The Palace of Westminster (Image: Getty)
Staff working in Parliament are “miserable” because MPs are lousy employers, unions say.
Many quit their jobs after experiencing “a cycle of criticism”, forcing replacements to be recruited at huge cost to taxpayers.
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The warning was sounded by the GMB union, which represents some of the 3,500 staff working for MPs. It called for an end to the current system in which politicians each employ their own researchers and office assistants in a similar way to a small business.
In a paper sent to MPs themselves, the union said: “While many MPs are brilliant employers and managers, for those who aren’t, it can make work miserable for staff. It can become impossible to progress in your career, get the pay rises you deserve and contributes to poor mental health.
"Low self-esteem in turn has an impact on productivity, creating a cycle of criticism and upset. Staff can experience very low job security, with short-term contracts and the whims of bosses leading to staff having to leave a job they dreamed of having.”
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According to the GMB, many MPs did not have the skills required to manage staff.
“The lack of career progression, reliable pay increases, and HR problems can lead to a high staff turnover. This then brings the headache of recruitment, which can be very costly financially and timewise”
The comments were made in a submission to a cross-party committee chaired by Cabinet Minister Lucy Powell, which is looking at proposals to transform the way the Commons works. Those who quit should asked why they are leaving in order to identify “bullying” MPs according to the Members’ and Peers’ Staff Association, which also represents staff in the Lords and Commons.
Complaints about low-level bullying in Parliament “might only be shrugged off as isolated instances or unfortunate shortcoming by an employer when it comes to upholding best practice” according to the association.
It said: “This perpetuates a culture of poor yet accepted behaviour, because if a staffer leaves their role due to this, the next staffer is likely to suffer similar behaviour.”
Trade union Unite told the committee: “Our employment relations are complex and – while most MPs are fair and diligent employers – there is no accountability or oversight for bad practise and staff are left without recourse to basic rights, protections or safeguards.”
The pleas from trade unions come despite an earlier inquiry led by the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, which concluded in 2022 that MPs should continue to employ staff directly and rejected suggestions that they should work for a central House of Commons body instead.
A shocking report in 2019 revealed a widespread problem of bullying and harassment at Westminster, including unwanted touching and groping.
The report’s author, Gemma White QC, warned: “Many of the experiences related to me were of unwelcome sexual advances, often accompanied by attempts at kissing.”
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Thousands of people work in Parliament and MPs were not necessarily to blame for the harassment but the report made it clear they are part of the problem, saying: “Most Members of Parliament treat their staff with dignity and respect but the problem of bullying and harassment is sufficiently widespread to require an urgent collective response.”
The Modernisation Committee is focusing on how to make the Commons more “accessible”, for example by replacing outdated language used in official business with modern terms and ending archaic procedures. It is also looking at ways to give MPs better opportunities to scrutinise legislation.
Ms Powell said: “To close the gap between Parliament and the public it’s clear that the House of Commons needs to change, modernise and become more effective.”