Author: W4MP Editor

Radio 5 Live: the reality of working in an MP’s office

Standard

On 13 August 2026, Radio 5 Live presenter Matt Chorley interviewed:

  • Lisa Gilmore, GMB MPs’ and Peers’ Staff Branch President and current MP staffer
  • Ethan Harris, former MP staffer
  • Matt Hinton, former MP staffer
  • Steve Race, MP for Exeter

They spoke about the reality of working in an MP’s office, the workload and how it has changed over the years, and the type of work involved.

You can list to the interview until 7 September 2026 here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m003025w by scrolling forward to 1:06:20′ it lasts approximately 22 minutes.

Flat 3 mins from Parliament

Standard

Ref: 2988

The flat consists of a large bedsit (5m x 4m), own bathroom with shower, and own small kitchen/breakfast room.

Located on Smith Square, Westminster. It is a separate space in the basement of a family home; access is shared with the home through its front door, and utility area is shared.

The owner-occupier is seeking a trustworthy, congenial, and tidy non-smoking lodger (references required) working in Parliament or Civil Service.

Long-term stay preferred – previous happy lodgers stayed for many years. £1350 p/m including all utility bills.

Contact: lucy.healey@parliament.uk

Do you know anyone aged 14 to 18 who is interested in the work of Parliament?

Standard

The House of Commons and Joint Departments have launched a new free, on-demand Virtual Work Experience Programme, which opened on 27 July 2026 and runs until 31 October 2026.

Young people who miss this application window will have another opportunity to apply when the next programme opens later in 2026 and again in 2027. The Parliament work experience webpage will be kept up to date with the latest information.

Delivered through Waypoint, a virtual platform run by our partners Sixty Learn, the programme gives young people across the UK the opportunity to:

  • Explore Parliament as a workplace
  • Gain insight into the wide range of careers that support our democracy
  • Experience what it is like to contribute to meaningful tasks within a team

By offering a virtual programme, Parliament can remove barriers such as location, enabling participation from a wider and more diverse range of young people.

Registration is managed through Waypoint, the online platform used to deliver the virtual work experience programme and operated by Sixty Learn.

To learn more about the programme and register, click the link below:

Register here to get started! 

NEW Workshops with Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment

Standard

Professor Jennifer Lees-Marshment from the University of Dundee will be delivering a series of workshops for Members’ staff this autumn.

These interactive sessions are designed to encourage peer learning through discussion and breakout groups. The workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to share experiences, explore key topics and issues, and learn from colleagues across Parliament. All sessions will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Further details about each workshop can be found on the ACT sign-up pages.

2 September, 2 – 3.30 pm
The pathway to success: understanding the capabilities developed as a Members’ staffer
For all Members’ staff.

14 October, 2 – 3.30 pm
Practical approaches to managing workloads in Members’ offices
Recommended for those with management responsibilities.

4 November, , 2 – 3.30 pm
Giving impactful feedback in Members’ offices
Recommended for those with management responsibilities.

Jennifer has also developed a Political Staffer Resource Centre: see https://www.dundee.ac.uk/political-staffer-resource-centre. This online resource shares guidance on a wide range of topics related to managing political staff including managing workloads, giving impactful feedback, wellbeing strategies for Members’ offices, maintaining morale and motivation and recruiting and orientating new staff. 

Caseworker Discussion Forum: Housing Ombudsman

Standard

Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Date: Wednesday 19 August 2026
Location: Online via Teams
Booking: book via ACT

We’ll be joined by staff from the Housing Ombudsman and Library subject specialists
Online booking closes 90 minutes before the forum meeting. To request a place after online booking has closed please email LibraryTraining@parliament.uk

WWG Talk – Cultivating Psychological Safety

Standard

Time: 14:00 – 15:00
Date: Tuesday 11 August 2026
Location: Online via MS Teams
Booking: Please email mpsstaff-wwg@parliament.uk from your parliamentary email address

Work Well Being

In this 60-minute introductory talk we explore what we mean by the term psychological safety and why it matters. We share a neurobiological model to understand and master our own internal sense of safety and explain the benefits collectively on how we work together, understand each other, and align. The talk explains how this contributes to creating an equitable and fair working environment.

It provides individuals with tools to help them gain and maintain a sense of agency and self-awareness in situations that can be challenging to navigate.

Relevant for all staff, participants will leave the session with a greater understanding of the concept of psychological safety and the actions they can take to create a safe working environment for themselves and those around them.

Outcomes

  • Explore what a psychologically safe working environment is like and why it matters
  • Learn tools to master your own internal sense of safety regardless of the external environment
  • Find out about the neurobiology of safety and how to apply that in your day to day working life
  • Learn an easily applicable model to navigate challenging situations with a greater sense of ease.
  • Find out about safe boundaries for yourself and what is expected of you at work

Dr. B. is a medical doctor, author and thought leader in the fields of mental health, workplace wellbeing and the science that brings these together. She is an Associate at Work Well Being, helping organisations strengthen wellbeing, leadership and team performance through practical, evidence based training. Since 2014, Work Well Being has supported hundreds of organisations across the UK.

Q&A with Kirsty McNeill MP

Standard

The Labour Women’s Parliamentary Staff Network is hosting a Q&A session with Kirsty McNeill MP, Labour and Co-operative MP for Midlothian and Minister of State for International Development in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Open to Labour Women Parliamentary Staffers only

Time: 12:30
Date: Thursday 3 September 2026
Location: Online

Please see the LWPSN page for more details.

IPSA consultation on the framework for setting MPs’ budgets

Standard

This consultation seeks views on the principles that should guide IPSA’s budget decisions and whether the current framework for MPs’ budgets remains appropriate. It also explains how IPSA is governed, scrutinised and makes decisions, in the interests of transparency.

You can find out more about the consultation and how to respond here:
https://www.theipsa.org.uk/consultation-on-the-framework-for-setting-mps-budgets

The closing date for responses is 4 September 2026.

Results of the 2026 MPs’ Staff Survey

Standard

The Final Report of the MPs’ Staff Survey for 2026 has now been published and you can find it here.

Please see also this message from Jo Willows, Director of Members’ Staff Engagement.

If you need support, please do look at the Wellness Working Group Sharepoint site: https://hopuk.sharepoint.com/sites/hct-wellbeinghub/SitePages/What-suport-is-there-.aspx