Should cabinet ministers have assistants?

[northwichcat]

The following was posted in another thread which I thought was worthy of it's own thread

Regarding cabinet ministers also being constituency mp's, I've often wondered how, for example, the PM can cover both roles. I know it's another layer, and expensive, but should each member of the cabinet have a person directly below them (a paid understudy) that deals directly with their constituents?

For example; if parents were blocking roads outside schools and not allowing services to pass easily, and my council did sod-all, I'd be seeking a chat with my MP to get them to do something. But not sure I'd feel I could bother my MP with something relatively trivial if he's the PM.

Not sure if that's a god example but I hope my point is made.

I think in principle it's a good idea. Although I think the second person you deal with should ideally be elected but then would that be practical given cabinet ministers don't always last long in the role?

 

[CardiffKid]

Sweden has a system whereby by if a parliamentarian becomes a Minister or goes of on maternity leave a replacement steps up temporarily.

Something to explore, however many (but not all) people would argue that if you're local MP is a Minister then you are better represented. Whilst they can't ask questions in debates they can effect real change.

I'm not one to reference the Daily Mail but look at this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-millions-shore-votes-Highlands-backyard.html I fully accept it didn't work out for Danny Alexander but did his constituents benefit from his high position in government?

 

[Bald Rick]

In effect they do. I've met a number of ministers, and they have extra staff to deal with the more mundane constituency matters. Most will still hold a surgery etc, perhaps less frequently, but they will pass the matters on to one of their guys to take up with the relevant office. I can think of one of these 'staff' who is held in higher regard then her employer!

 

[Jordeh]

If it's the case that the PM (or cabinet members) are ignoring their constituents then there is an issue but I've never heard this to be the case. Other MPs can also raise his constituents matters in parliament, I believe that's also the case with the Speaker.

Whilst there isn't an official system in place, there are case workers and extra staff to assist MPs in their constituencies.

Classic case of a solution in need of a problem.

 

[DarloRich]

they already will have a staff of assistants working both in Parliament and in their constituency office.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I have a nephew who is a Parliamentary Assistant to an MP - he is not exactly underworked either. (but he finds the work enjoyable and interesting)

 

[Howardh]

Think there are situations when a letter to your MP gets dealt with by secretarys or assistants, and that's fine, but like your own doctor, they are times when you want direct contact.

Not sure how many seats there are in the HOC now - is it 650? - but last time I read anything it was to be fewer MP's in larger constituencies, which makes things worse.

Perhaps the major cabinet ministers could be removed from their constituency work, and replaced by someone who has the power of an MP - whatever that entails?? - but not an actual vote in the HOC.

But we have a system that seems to work...either by luck or design!!

 

[Tetchytyke]

Most MPs, even backbenchers, will have enough assistants for constituency work that it doesn't matter. Everything important will be escalated, although of course people want the personal touch.

The system could work better- those who live in Buckingham have an MP who can't even vote in the Commons- but it's not that bad. For a lot of cases the constituency caseworkers probably do a better job than the MP does...

 

[northwichcat]

those who live in Buckingham have an MP who can't even vote in the Commons- but it's not that bad. For a lot of cases the constituency caseworkers probably do a better job than the MP does...

Off-topic which parties are banned from standing against the speaker? I notice UKIP and the Greens have stood against him as speaker but the Lib Dems haven't since Bercrow stood as a Conservative.

 

[Jordeh]

Off-topic which parties are banned from standing against the speaker? I notice UKIP and the Greens have stood against him as speaker but the Lib Dems haven't since Bercrow stood as a Conservative.

No parties are banned, it's an unwritten rule or etiquette if you like.

 

[yorksrob]

Generally MP's will have a team of dedicated people working for them to address constituents concerns. A minister may have less time personally to attend 'Surgeries', but the team will still be there, so constituents won't miss out in this respect.

 

[northwichcat]

Generally MP's will have a team of dedicated people working for them to address constituents concerns. A minister may have less time personally to attend 'Surgeries', but the team will still be there, so constituents won't miss out in this respect.

If you knew who Hayley Wells-Bradshaw is you wouldn't be saying that. She's the person who would get your letter or take your phone call if you contacted George Osborne's constituency office. While George Osborne was campaigning for the General Election, she took a dislike to a local business owner who was standing against her as an Independent in the elections for Cheshire East council and instructed Mr Osborne's solicitor to write a letter to her saying the Conservatives were seeking for her to be removed as a candidate over what was a non-issue. When Osborne himself picked up on the story the local business owner received an apology from the solicitor saying he had incorrectly advised. If that hadn't have happened Mrs Wells-Bradshaw could have undone a lot of work Osborne's done to get small businesses on the side of the Conservatives when she's a Conservative herself!

 

[yorksrob]

If you knew who Hayley Wells-Bradshaw is you wouldn't be saying that. She's the person who would get your letter or take your phone call if you contacted George Osborne's constituency office. While George Osborne was campaigning for the General Election, she took a dislike to a local business owner who was standing against her as an Independent in the elections for Cheshire East council and instructed Mr Osborne's solicitor to write a letter to her saying the Conservatives were seeking for her to be removed as a candidate over what was a non-issue. When Osborne himself picked up on the story the local business owner received an apology from the solicitor saying he had incorrectly advised. If that hadn't have happened Mrs Wells-Bradshaw could have undone a lot of work Osborne's done to get small businesses on the side of the Conservatives when she's a Conservative herself!

Hey, I only said that constituency offices tended to have manpower other than the MP themselves. I never said anything about the quality of that manpower !

(I've always found the ones that I've dealt with to be very professional).

 

[Busaholic]

I can't say whether this is still the case, but it used to be that, certainly in the case of the P.M., a neighbouring MP of the same party was deputed to deal with the matter on their behalf, but I'm probably talking of the days when retinues of staff/advisers/interns etc didn't exist.

 

[CatfordCat]

As others have said, there will be constituency workers.

And while a cabinet minister might be less likely to raise a local matter in the House, I'd expect that if (for example) the Department of Administrative Affairs was to get a letter from the PM about an issue affecting one of his / her consituents, that letter would probably get a bit more attention than if it came from an opposition back-bench MP for somewhere obscure...

And for that matter, back bench MPs have been known to vary in how active they are in doing anything for their local residents

 

[Bald Rick]

Also, the duties of an MP regarding his/her constituency are completely separate from the duties of a minister.

It is not unknown for an MP to write to themselves (as the relevant Secretary of State) regarding a constituency matter.

 

[ninja-lewis]

The Institute for Government carried out a series of interviews with former ministers. One of the topics covered in many of the interviews was how did they balance department, parliamentary and constituency demands.

http://www.instituteforgovernment.o...rviewee-type[]=minister&hidden-s=constituency

 

[northwichcat]

Hey, I only said that constituency offices tended to have manpower other than the MP themselves. I never said anything about the quality of that manpower !

(I've always found the ones that I've dealt with to be very professional).

You did say they worked to address constituents concerns, rather than creating new concerns.

 

[yorksrob]

You did say they worked to address constituents concerns, rather than creating new concerns.

Well, they're supposed to. Whether they all do or not is another matter.

That said, I doubt there's much need for an additional funded post specifically for cabinet members to perform that function.