Why we get the wrong politicians by Isabel Hardman (Atlantic Books, 2019)
The House of Commons does not work either structurally or culturally (most MPs agree there are problems). Our political class has grown used to dodging important decisions (e.g. Brexit) and the crises within social care, health and other areas have grown. Politicians, researchers, think tanks and journalists inhabit the Westminster Bubble. MP's are the least trusted group - below estate agents, bankers and journalists, but while sexual indiscretions and other misconduct are most often in the press, many MPs are decent human beings.
2017 Parliament.
MPs do not reflect the UK population. While 7% of the general population went to private schools, 29% of UK-educated MPs did so (and 1 in 10 of these went to Eton). Half the population are female, but only 32% of MPs are women. 7.8% of MPs are from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, from a general population of 14% and whereas 18% of the general population have long-term health conditions or disabilities, just 1% of MPs do so.
2019. The MPs in Boris Johnson's first cabinet, of whom two/thirds were privately educated (7% general population), four were Old Etonians (though this does include one black MP) and almost half attended Oxford or Cambridge universities. Source: Guardian, 28 July 2019.
2019. For comparison, BAME groups are under or over represented in other areas: from a general population of 14%, just 7% are UK high court judges, but 25% of UK prison population and 41% of those in the youth justice system. Source: Radio Times feature, 20-26 July 2019.
Many MPs are career politicians (backgrounds in local politics, political organisers and researchers). Many have dysfunctional, even if comfortably placed, upbringings. Most have university degrees (86%), as do most political researchers.
We need to open up Parliament to people who would be good MPs, not merely those who can afford to be one.
Political Parties
In 2017, 51% of party members were university graduates, 80% were in the top (ABC1) social class, and 61% were male. These are the people who select constituency candidates, and the party leader. There is no legal requirement to publish membership figures. [Some 160,000 Conservative party members will get to choose who replaces Theresa May as PM.] Party youth wings are prone to having personality cults.
Candidates
Experience in local government gives insight into issues and realistic spending, but councillors are 67.3% male and 96% white, the average age is 60.2, with 46.6% retired and only 19.2% in full time work. Council work is part-time, but takes place in normal working hours and meeting times are not family friendly.
Parties look for experience and commitment to the cause. Candidates have to raise funds for their campaign and spend time promoting themselves. At selection days, party MPs and senior party figures agree an approved list of candidates; constituency associations pick from these lists. Party members are increasingly drawn from narrow sections of society, and may have unconscious bias against LGBT, ethnic backgrounds and women with families. Parties use candidates list as a source of free labour across the country.
Parties raise money for your campaign once selected, but not accommodation or travel for being visible in the constituency; thus some candidates run into debt. Likely loss of earnings from usual employment during election campaign. (Party members often think candidates are being paid to stand.) Candidates can get hate mail, and possible impact on families. If not elected, candidates often have debts to pay and new jobs to find, and the local party may not support them in any way.
New MPs
Need to find London accommodation and decide where family lives, set up offices and hire staff. Whips allocate offices and new MPs end up in temporary offices in committee rooms. No job description, no advice on what to do each day. But in contrast to 2010, new MPs now get talks, daily meetings and briefings about votes, committees and speeches, and a buddy system in the first few weeks.
House of Commons
MPs listen to debates, meet constituents, ministers and journalists, attend receptions and campaign launches, sit on committees, table parliamentary questions, write articles for local or national press, or plot with colleagues to either influence party policy or cause internal political trouble. Parliament sits on Mon. afternoons, Tue. and Wed. 11.30am to 7.30pm, Thurs. 9.30am to afternoon, plus 13 Fridays per year. MPs can choose which which policy issues they focus on.
An MP is a legislator, making and reviewing laws and government policy, and an advocate for the constituency (as a whole or for on individual). Some are ministers or chair committees or act as party spokesperson, campaign coordinator or policy advisor. There is no formal amount of time for each task and no formal appraisal. They have no training as legislators.
Pay
In 2005 it was revealed that MPs compensated for comparatively low salaries (far higher than national average but lower than many with similar education and punishing hours) through the expenses system. The inquiry cost £1.16m; MPs had to repay £1.1m. Should they be paid as public sector workers or as a vocation?
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