100 company
and many small and medium enterprises, and business people of all political
persuasions can join. There is a committee of members, and the Association
provides administrative support for the Club, for a fee. We run four ‘breakfasts with
speakers’ each year and in September I hold a panel discussion with the Leader of
the County Council and the Member of the European Parliament for our area. This
is a popular way for local businesses to interact with all layers of political activity
locally.
Before the local election campaign starts we have ‘action days’ which I attend with
other workers from the constituency. This supports the more marginal wards by
surveying and canvassing opinion and leafletting. When it comes to election time, I
spend about 10 nights out canvassing with the Councillors who are up for election,
to show that I am actively supporting them during their campaign. I also attend the
vote counting to share in their celebrations or occasionally to commiserate.
I also attend events which my Constituency Association and Branches organize. We
have an annual fundraising dinner which raises considerable funds. I am active in
organizing some of the auction lots which are auctioned on the night. We have a
number of active branches which hold regular events and I like to attend as many
as possible.
I have a very good working relationship with the Chairman of my Conservative
Association. We often talk about political issues and he will tell me what the feeling
is ‘on the ground’ amongst Conservatives. I also involve local Councillors in my
regular surgeries in the Constituency where individuals can come and ask for help.
The large number of councillors in North-East Hertfordshire means that this is a
good way of maintaining the link between an MP and the council group.
Finally, I like to be involved in social action projects such as litter picking for Keep
Britain Tidy, and local initiatives to promote the London Olympics 2012. This
support is reinforced by the Conservative Association raising money for charity.
23
TIPS AND ADVICE:

Build a team – Ask people to help your party locally and thank them when
they do. Remember that people have different strengths and preferences. Try
and find a useful function for everyone who wants to help, rather than shoehorn
people into roles that they are not suited to.

Delegate – Politicians are often impatient people. Many are control-freaks.
These sort of characteristics can lead people to try and do everything
themselves. Invest time in supporting and training your team members early in
your political career. That way you can reap the benefits later on as you
confidently delegate tasks. You will then achieve far more for your party than
you could have done if you had done everything yourself.

Communicate – As the late Liberal MP John Pardoe used to say, “If you’ve got
something to say, put it on a piece of paper and put it through a letterbox.”
Make sure that you communicate regularly with all your electorate. Build up a
local volunteer delivery network so that you can get leaflets distributed rapidly.
Get hold of a cheap printing machine, so that you can quickly and easily run off
literature yourself and get topical, up-to-date messages out to your electorate.

Get on-line – It is getting easier and easier to get on-line. Simple, free software
is available to get yourself a presence on the internet. You may want a website –
but make sure that it is really easy for you to update it regularly without going
back to the designer, as this can get expensive. Set up a blog and post regular
updates and use social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to promote
it. Commenting on topical news stories will generate lots of traffic to your site.

Keep it Local – The American politician Tip O’Neil said, “All politics is local” –
make sure you keep your political messages relevant to local people. How
would your party’s national policies affect life locally? What difference would it
make to ordinary local people’s lives? Translate national party policy into local
stories people can relate to. Keep your political party on its toes by making sure
it frames its policies taking into account the needs of your constituents.

Engage and empower – Encourage local party members to play their role in
your party’s policy setting structures. Organise local events to debate party
policy, inviting other national party colleagues to speak. The events don’t need
to be too formal. Try something like a Pasta and Politics evening – serve
everyone a simple bowl of food for a small donation and have an informal
discussion about the topic. You might also want to have more formal meetings
to debate policy issues and feed into your party’s policy setting framework.

And finally - As someone once said, be kind to people on your way up – as you
will need them on your way down!
24
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
How do you know what your electorate think is most important?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How could you get your political messages out to your electorate more
quickly?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Do the people who vote for you share your political ideology or are you
pandering to their prejudices?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
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________________________________________________
___________________________________________
25
Those
of us who believe that democracy is the best way to run a country, have perhaps
5.
Conclusion
a responsibility to make it work. Making full use of all the opportunities associated with
Three roles but …
FOCUS ON THE OVERLAP
Although there are three roles in being an MP, the most success can be found by
focusing on activities that combine all three. Effective MPs ensure that their activities as
parliamentarians are all about representing their community and do so in a way that
increases support for their party.
For example, an MP who identifies that homelessness is the most important issue in her
constituency, might work hard to ensure her party has effective policies to tackle the
issue. She might then use real examples from her constituency to make powerful and
moving speeches in parliament and ensure that government action is taken or effective
legislation is brought in that makes a real difference locally. Success in tackling the issue
will then lead to more political success for the party and the MP.
Alternatively an MP who, for example, provides thoughtful and intelligent insights on a
bureaucratic parliamentary committee on the conduct of parliamentary debates, and
drafts the party policy on international relations, may struggle to achieve anything that
will benefit and be noticed by the local electorate. Similarly an MP who does little other
than toil away as a social worker in their constituency may not achieve any lasting
change for the country.
Finding the links between the roles and the issues that cross all three will help to focus
efforts and maximise effectiveness. Making sure that MPs from all parties use all three
roles to complement each other will also strengthen democracies and parliaments in
general. If voters see a practical link between their vote, their MP and political parties
using the parliamentary processes to focus on the issues that affect their daily lives, they
will inevitably have more faith in democracy.
Finally:
Different politicians bring different personalities to their parliamentary role. Some are
more suited for different aspects of the job. The successful MP is often the one who
balances the competing demands of the job, spots the connections and links between
the roles and identifies and compensates for their own personal strengths and
weaknesses.
Successful political parties are those which also recognise the roles combined within
the job of being an MP. Allowing their parliamentarians space and time to fulfil all three
roles is important. Parties that use their diverse personalities amongst their team and
give the right jobs to the right people will be more likely to achieve their political goals.
26
Those of us who believe that democracy is the best way to run a country, have perhaps
a responsibility to make it work. Making full use of all the opportunities associated with
the three roles of an MP will help to demonstrate to the public the benefits and
advantages of a parliamentary democracy. Finding the overlaps and how activity in one
role can complement and support others will strengthen public support for individual
MPs, their political parties and democratic institutions in general.
27
Annexure 1: ASKING QUESTIONS
Write down a question you would like to ask
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
______________________________________________
Does your Question comply with the following rules:
Rule 1: RESPONSIBILITY
A Question must relate to public affairs or administration for which the Minister is
responsible.
Notes:
This excludes, for example,





party/individual/constituency member activity;
matters of past history (more than 30 years);
Interpretation of statute law (a matter for the courts);
individual devolved bodies, regional and local government, and other
independent statutory bodies; and
the private and voluntary sectors.
Questions are allowed on aspects of nationalised industries and similar bodies (the Post
Office, British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), Network Rail etc.); on local National
Health Service (NHS) services on which Ministers have answered; and internal affairs of
foreign countries which could “reasonably form the subject of a despatch from the UK
diplomatic representatives in that country”. The benefit in all cases of doubt goes to the
Member. The Office takes into account any recent pattern of answering which may
reveal detailed knowledge of the work of local bodies, and of internal affairs in some
countries. One particular area which causes difficulties arises from Members wishing to
seek a Ministerial comment on, or response to, a report produced by an (often
reputable) NGO or individuals or the broadcast media. In order to engage
responsibility, Members have to identify the relevant issues raised rather than seek a
response in general terms.
28
Rule 2: BASIS
A Question cannot rely for its factual basis, where a significant portion of the facts are
merely on unsubstantiated media reports, nor can it be used to seek confirmation or
otherwise of a report.
This is intended to prevent questions based on false or damaging suppositions, which
may be a means of conveying imputations, such as asking on how many occasions
something has happened which would be regarded as opprobrious if it were true, or
whether something is the case where there is no reason to believe otherwise. A
Question may not be founded on rumours or wishful thinking.
Rule 3: READILY AVAILABLE
A Question is inadmissible if it seeks information readily available to a Member, either
self-evidently or as revealed in past answers, or which has been either refused in terms
of the current Session, or revealed as unavailable.
Members seeking information may well be doing so as much to have it published in
Hansard as for the sake of receiving it in an Answer, as a means of giving the facts
wider public visibility, whether in a favourable or unfavourable light for the Executive
(e.g. war casualties or Anti-Social Behaviour Order numbers or local Lottery funding).
Members are given the benefit of the doubt, as reflected in the number of Written
Answers which repeat familiar information or references to already published
information. A balance clearly has to be struck between expecting Members to read
through complex statistics (or get the library to do so) and Hansard becoming an
abstract of already published statistics.
Rule 4: SUB JUDICE
By Resolution of the House, and subject always to the discretion of the Chair and the
right to question Ministerial decisions, a Question is inadmissible which refers to a case
in which proceedings are active in UK courts.
In practice, this rule rarely has to be applied.
Rule 5: INTERROGATORY CONTENT, TONE AND FORM
A Question must be readily comprehensible and neutrally phrased; must not convey
more information than is required for an Answer; must avoid offensive or invidious
language; must not be hypothetical or contain supplementary questions contingent on
the answer to an earlier leg of a question; must not seek to make an argument or
advance debate; should not contain an argumentative connection; must not be so broad
or so vague as not to be susceptible to a written Parliamentary answer (‘essay
question’); must not be trivial, vague or meaningless; and must not form part of a
‘campaign’ as defined in practice.
29
This Rule is intended to bring together a number of rulings which have primarily arisen
from attempts to import into Questions material which is more appropriate for debate,
or tabling as an Early Day Motion.
How would you now rewrite your Question after considering the above rules?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_________________________________________
30
GLOSSARY:
Some definitions are from the UK Parliamentary website glossary http://
www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/ which gives standard definitions for many
Parliamentary terms.
Backbencher: The backbenches are the seats where an MP or Member of the
House of Lords sits if he or she is neither a minister nor a spokesman for his or her
party. Such MPs are referred to as backbenchers.
By-election: A by-election occurs when a seat in the House of Commons becomes
vacant during the lifetime of a Parliament (i.e. between general elections), because the
sitting MP dies; resigns (by applying for the Chiltern Hundreds or the Manor of
Northstead); is elevated to the peerage; or becomes ineligible to sit for some other
reason.
Chamber: The hall where Members of the Lords in the House of Lords and MPs in
the House of Commons deliberate, hold debates and, in the House of Lords, give
judgments.
General elections: A general election is when the electors of the country cast their
votes to elect Members of Parliament.
House of Commons: Elected representatives house in the UK.
House of Lords: Non Elected upper chamber of the UK parliament.
Private Members’ Bill: Private Members' Bills are Public Bills introduced by MPs and
Lords who are not government ministers. As with other Public Bills their purpose is to
change the law as it applies to the general population. A minority of Private Members'
Bills become law but, by creating publicity around an issue, they may affect legislation
indirectly.
Royal Assent: Royal Assent is the Monarch's agreement to make a Bill into an Act of
Parliament. The Monarch actually has the right to refuse Royal Assent but nowadays
this does not happen and the Royal Assent is a formality.
Sub Judice: The sub judice rule prevents MPs or Lords from referring to a current or
impending court case. Although the House is entitled under parliamentary privilege to
discuss any subject, sub judice applies to avoid the House from debating a subject and
possibly influencing the legal outcome of the case. It also reflects the relationship
between Parliament and the courts. However, the rule may be relaxed in order for the
House to consider legislation.
31
Shadow Minister: Is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster
System of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the
Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow
or mark each individual member of the government.
Westminster System: Common term used to describe the UK parliamentary
system which is based in Westminster London.
Useful Links:
There are innumerable websites now available worldwide to better understand the
roles of MPs. Here are some of the websites that tie in well with the contents of this
book:






Conservative Party: www.conservatives.com
The Labour Party: www.labour.org.uk/wfd
The Liberal Democrats: www.libdems.org.uk/international.aspx
The Westminster Consortium for Parliaments and Democracy: http://
www.thewestminsterconsortium.org
UK Parliament’s Main website: www.parliament.uk
UK Parliament – What do MP’s do? www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/
members/mps
Image Credits:
Page Description, Source and Photographer
5.
7.
8.
9.
10.
15.
21.
27.
Gary Streeter MP, Chair Westminster Foundation for Democracy. WFD
Images from Parliaments the Westminster Consortium (TWC) currently work
in. Clockwise from top left, Mozambique, Morocco, Uganda, Ukraine, Lebanon
and Georgia. WFD.
A demonstrator gestures in front of a placard during an anti-abortion march in
central London, - October 27, 2007. REUTERS/Toby Melville
REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Britain’s Union Flag, commonly known as the Union Jack, flutters in the wind
before the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst,
southern England - April 12, 2006. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Simon Hughes at the Blue Market in his constituency. Fishnik.com/Alex Folkes
Celebrating fairer funding for schools in Haringey. Lynne Featherstone/Haringey
Schools/fair funding
Parliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of
Parliament
32
NOTES
33
NOTES
34
35
Three Roles of a Member of Parliament
Guide book for new Members of Parliament
Conservative Party
The Labour Party
The Liberal Democrats
International Office,
30 Millbank,
London SW1P 4DP
International Office,
The Labour Party,
1 Brewers Green,
London SW1H 0RH
International Office
Liberal Democrat HQ,
8-10 Great George Street,
London, SW1P 3AE
T +44 (0) 207 984 8153
F +44 (0)20 7976 0486
T +44 (0)20 7783 1382
F +44 (0)20 7783 1200
T +44 (0)20 7227 1328
F +44 (0)20 7799 2170
Nabila_Sattar@new.labour.org.uk
Iain.Gill@libdems.org.uk
Philippa.Broom@conservatives.com
http://www.conservatives.com
http://www.labour.org.uk/wfd/
http://www.libdems.org.uk/
international.aspx