I'm Chief of Staff for a Member of Parliament - AMA

[Mytinhatison]

So, name change for this one obviously. I won't declare which party. It doesn't matter. I've been based in Westminster for years and have seen many come and go... Ask away

Well, it can be in the chamber. Especially when, for example, there’s a debate on a particular conflict and someone stands up with military experience.

Free votes are on issues that are “important”, are they, OP? There’s not another shorthand for those votes that springs to mind? One that gets used pretty much every time there is one? Go on, have a Google…

Do they realise that us plebs are disengaged from politics because by and large they are an homogenous cabal of miscreants who have zero clue what life is like for the general populace.

It "appears" that the majority are from middle class backgrounds/have landed at Westminster through the PPE route or have daddy/mummy contacts.

and please don't get me started on second jobs and the fact they don't even have to declare their wealth

There is no altruism in politics, they certainly don't have our best interests at heart.

Would you consider yourself a moral person @Mytinhatison 🤣

Well, obviously it’s Tinkerbell and Peter Pan for the festive season.

Well, they are not a one line whip if that's what you mean? And no I don't think all free votes are important. I think they give an illusion of an MP being able to represent the desire of their constituents. But ultimately, the MP will vote with their own conscience. In my experience.

Do you think that power corrupts?

With all the cover-ups that have been exposed over the last few years, by politicians, councillors, local government offficers, police etc, I’m really beginning to believe that it does.

OK yes sure perhaps in debate on a specific relevant issue (a scientist on a scientific issue) but not purely because they’ve been re-elected to a very very safe seat a few times.

My comment not true at all was meant quite widely

This is pathetic.

You got there in the end, free votes are on issues of conscience. What’s the important book with the initials EM?

Is your MP likely to retain their seat come the next election?

No I don't believe they do. Most in Westminster live in a bubble. MPs and staff. They only talk politics with people who are interested in politics.

Political ambivalence will be the biggest issue going forward. Fighting over fewer and fewer votes. But the risk of that is that if you don't vote, you risk being represented by an organised and vocal minority.

No. Absolutely not.

Erskin something but I may be wrong 😂or is that too subtle?

I even know where they are in the library!

I don't think it corrupts any more than any other profession. But it does attract an arrogant type.

I very much believe that OP could be a parliamentary staffer - IMO the ones who called themselves Chief of Staff with a straight face were almost always either pompous beyond words or worked for an MP who was - or both. As previously stated most MPs have a handful of staff and the one who’s the top dog is usually the one who’s been there longest so has trained everyone else up. And of course the MP is the boss anyway so very little requirement for HR roles for the “chief”.

I agree there’s some handsiness about - most of the culprits I knew were men who also targeted men.

I will always vote, with a heavy heart though because our current crop of politicians are totally unscrupulous whichever side of the house they sit on 😞

As you will know, there are a handful of job titles that go with a pay grade. There is nothing more to it than that.

I honestly don’t think that’s true. Some of them work their absolute arses off trying to solve problems for their constituents, I’ve seen it. And lots stand up for really important causes and work really very hard to advance them - not all glam stuff but things like rare disease research or better sex education in schools.

I think quite a lot are unscrupulous but that’s going to happen isn’t it where the job can give power and money. It’s awful but I wouldn’t say it was the majority though. Most people are just completely unaware of what their local lower profile MPs are up to.

Mm yes but chief of staff isn’t one of them. https://www.ipsaonline.org.uk/guidance/pay-and-benefits

I did check it hadn’t changed before posting! But I’ll take your word from it that your MP decided to use that term when they recruited you. It’s just my experience that staff members who call themselves that are usually blokes who’ve watched The West Wing too many times!

ooh! just thought of another couple,

what was the general perception of Dominic Cummings within the Westminster system?

How useful do you consider this AMA and is it something you would highlight with your MP?

You should become one yourself with that response!

Are the Labour MP's as bad at dodgy deals as the tories? Using their influence to be greedy. I always think Labour should be better but I presume they are all the same?

The answer I expected but not the one I hoped for. Interesting about the women.

@AllWrong

"I honestly don’t think that’s true" (in response to my "our current crop of politicians are totally unscrupulous" )

We can agree to disagree with that one then.

I understand that DC was thought of quite poorly and did absolutely nothing to change that view.

I wouldn't share this with my MP, but I do often share things from here. It is a great pool of wide opinions and it is helpful to see a range of thoughts on a particular topic.