'Like the first day at school': How parliament has prepared 300 rookie MPs for the job
More than 300 MPs entering parliament on Tuesday will be new to the job. Here's how the House of Commons has prepared for the influx.
Tuesday 9 July 2024 00:13, UK
The UK's newest MPs might have spent the last six weeks fighting for a place in parliament - but it can still be a shock to the system once they enter it, according to those familiar with the process.
That's why House of Commons staff have spent months preparing for their arrival, working on everything from buddy schemes to starter packs and photobooks to help them get to grips with the job.
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This secret team of helpers are not messing about. In fact, the first contact parliament has with newly elected representatives is at the election count itself.
Starter pack
Returning Officers - who oversee elections - are sent a key document in advance in a brown envelope that they hand over to the winner the moment the result is declared.
This contains all the important information a new member may need, from security information to what to expect on becoming an MP.
The pack is to help with the incredibly quick turnover of parliament resuming in the UK after an election compared to other countries.
The first sitting of the house is today, four days after the election, which does not give new MPs much time to get to grips with complex and often arcane procedures of parliament - not to mention navigating themselves around the vast estate.
The 900-year-old building spans eight acres, containing around 1100 rooms, 100 staircases, 4.8km of passageway... and several restaurants and bars.
Buddy scheme
This is shown to new MPs by "buddies" (House of Common staff) they are paired up with when they first enter the building, which members are allowed to do from the moment they are elected.
There's no further vetting required, given the assumption political parties have done this in their selection process.
Buddies will start by giving new members a tour of parliament, taking them to a New Members Reception Area (NMRA) where new MPs will meet their colleagues, receive HR advice, set up their IT and support setting up their offices.
Offices are allocated by party whips, but in the meantime lockers and hot desks are provided so MPs can start contacting their constituents immediately.
The buddy scheme has been in place since 2015 and its success has seen it transported to the parliaments of the Netherlands, Canada and New Zealand.
While this scheme has been adopted elsewhere, the UK has poached some ideas from overseas too.
That includes a call centre to start contacting new MPs the day after they are elected to offer them support with things such as transport and accommodation (a feature of New Zealand's parliament for the last 15 years).
335 new MPs
This year the logistical challenge of inducting MPs is a huge task after Labour's landslide victory resulted in the most dramatic transformation of the political landscape in a decade.
Of the 650 seats in the lower chamber more than half - 335 - will be taken up by rookies. 300 MPs have been re-elected, while a further 15 are becoming MPs after a gap in service.
Over the weekend excited MPs have been tweeting about their journeys to Westminster, with one describing induction day as like "the first day at school".
Another service provided is a photobook to help all MPs learn their new colleagues' names and faces. This is also provided to the Commons security team as well as Hansard staff, who transcribe debates, and the Commons Speaker, who controls the debates.
Chamber briefing
The Speaker will be elected on Tuesday afternoon and in preparation of this, MPs are provided with a Chamber briefing so they can learn the unique rules on behaviour and courtesies of parliament - such as what not to wear, and what not to say.
For example, members are expected to wear business attire, which need not include a tie for men but should include a jacket.
There are also strict rules around "unparliamentary language" - defined as anything that "breaks the rules of politeness of the House of Commons chamber".
MPs are disciplined for swearing during debates, while convention also bans them from calling their colleagues liars or accusing them of being drunk, among other things.
In the past MPs have been thrown out of the chamber for breaking these rules, so it's important newbies get to grips with these ahead of the first Commons sitting.