Responding to the comments, a House of Commons spokesperson said: “The House of Commons aims to provide excellent services to Members, ensuring they have access to the professional support and advice they need to carry out their parliamentary duties.”
The spokesperson added new MPs were given a “comprehensive induction” which included one-on-one guidance on recruitment, staffing and HR. Best practice guides and “tailored” documentation, they said, was also on offer to help MP “recruit and manage their teams quickly and effectively.”
Finally, training
Despite those claims, both Bishop and Cooper are among a cadre of new MPs now signed up to a training and certification scheme being offered by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Arming legislators with management skills, the group argues, will not only boost productivity but also help improve Westminster’s torrid reputation following a long stream of bullying and sexual harassment scandals.
But Petra Wilton, the CMI’s director of policy and external affairs, said it was “frustrating” that the parliamentary system lacks accountability around who should be responsible for ensuring new MPs are properly supported.
British parliamentarians are expected to hit the ground running within hours of the votes being tallied. | Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alongside basic leadership skills, the training will provide MPs with advice on how to implement performance management schemes and handle difficult conversations with staff — many of whom arrive straight from university into a world of harrowing constituency casework and online abuse.
Without a centralized HR system, MPs are largely left to manage those relationships alone — a dynamic that has repeatedly been cited as a contributing factor to Westminster’s often odious workplace culture.