Liberal Democrat Staff Group
Liberal
Democrat Staff Chair
Following
the 2001 general election, it was felt that due to the expansion of the Liberal
Democrat Party as a whole, there needed to be a new position created in the
Party that reflected the needs of Parliamentary researchers and constituency
workers. In July of 2001, the position of staff chair was created to fulfil this
role.
Due
to the compact size of the Party, one of the beauties is that the Liberal
Democrats feel like a small family. But with its rapid expansion, it was felt
there would be a greater need to formalise many of the structures that help a
staff member to do their job to their best ability and enjoy their time working
for a Member of Parliament.
Currently
the role of staff chair is an elected position. It has been
envisaged to do a number of things to promote the welfare of the staff who work
for MPs.
This
includes:-
·
The development of greater staff training and identification of the needs of an
employee of an MP to get the most out of their work
·
Improve the ‘mentoring system’, that allows new staff members to pick
the brains of more experienced members of staff and improve information from one
office to another.
·
A more coherent approach to social events. Before the role of staff chair, the
main events were in the bars of the House of Commons or the Red Lion! This
ignored constituency staff and an attempt is being made to integrate the needs
of all parts of the Party and to this end, a Social Secretary has been
appointed, Matthew Phillips (phillipsm@parliament.uk
or phone 020 7219 8413).
·
Providing a mouthpiece for staff to voice to MPs an understanding of the
pressures that are faced by staff in their role of working for an MP.
·
Creating a further new position that provides staff with a careers advisor who
is able to help in writing CVs and help look for employment outside of
Parliament when their career within the Liberal Democrats is coming to an end.
·
Creating an Alumni network that allows previous Lib Dem employees to stay in
touch with the goings on inside Parliament.
Currently the staff chair is is Jonathan Eddy, who can be contacted by email on EDDYJ@parliament.uk or phone 020 7219 4588.
Last updated: 26 March 2006