About the Network
1 in 2 of us will be affected by cancer in our lifetime, yet many people across the parliamentary community still navigate a diagnosis quietly and alone.
The Parliamentary Working Through Cancer Network exists to ensure no one has to face that journey by themselves. We provide a safe space for anyone in the parliamentary estate affected by cancer, whether as a patient, a carer supporting a loved one, a colleague, or a line manager.
What we do:
- Practical Peer Support: We are developing a confidential peer-to-peer buddying system connecting individuals with shared lived experiences.
- Resources & Guidance: We provide clear guidance, information, and tools to help line managers confidently navigate employment policies, workplace adjustments and phased returns to work.
- Regular Events: We host regular hybrid events, discussions and informative sessions to raise awareness and foster a supportive workplace culture. This includes high-profile discussions, such as our recent event with Wes Streeting, where he shared his personal experiences of navigating a cancer diagnosis while working in politics.
Get Involved
Whether you need support, want to volunteer as a buddy, or simply wish to champion our work, everyone is welcome.
For MPs and their staff.
Time: 0900-1700 – drop in, no need to book a slot
Date: Tuesday 27 January 2026
Location: Member Hub, Portcullis House
Come along and meet the Ombudsman directly to find out more about the complaints process, meet with PHSO colleagues, including Senior Caseworkers and the Policy and Public Affairs Team and learn how the team can help improve public services for your constituents
For more information on meeting the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, visit ParliNet.
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have updated their very helpful booklets, explaining how they can help you to help your constituents. The two booklets are:
- Help for you and your constituents – Working with HM Revenue and Customs: a guide for MPs
- Tax and National Insurance contributions – Guide for MPs and Ministers (MPs managing their own tax affairs)
If you would like a copy of the updated versions, please email us letting us know which version(s) you require*.
* Please note that we are able to send these documents only to current MPs and their staff with intranet email accounts. It is not available to members of the public.
Join the Labour Women’s Parliamentary Staff Network (LWPSN) to:
- Meet and connect with other Labour women staffers by being part of our regular social events, both remotely and in Westminster.
- Gain advice, tips and support through our Whatsapp group, online resources and regular coffee mornings/zooms.
- Have the opportunity to take part in free skilling up events and training throughout the year, from public speaking to digital self-care, campaigning bootcamp, and how to have those difficult conversations.
- Hear from inspirational speakers on the issues that affect us as women working in politics, including Labour MPs, journalists, lawyers, unions and parliamentary experts.
The LWPSN is a great social network for women who work for Labour MPs and Peers, including constituency staff and interns. We are an inclusive network, open to all women.
If you would like to join the LWPSN, join our WhatsApp Group or have any questions, please email us at LWPSN@parliament.uk with your name, who you work for and your number – and someone will be in touch!
Click here to view LWPSN’s Privacy Policy
Check out other groups staff can join here.
IPSA is committed to supporting MPs and their staff during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Information and guidance from IPSA can be found here.
https://www.theipsa.org.uk/news/coronavirus-guidance/
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have updated their very helpful booklets, explaining how they can help you to help your constituents. The two booklets are:
- HMRC Casework guide for MPs and Staff
- HMRC guide for MPs managing their own tax affairs
They are available in the following formats:
- English
- Welsh
- Accessible Version – English only
If you would like a copy of the updated versions, please email us letting us know which version(s) you require.
*** Please note that we are only able to send these documents to current MPs and their staff with intranet email accounts. It is not available to members of the public.
With the prospect of a General Election looming, we have created a page with links to the official guidance on dissolution.
Our dissolution page will be updated with information and new links as we receive them.
w4mp is not able to investigate complaints about MPs or the House of Commons. Please do not send complaints or personal information to w4mp, as we will not be able to assist.
There are two organisations which deal with complaints about Members of Parliament:
You may wish to contact the House of Commons Enquiry Service for further advice on how to make a complaint.
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards will investigate allegations that an MP has broken the Code of Conduct and the rules associated with it. These include for example rules about:
The Commissioner will not investigate complaints about:
- policy matters;
- an MP’s views or opinions;
- an MP’s handling of or decision about constituency cases and correspondence at any stage; (A local MP will generally do as much as they can to help a constituent, but (s)he is not obliged to take up every matter that is brought to their attention);
- the conduct of an MP’s wider public life, unless the MP’s conduct has caused serious damage to the reputation of the House of Commons as a whole or of MPs more generally.
Further information can be found here: https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/
Compliance Officer for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
http://www.parliamentarycompliance.org.uk/
The post of Compliance Officer for IPSA was established by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, as amended by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
The Compliance Officer’s remit is defined in statute and is to:
- conduct an investigation if he has reason to believe that an MP may have been paid an amount under the MPs’ Scheme of Business Costs (the Scheme) that should not have been allowed; and
- at the request of an MP, review a determination by IPSA to refuse reimbursement for an expense claim, in whole or in part.
As the Compliance Officer’s role is confined to matters pertaining to the Scheme, he has no power to investigate complaints that pre-date the creation of IPSA in May 2010. Complaints regarding expense claims prior to May 2010 are usually handled by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Working for an MP is an exciting and rewarding job, but at some point you may face exactly the same difficulties as you would in any other workplace – a dispute over your job description, a grievance against your employer or simply the need to put a collective case for improvements in working conditions.
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch represents staff of MPs, both in Parliament and in the constituency, and has many trained shop stewards who will be more than willing to help, however small your problem may seem. Our members’ well-being in the workplace is of the utmost importance to the branch.
MPs’ staff find themselves in a difficult position in terms of claiming their basic working rights. Whilst, legally, our MP is usually considered our employer, it is IPSA and the House Authorities who are our de facto employers, setting our pay levels, contractual terms and conditions, and working environment. Staff pay and employment conditions suffered a significant blow when the IPSA MPs’ Business Costs Scheme was introduced in 2010. Now, more than ever, it is important for MPs’ staff to speak with one voice on all of these issues, and the union is fighting to improve the terms for MPs’ staff under IPSA. The more staff who join, the stronger a case they can put for improvements in pay and conditions.
Unite has been representing the staff of Members of Parliament for over 35 years.
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch is part of the largest trade union in the UK, Unite and is regularly consulted by the Houses of Parliament authorities on issues affecting staff. We hope that if you have not already done so, you will join.
Where we fit in…
The Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch is based in Region 1 of the Union (London and the South East) but includes staff from all over England, Scotland and Wales. It has members who work for MPs and MEPs of all the major political parties and most of the smaller ones.
Follow the Unite Parliamentary Staff Branch on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/unitepsbranch
Members of Parliament often have a very close working relationship with their local Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) and so the CAB has produced a guide for MPs which you can find on the intranet here: CAB MP Advice Guide 2024
