Working for an MP

Overview

Members of Parliament are individual employers who staff their offices much as any small business does. There is no single model for organizing an MP's office or offices. 

Members of Parliament employ their staff directly on agreed pay scales that are set by Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA). Practice varies widely among MPs on whether they employ their staff full-time or part-time, and whether their staff are based at Westminster or in the constituency. Some MPs have no office at Westminster, and some have no constituency office. 

You will often find caseworkers and other employees in the constituency office responsible for local events or local media. In the Westminster office, you are more likely to find staff directly involved in assisting the MP with parliamentary work.

View and apply for MP staff roles.

Types of roles

There are four categories of paid roles under the IPSA flexible job description scheme:  Administration, Executive, Research and Administration/Research.  Find out more details about the responsibilities for each of the roles, plus the responsibilities for an employed intern on IPSA's website.

Working for more than one MP

It is not unusual for individuals to work part-time for two or more Members of Parliament. Each of those jobs would be a separate employment and you would need a separate employment contract for each one. When you are employed by more than one employer, your total hours worked per week should not exceed 48 hours in order to be in compliance with the Working Time Directive.

Volunteers and unpaid interns

Volunteers 

Members of Parliament may take on volunteers. If you are a volunteer, then you will not receive a salary or a job description. If the Member of Parliament wishes to pay you travel and/or meal expenses, then a written agreement to pay those expenses in accordance with the IPSA model must be completed and signed. 

Interns

Members of Parliament may take on interns and, unless the internship is part of a UK-based further or higher education course and the internship does not exceed one year in duration, these posts will be paid. The intern usually undertakes general activities within the office and gains experience in all areas. The period of employment is normally between three and 12 months but must be no longer than 12 months. An intern will be issued with an IPSA employment contract and job description.

The Speaker's Parliamentary Placement Scheme also offers 10 paid internships to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Pension

Paid staff are entitled to a 10% non-contributory pension.