To ask you all about being an MP?

[Snickerdoodles]

Has anyone on here ever thought about being an MP?

From what I understand, it sounds like a very demanding and challenging job, but also something that’s very rewarding that would give you an opportunity to help lots of people very effectively.

I wouldn’t consider standing to be an MP for at least another ten to fifteen years (at the very least), and quite possibly won’t stand at all. I also understand that, often, people can stand to be an MP several times for different constituences before being selected (or perhaps they may never be selected as an MP). I’ve also heard it’s quite expensive to stand (I think around £30,000).

What does everyone else think about the job and about what it involves?

I've name changed as this could be outing.

I am a former councillor and spent 7 years doing the job. Its very demanding - you fight possibly for years to get yourself elected (took me 3) - leaflet delivery, door knocking, writing leaflets, printing them, stuffing envelopes, phone canvassing, turning up all over the ward- you name it I did it! If you actually get elected it only gets tougher - phone calls from irrate constituents at X o'clock and more than once on Christmas day, committees, public meetings in the evening, advice surgeries usually in evening or at weekends, endless casework ranging from potholes to families who are could be sleeping on the street TONIGHT if you don't do something. I loved it but eventually the hours got too demanding and I really couldn't balance it all with the DCs because....

DP became an MP after standing in 5 general elections. He'd previously been a councillor for over 20 years. Again he'd done all I did and more and for longer (he's older than me). He was normally away from Monday to Thursday night then had advice surgery every Saturday morning and spent most of the rest of the time except Sunday afternoon which was sacred family time in his constituentcy - even Sunday afternoons would often see us at fates, and public meetings. The press would phone at random times wanting responses within their deadlines and the radio would want him at 7 in the morning!

We couldn't walk about the constituency without someone wanting to tell one of us about their problem neighbours or a blocked drain! In fact even though I stopped being a councillor in 2012 someone still pursued me at the weekend wanting to tell me about the broken boiler in their council property

We both loved what we did but its exhausting and unrelenting and definitely difficult to balance with family. As others have said you start at the bottom and you work up - its not easy but it is a fantastic amazing job if you want to campaign and try to make people's lives better.

PS The moment you are elected expect to be regarded as an expert on virtually everything from housing law to road repairs, NHS malpractise to blocked drains and human rights abuses in China to neighbour nuisance (and those are just a few!)

And yes definitely expect people to be vile about you. Anything you do wrong or any skeletons in the cupboard will probably be exposed in the media and it only takes a tiny misdemeanor to interest them.

There are a few glamourous bits but mainly its hard graft - I miss it really

formercouncillor I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you for yours and your husband’s service. Personally I don’t think many of us ever stop to think how much hard work people do because they genuinely believe they can make a difference, for pretty much no thanks or appreciation from the general populace, more like ongoing disgruntlement and abuse. Obviously I have no idea what party you’re in, but just leaving that aside for the moment, thank you.

Jess Philips has a book out at the moment which talks a bit about it.

I enjoyed this podcast ... I suspect she felt more relaxed than on normal media