Should we have part-time MPs to encourage more women parliamentarians? It is not the first time I have heard this suggestion, and it was one of the ideas given in evidence at the latest Speaker’s Conference which considered how to modernise and attract mo
re diverse members.
Green MP Caroline Lucas has now made the suggestion at her party’s autumn conference saying it would enable MPs to retain stronger ties with their constituencies, as well as enabling them to enjoy more family time. I’ve heard other women MPs raise this as a potentially positive solution to boosting their numbers too.
Caroline says:
“How many times have people talked about career politicians, about politicians being out of touch with reality? If you had job-sharing MPs, what that would allow you to do is to keep MPs with a foot in their community, they could keep their caring responsibilities, they could keep voluntary work, they could continue part-time in their profession.”
I think it is something that will happen in due course, and could make a significant difference to the candidates who are selected, particularly those who want to spend time with young families, including male MPs. Providing a creche is not the answer to parliamentary child care as an MPs working day is very long and can finish late into the evening when votes have to be made, or simply to keep on top of the mountain of work. One woman MP told me how her young son had even phoned her whip and pleaded, “please let mummy come home and read me a bedtime story”.
A partnership like this would require two members who got on extremely well because the last thing an association wants is two representatives who fall out. It could be harder for a duo to be elected if constituents liked one of the candidates and not the other. It has many challenges, but also huge benefits to help MPs for whom family life is important, or they want to maintain strong career links, such as a GP.
Do read this link to learn more about the 80 hour working life of an MP, they are eye-opening interviews from MPs who are now on civvy street; it is an exhausting and demanding job and it’s too easy to dismiss it as saying, “well, it’s their choice”. Let’s remember that MPs are human beings too.
I suspect only a tiny fraction would opt for working part-time, but providing that option would go a long way to making parliament a more family-friendly working environment.
Some might say with the long summer breaks, they are already part-timers!
I think it’s an excellent idea. However, many women I know who work part-time are expected to do what was their full time job before children, but in three days. So if it can be managed properly then great.
Don’t mention GP’s to me. Over paid and dangerously useless astonishingly often. Too often. If more of the bad were sacked then the rest would get the respect they deserve. As it is the bad apples seem cold sore-like in the NHS.
Might be a bit hard to implement … as you say two people would have to get on extremely well, have the same views …and as you say not fall out. But before this , we need more job shares available too ..
Thanks for comment Ellee, pleased you like the photos, lots more to come .. doing it for eac day .. this is just the start of day one that I have put up. And yes Sally did send comment from Dubai.