In recent years, numerous studies have shown that the creation of unpaid internship positions are making politics only accessible to the wealthy or those based in London.
The Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements scheme, launched last week, is a cross-party project created by Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford and Eccles, Eric Ollerenshaw, Conservative MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood and Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrat MP for East Dunbartonshire, which aims to address these issues by offering 12 people the opportunity and support to complete a paid internship in Parliament.
The scheme hopes to attract people from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, in a bid to make Parliament more inclusive and open.
Jenny Willott MP said:
“I am delighted to see the launch of the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements scheme. It is a fantastic programme that will open up internships in Parliament to people from a wider range of backgrounds, and takes an important step in making our politics more representative of British people. I hope that people across Cardiff who are passionate about politics will consider applying.”
Applications can be made on the Social Mobility Foundation’s website: www.socialmobility.org.uk.
