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

Nope. It's not for me. I don't fit comfortably into any political party and unfortunately our system does not encourage independents.

Yeah I don’t mind disagreeing - I just think sometimes it easier to think oh they’re ALL just a massive bunch of bastards than to have to analyse which are half decent and which are just out for themselves. It’s not like there’s a list anywhere unfortunately.

But I genuinely think some of those I met while working there were worthy of huge respect for how hard they worked for their constituents. And I’ve got no skin in this game, it was ages ago and I’m not in the same sort of job at all any more/not friends with any MPs etc.

I see OP has answered your question, but I'd like to add that the role they are in is quite different to the parliamentary stream of the civil service which you are interested in. An MP's chief of staff is a party political role where the individual is employed by the MP (or their party) and is likely to be a supporter of that party.

Civil servants within the parliament on the other hand are employed in non-political roles by the parliamentary body (which is separate from the government) and support the parliament in its functioning by drafting legislation and supporting its passage through the houses, and supporting committees in their business. It is quite a distinct role to other civil servants who are responsible for implementing government policy.

The parliamentary civil service is a more secure job than working for an MP (if they lose their seat, then you may well lose your job, although good political staff may be employed to support a different MP or campaign). The pension for a civil servant is also a lot more generous. In the civil service you need to remain politically neutral, whereas someone working for an MP is generally affiliated with the same party (which is why getting involved in a political party is a good suggestion if you want to go down that route, but not so helpful if you want to join the civil service).

But the two main parties don't allow that. You are not allowed to step outside of the lines..... Party rules at all times. Very few MPs manage anything meaningful and lasting.

You are right. Some genuinely are in to make a difference.

Are MPs genuinely worried about Reform or are they just pretending to be?

Worried. Really worried. On all sides.

seriously, @Mytinhatison don't they even have the nous to analyse why a fairly large majority of our population are even drawn to someone like Farage and his policies, god help us!!

I’m surprised you say that you don’t fit into any of the parties. I feel sorry for your MP. One of the top requirements for a chief of staff, or similar, is trust. You should at least be on the same team.

I think this is untrue.

my MP knows they can trust my judgement and rely on me at all times. I often get a WhatsApp late at night or early hours asking for something. I am known to give honest answers when asked for my opinion and my MP values this rather than just hearing what the party offer.

Do you beleive reeves and starmer misled and lied over fhe countries finances?

Thank you! So it seems coke isn't even really frowned upon if it gets the job done?! They do call it Hollywood for uglies don't they? Haha. X

How many staff are you chief of? How many MPs have chiefs?

@Mytinhatison what sort of hours do you work? And is your work fairly consistent when Parliament isn't sitting?

Or the Global Chief of Staff who liaises with the International Director of Legal Affairs and the Executive Head of Universal Communications & Media for Prince Harry?

Bigly important team.

I've never met anyone weirder than parliamentary staffers (the new chief of staff moniker is mega cringe).

Anyway to my question - what is your plan for after your team gets booted? Obviously the mandatory corporate public affairs for a couple of years but nobody can stick at that forever.

Do you think we live in ‘ an elective dictatorship’ - cf. my Politics A level syllabus.

what is your salary and YOE?

Does it not matter what party they are?

I'm reading Rory Stewart's autobiography currently.

We are a team of six plus the MP. I've met many Chiefs of Staff so I didn't know it was that unusual.

Monday afternoon to Thursday afternoon are as and when needed. Sometimes I finish at 4 and sometimes I finish at 11. Fridays I work from home at my own pace.

Im on my last tour. A charity role probably. I'd like to do something worthwhile.

Rory is amazing. His life reads like a film script.

No I dont. The public are too fickle for a dictatorship. I think we are in a cult of personality right now. The right image seems to be more important than the right skill set.