You should not be stopped from getting a job in your chosen career because you can’t afford to start off working for free. Politics and Parliament should be no different. This way, we can make sure that it is more understanding of the issues facing people from all backgrounds and that it makes more meaningful differences to people’s lives.
Getting your first job in Parliament is notoriously difficult and competitive. Unfortunately it has also relied on a culture of unpaid internships, allowing those with financial support to take opportunities that others would be unable to.
This is now changing and, as part of this, the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement Scheme is in place to offer paid internships in MPs’ offices to people who would not normally get the opportunity. These internships pay the living wage for the duration of the 9-month placement.
This is a great way to open up Parliament and politics to everyone. So if you’ve always thought that you’d love to work for an MP but wouldn’t be able to, please consider applying.
Applications are now open for 2016-17. The deadline is 17th June.
For more information and how to apply, please see here: http://goo.gl/TPCluk
