Nadia Whittome, the MP for Nottingham East, writes about the role of MP and how its function has evolved over the years.
Looking at our modern British political system, it may be difficult to imagine that Parliament began in the 13th century, when councils of noblemen and clergy advised the monarch on their rule. In those early days, there was no representation for ordinary people, but over the centuries, political struggle led to reform, improving representation, expanding the right to vote and transforming the House of Commons to be the centre of British governance. Today, Members of Parliament (or MPs) like me are elected to represent everyone in our constituencies, regardless of background or circumstance.
In this month’s column, I want to reflect on what the role of an MP actually involves, how we can work to help you and how you can lobby us.
First, let’s go over the basics. There are currently 650 MPs working to represent constituencies from every part of the country. MPs are sent to the House of Commons to ensure local people have a voice in national decisions, such as new laws, setting taxes and adopting policies that affect everyday life. We work both at the UK Parliament, in Westminster, and in our local constituencies.
Lobbying your MP, whether by writing, attending surgeries, signing petitions or meeting them in Parliament as part of a mass lobby, is an important way to make your voice heard and hold elected representatives accountable
Voting is, of course, a crucial part of our work, but it’s far from the only responsibility. My weekly schedule includes a wide range of responsibilities, including debating proposed laws, asking questions in the Chamber, attending meetings with government ministers, local leaders, and the Labour Party at both local and national levels. I also host events in Parliament, give media interviews, take part in protests and canvassing, support constituents through casework and meet regularly with campaign groups and constituents. No week is the same; the hours are often long and unpredictable, with many meetings and events arranged or rearranged at short notice due to a constant juggling of priorities. The role demands a great deal of flexibility – and frankly, energy – because urgent issues can arise at any moment.
None of this work would be possible without my six members of staff, four of whom work in the constituency office and two of whom are in Parliament with me. They play a vital role in helping me serve the people of Nottingham East and carry out my parliamentary duties. In the constituency office, my staff help handle casework, manage my diary, organise meetings and local events, and represent me when necessary. While in Westminster, two members of staff support me by writing briefings, preparing speeches, drafting correspondence, helping to prepare me for media interviews and managing my social media. They also attend events with me or, at times, on my behalf if there are clashes in my schedule.
Some MPs take on additional responsibilities such as ministerial roles or shadow cabinet positions, or they will be part of committees, which are established to investigate specific issues or to scrutinise the government. However, regardless of their extra responsibilities, all MPs are expected to directly support their constituents by advocating for them and addressing personal issues through casework.
My constituency office handles a variety of casework, from responding to views on proposed legislation to helping resolve disputes, especially in cases where individuals believe they have been unfairly treated by the government, local authorities, or public agencies. We've resolved a wide range of cases – from helping people access the financial support they're entitled to, to assisting with immigration matters – always working to ensure constituents are treated fairly and get the help they need. It’s important to remember that MPs aren’t best placed to help with very local issues, because your local councillor is better placed to deal with issues relating to the council, such as council housing, roads, buses, planning and rubbish collection. However, that line is sometimes blurry, so if you don’t know who to get in touch with regarding a local issue, we will try to help guide you in the right direction.
A participative democracy relies on active engagement from the public, allowing people to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives
Lobbying your MP, whether by writing, attending surgeries, signing petitions or meeting them in Parliament as part of a mass lobby, is an important way to make your voice heard and hold elected representatives accountable. One voice may seem unlikely to effect change, but when combined with others, it can make a difference. MPs are accountable to the people who elected us, and we rely on your votes to win elections. This means that we need to pay attention to what their constituents think and what their priorities are. I know from speaking to other MPs that many of us have had our minds changed by letters we have received or have been spurred into action that we might otherwise not have taken.
A participative democracy relies on active engagement from the public, allowing people to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. While trust in politicians has declined in recent years, it’s more important than ever to protect and strengthen our democratic system by speaking up and getting involved. We shouldn’t take the democratic rights we have for granted, especially when they are currently under attack by far-right leaders and groups across the world.
I know that many people feel their voices haven’t truly been heard for a very long time, especially as austerity policies needlessly punish our communities’ most vulnerable individuals and inequality palpably widens across the country. Understandably, this has led to disillusionment with politics and politicians. It doesn’t help that while many MPs work tirelessly to represent their communities, there’s also a big issue of some MPs pursuing other lucrative work with second, and even third, jobs, limiting their focus on both parliamentary and local duties which can potentially lead to conflicts of interests. Nigel Farage, for example, celebrated his tenth job this year. I’m pleased that our new Labour government vowed to act on this last year, to ensure that constituents are prioritised.
Change doesn’t happen overnight or through one means. It happens when many people come together with a shared goal and force change through multiple fronts. By joining forces with others, either through petitions, attending protests, or getting involved in advocacy campaigns, you can start to build momentum that pushes for better policies and governance. And often, that journey starts with something as simple as contacting your MP.
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