My Job As An MP:

There is no specific job description for an MP, but it is generally accepted that an MP’s role, first and foremost, is to protect the rights of individuals living in their constituency. People are often confused by the artificial division between an MP’s work in Westminster and what he does in the constituency, but in reality, it’s part and parcel of the same thing. MPs defend the rights of their constituents by gathering views and concerns in the constituency and expressing them to the seat of power in London, thus holding the government to account.

I usually try to split my time equally between Westminster and the constituency because each part of my work feeds off the other: I need to keep in touch with what is happening locally so I can make sure to represent your interests up in London, but business and legislation passed in London also has a large impact on what happens in the constituency.

So here is a rough guide to how my roles differ when I’m in London from when I’m in Brecon and Radnorshire, and what that means for you.

My Work in The Constituency

In an average week, I get back to the constituency late on a Thursday evening and leave again for London around Monday lunchtime. During that period, most of my time is spent meeting as many constituents as possible, whether it be sorting out particular problems or simply meeting for a chat. I hold advice surgeries, and am nearly always available at some stage on a Friday in my Brecon office.

I spend Saturday and Sunday driving around to meet constituents who need urgent help or can’t travel to one of the surgeries. Over the weekend I also attend official engagements such as formal functions and local events. When the opportunity arises, I usually carry out site visits to schools or hospitals on a Monday before driving back to London.

Sometimes, a constituency problem can be solved on the spot, by talking it through, giving some advice or by writing to someone in the community or county council. Other issues require action up in London, by writing to or meeting the relevant minister, asking questions in the chamber, holding an adjournment debate, or in some cases putting a complaint to the Ombudsman.

Recess

When Parliament is not in session (known as ‘recess’), I spend all of my time back in the constituency. During recess, all parliamentary activity stops: there are no debates, no questions and no legislation is passed, so there is little reason for me to remain in London.

Because of strong similarities between the weeks when Parliament is sitting and when pupils are at school (we even use similar vocabulary: we talk of a ‘parliamentary term’ to describe the period when a government is in power between 2 general elections), there is a common misconception that when parliament isn’t sitting, it means MPs go back to school days and get a holiday.

Unfortunately this is not the case! On the contrary, because I spend all my time in the constituency, holding surgeries, visiting constituents and attending formal events, a much larger volume of casework is generated than when Parliament is in session!

Recess gives MPs a bit of breathing space to do the things that really matter: catching up with local concerns and meeting constituents who, after all, are the ones who will determine whether they are re-elected or not.

My Work in Westminster

Depending on votes and parliamentary business, I generally spend Monday evening, Tuesday, Wednesday and part of Thursday in Westminster. When they happen to be in town, I sometimes receive constituents in London too, if they want to attend a debate or see Prime Minister’s Questions, or simply because they fancy a tour around the Palace of Westminster!

When I am in London my main task is to hold the government to account by scrutinising its activities and by my involvement with the Liberal Democrat Party.

Holding The Government to Account

Holding the government to account is Parliament’s most important role. As one of the major opposition parties, the Liberal Democrats are an essential and effective scrutinising force.

There are many ways in which I regularly hold the government to account, on general policy as well as on issues that affect Wales in particular:

• Participating in debates surrounding proposals for new legislation.
  
• Asking oral or written questions to Ministers or the Prime Minister about their policies and decisions.
  
• Sitting on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.
  
• Holding adjournment debates.
  
• Tabling early day motions.

Party Politics

In more or less everything I do, my opinions on how to vote and what stance to take on issues are guided by official Liberal Democrat Party policy. However, if party policy went against the interest of my constituents, this would not be the case. The constituency generally comes first, but happily there is rarely any conflict of interest!

The structure of political parties tends to reflect that of the government, so the Liberal Democrats allocate ‘shadow ministers’ or spokespersons for each government department in order to mirror the government’s respective ministers.

I am the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Wales:
In this capacity I am responsible, along with Lembit Öpik MP (click here to access Lembit's website), for holding the Secretary of State for Wales (currently Peter Haine) to account for the activities of his department and for scrutinising any legislation that passes through the house that will in some measure affect Wales directly. It also means that Lembit and I are the people who brief the media about Liberal Democrat policies and positions with respect to Welsh issues.

This is vitally important. Wales has very different interests and needs from those in the rest of the UK. For a start Wales is largely rural and a London based government tends to forget that. So I work hard to try and make sure that the voice of rural Wales is represented in Westminster and that rural interests are represented and fulfilled.

Because of devolution, which gave Wales its own assembly, my power as Lib Dem Spokesman for Wales is limited to non-devolved topics. I therefore work very closely with Kirsty Williams, the Liberal Democrat Welsh Assembly member for Brecon and Radnorshire. Kirsty holds the Welsh Assembly Government to account on devolved matters.

I am a Liberal Democrat Whip:
Far from being a master of the dark arts, I am responsible for maintaining good channels of communication between the Liberal Democrat leadership and our backbenchers. I am also responsible for sorting out any disputes, keeping my colleagues informed of forthcoming business and advising them how to vote in a division.

back to top