What sort of career options are available in British Politics? Full Chapter Book Extract from Political Careers
Below is an extract from my book, Political Careers, which is available here.
So you have decided that you still want to work in politics. Good, you survived the first test.
We did not want to be big ‘Debbie’ or ‘Dave Downers’. However, we felt it was only right to give you an unvarnished look at working in politics.
There are lots of options to work in politics, the focus of this chapter will be on jobs in politics. Primarily focused on Political Parties, Local Councils, Members of Parliament, Members of the Scottish Parliament and Members of the Welsh Assembly.
However, this book is not about becoming a politician. It is not about becoming an MP, a Councillor, an AM or MSP or indeed a Police and Crime Commissioner. It is about working for an elected official only, not becoming an elected official.
If you are looking for that book, I would visit Amazon or your local bookstore - preferably your local bookstore.
The political ecosystem has gotten more prominent over the years, and after working for an MP, there is a new diverse range of roles available. However, we shall cover some of these in a later chapter of this book.
One of the exciting things about politics is that there is a wide diversity of job titles and responsibilities. This means that although job titles can be similar, on many occasions the responsibilities can be very different. The main overarching roles are as follows.
- Caseworkers
- Researchers
- Campaigners
- Office Managers/Chief of Staff
These are the principal career options when working for an MP.
From office to office, the responsibilities and structures of how the daily operations will be run are different. However, we are going to talk about these roles on a general level for ease of understanding.
Caseworkers
Caseworkers are the forgotten heroes of British politics. They are the people who are closest to constituents and many live and work in the constituency that they serve.
Caseworks end up over their career dealing with a wide range of issues that are really at the coal-face of British politics: from dealing with complaints about planning application through to immigration issues and often via the occasional weird and wacky as well.
Since the birth of the internet age, there has been a real increase in organisations using digital platforms to lobby via constituents for issues of all stripes. This has lead to a heavy workload. However, also, this has become an essential process of bringing MPs and constituents closer together and highlight key concerns.
Much of the responsibility for dealing with the casework, whether it is writing letters to local council leaders to calling up a government department to chase up information, falls into the purview of the caseworker. Much of the work which caseworkers do will require a large degree of pro-activity and self drive.
Many caseworks have helped save people from deportation, highlight miscarriages of justice through to helping numerous local people with local but important problems that can change lives.
For those who want to make a real impact day-to-day on local constituents’ lives, this is the job for you.
Where to find these roles?
W4MP is the best website for looking for caseworker roles. Looking at Political Party career sections is also useful.
Payscales
London
Caseworkers £21,960 - £32,548, Senior Caseworkers £27,324 - £38,421
Outside London
Caseworkers £19,641 - £28,804 Senior Caseworkers £23,938 - £36,645
Example Job Advert
Caseworker London
The role will focus on constituency casework and policy correspondence and will involve dealing directly with constituents on a wide range of issues. It will include:
Corresponding with constituents about casework issues on behalf of the Member. Providing information, advice and support to voters over the phone or in writing. Liaising with central and local government organisations. Maintaining accurate records. Some policy casework with scope for development. General office administration and support.
The following skills are essential:
A polite and professional manner. Excellent communication and administrative skills. The ability to make written representations of a high standard, accurately and concisely. Competent use of IT (experience using casework processing software is desirable but not essential). Literate with the Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Outlook and MS Word. The ability to prioritise and manage a caseload efficiently. Record keeping and dealing with confidential and sensitive information appropriately. The ability to work independently, while also contributing to a small, tight-knit team. Knowledge and understanding of the political landscape.
Upon appointment, you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info. MPs generally pay staff following IPSA guidelines.
Parliamentary Researcher/Assistant
If the caseworker is the workhorse of an MP’s office in the local constituency, then the Parliamentary Researcher are the Labradors of British Politics. Everyone’s got one!
The Parliamentary Researcher has to play researcher/speechwriter/policy adviser/political genius/sounding board/magician/general helper. It is a role which, during the high drama of British politics, can be a real tough ask, but also very exciting.
The Researcher will put together a wide range of briefings on policy and political developments, policy notes, press releases, press notes, parliamentary questions and other relevant materials, deal with the media both verbally and on top of all this become a generalist expert in numerous policy areas.
As a researcher, you will be required to keep up-to-date on Parliamentary Bills, Early Day Motions, political developments and upcoming debates on relevant issues. The Researcher is in many ways, the intellectual and operational force driving an MP’s Westminster office.
You will also field a large number of calls from Lobbyists of all stripes. Trying to arrange meetings or promote new reports, ideas or events. So you’ll also be a gatekeeper helping to prioritise your MP’s busy schedule.
Occasionally, you might even have to carry a bag and grab a coffee (if the intern is on holiday!).
Where to find these roles
Again W4MP is the best place to search for these roles, as is of course your political party website. As ever, please see later chapter for more information.
Payscales
London
Parliamentary Researcher £23,750 - £34,786 Senior Parliamentary Researcher £33,000 - £49,793
Outside London
Parliamentary Researcher £20,420 - £31,875 Senior Parliamentary Researcher £30,290 - £43,881
Example advert
Parliamentary Researcher Westminster
A vacancy for a Parliamentary Researcher, in this MP’s office in Westminster. has arisen. The position would be perfect for a recent graduate with strong knowledge and interest in politics.
Responsibilities will include:
Supporting the M.P. in his capacity as a member of the prestigious Select Committee. Preparing and presenting briefing notes for committees, press releases, parliamentary questions and other materials. Undertaking research, usually from readily available sources, on straightforward and un-straightforward topics. Being aware and updated on developments in the media relevant to your areas of responsibility. Drafting written and oral Parliamentary Questions every week. Developing and maintaining current knowledge of bills, debates, legislation, Early Day Motions, Hansard, etc. Government policy casework, as depending upon requirements. General administrative duties where required.
The successful candidate must have:
Clear interest in politics. A high standard of verbal and written communication skills. The ability to work to tight deadlines and complete tasks at short notice in a high-pressure environment. Comfortable with working independently as well as part of a small team. Loyalty and discretion at all times, on matters sensitive or otherwise. Excellent IT skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office package, and the ability to adapt to new software.
Upon appointment, you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info. MPs generally pay staff under IPSA guidelines.
Political Campaigner/Constituency Organiser/Community Campaigner
When working in politics I was a campaigner, and I loved it. Working on local campaigns at the local level was great fun, if challenging. A Political Campaigner is generally a more overtly “party political” role than a researcher and caseworker. In many cases, the budget for such a function is funded locally by the local party or interested donors.
So what will you be doing as a Political Campaigner?
Mostly you will engage in a constant battle for awareness and attention of the local press and local constituents through a variety of campaigning mediums, actions and tactics. In short, you are keeping your MP and party front and centre in people's minds so they don’t go “who?” when your boss is mentioned on the doorstep.
On a day-to-day basis, the workload can vary depending on the time of year and the point within the election cycle. However, a Political Campaigner will cover the following:
Creation of campaign materials. Mobilisations and recruitment of volunteers. Organising of action days. Crafting of political messages. Office administration Fundraising for donations And on election day, leading the ‘Get The Vote Out’ operations locally.
Where to find these roles?
Again W4MP is the best place to search for these roles, as are of course political party websites. As ever, please see later chapter for more information.
Payscales
Given the nature and variety of these roles, salaries can range from £18,000 - £35,000
Example job advert
Campaign Manager Local Party Offices - Local Town
Key Responsibilities will include:
Leading production of creative and effective digital and printed communication to deliver our agreed literature plan. Coordinating the work of local volunteers - ensuring we have an active and energised team of members and supporters strong enough to achieve our electoral objectives. Leading and generating voter contact activity. Collaborating effectively with the local party – and other partners supporting the local party’s campaigns, and National Campaigns Department and other nearby local parties. Supporting the management of the local party’s electoral and membership data Monitoring and responding to contacts via the office and the website.
We're looking for someone:
Who is goal-oriented: Setting and achieving ambitious goals. Who is collaborative: Able to maintain productive relationships with key political stakeholders. Who is motivating: Strong ability to achieve results via other people. Someone who motivates and energises volunteers. Who is organised: Able to handle a large and varied workload. Someone who can set clear, practical priorities for themselves and others. Who takes the initiative: Creatively identifies opportunities to deliver objectives. Who shares our values: Sympathise with aims and objectives of the political party..
Essential skills
Campaigning: Practical experience of delivering political change and winning elections via active campaigning. Desktop & Digital Publishing and Design: Production of robust literature via desktop publishing. Computers: Confidence with word-processing and spreadsheets. Knowledge of databases preferred. Experience of working with and motivating volunteers. Financial management: Basic budget management. Having a full driving licence and access to a car is desirable.
Office Manager
Office Managers are the administrative and leadership heart of an MP’s operation. Not all MP’s have office managers, sometimes the senior responsibility ends up in the hands of a senior caseworker or a parliamentary researcher.
Generally speaking, Office Managers (if an MP has them amongst their staff) are likely to be based in the constituency rather than Westminster. This role will typically take on a wide range of responsibilities.
Where to find these roles?
W4MP and the career section of party websites.
Payscales
Office Manager - London £30,324 - £44,485 Office Manager - Outside of London £27,815 - £40,633
Example Job Advert
The successful applicant will work as part of a small team located in the constituency office, supporting their MP.
The candidate must be a highly organised individual. They must be a team player, have attention to detail, and HR knowledge/ experience. Strong administrative, IT, interpersonal and communication (written and verbal) skills are essential.
Main duties include:
Comprehensive and efficient administrative and organisational support. This includes diary and events management, along with booking meetings/travel. Processing expenses and registering financial interests promptly. You are keeping accurate and orderly files. Assisting with drafting, letters, mail outs and reports etc. Providing support to the Senior Constituency Caseworker when required. Writing agendas and itineraries for the Member, and ensuring he receives all relevant information before meetings/events in the constituency. Ensuring accurate office and personnel records are kept up to date, and that information is managed confidentially and in line with GDPR. HR, including recruitment tasks. Updating the website with the member's constituency activities. Ensuring adequate office supplies, working with suppliers. Seeing through local campaigns ensuring stakeholders are informed to raise awareness of ongoing issues across the constituency. Candidates should have the following skills and qualities:
Excellent communication, organisational and administrative skills, as well as experience of working in a small dedicated team. Literate with Microsoft Office and including MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel and OneDrive. Ability to use their initiative and manage/prioritise their workload. Excellent team ethic with superb interpersonal skills. Ability to work to tight deadlines.
Upon appointment, you will be required to comply with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, undertaken by the Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO). See Members’ Staff Verification Office (MSVO) page for further info. MPs generally pay staff under IPSA guidelines.
Notes on Chief of Staff and other job titles
Sometimes you will come across people and roles that are called Chief of Staff or other grandiose titles that have existed. Generally, these roles are either combinations of office manager and senior parliamentary researcher roles.
Although it is a great sounding title, given the budget and staff size of the average MP, Chief of Staff is more of a title than a genuinely distinct role. Generally this title is more suited to large organisations with very large budgets and employees.
Note on Special Advisers
Please note we have not included detailed information about becoming a Special Adviser to the Minister in the UK Government. The reason for this is simple, these roles are very rare (relative to the number of people working for an MP) and application processes for these roles change with each new government. Some of these jobs simply go to those working with an MP when they are promoted to ministerial positions.
Jobs with Local Council Groups
Recently there has been a trend in Local Authorities & Councils to recruit support officers for political groups and the council leader. These are exciting positions that are great for people who might not want to relocate to the big smoke of London but still love politics.
What you will do in these roles varies significantly from day-to-day and council-to-council depending upon the structure and council size.
Where will you find these roles?
W4MP, Jobs Go Public, individual council websites and Guardian jobs.
Payscales
Various examples range £22,000 - £40,000 depending on role, council, and location.
Example advert
Group Support Officer Local Council
XXXXXXX Council is a Unitary Authority, governed by a leader and cabinet system. The XXXXXXX made gains at the recent elections and are the largest opposition party on the council. The XXXXX Party are the majority group.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with exceptional political and communication skills working directly with the XXXXXX Group on the Council. Your role will primarily involve advising on political issues, and will also include dealing with the media, preparing speeches and briefing notes, researching policy issues, attending meetings and conferences within the area and elsewhere.
You will act as the focus for information gathering and dissemination with community groups, MPs, local authorities, commercial groups, and deal with Officers at all levels. Strong networking skills are essential to enable you to play a central part in the adequate preparation and delivery of the Group’s future political strategy.
As a member of the XXXXXXXX Party, you will bring acute political judgement, the ability to analyse data quickly, have excellent written and oral skills and good IT knowledge with real ambition to move the Party to its fullest economic potential.
The post is subject to political restrictions following the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Hours of work will include evenings and possibly weekends.
Jobs with Political Parties
Political Parties are slightly odd organisations at an administrative level. In some respects, they are most akin to charities and other third sector organisations, with accounts, marketing, legal, policy, human resources, media relations, communications, campaigns, fundraising, digital, IT and membership departments.
This structure means that political parties are great career destinations for people who have already got career experience behind them and want to try politics.
Where to find these roles
The best place to look for roles with political parties is on their own website.Please see the appendix section for further information.
Payscales
Varies - the pay for roles in Political Parties can differ depending on the position, the level and the party itself.
For a better idea on salaries, please visit individual party political websites.
Example adverts
Given the sheer diversity of roles in political parties, an example would be unhelpful. However, I would suggest you visit the appendix for political party websites to get a better appreciation.
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