This report examines the hidden infrastructure of the United Kingdom (UK) democracy: members of parliament (MPs’) offices. Drawing on interviews, surveys and fieldwork with parliamentary staff, the report exposes how outdated systems, weak management support and fragmented technology undermine the day-to-day work of representing constituents. 

Every UK MP is supported by a small office team handling a wide range of responsibilities, from constituent casework and policy research to media management and public engagement. These offices are not run by Parliament, but by MPs themselves: 650 effectively independent micro-organisations that shape how democracy is delivered on the ground. 

The report reveals MPs’ offices operating as under-supported micro-organisations, often reliant on individual heroics and dedication rather than robust processes. While staff show remarkable resourcefulness, the report argues that modest, practical reforms – in leadership, onboarding, skills and digital tools – could significantly improve effectiveness, wellbeing and democratic responsiveness.

Key findings

• Lack of practical leadership support: MPs are not just legislators; they are employers, managers, team leaders and strategists. Yet they are given no training or support in how to build and manage a functioning team.
• Lack of onboarding materials: a significant gap exists in onboarding support for new staffers.
• Lack of consistency between offices: parliamentary offices lack a standardised organisational model for an office, resulting in widely varying team structures.
• Lack of diversity of skills and experience: informal recruitment practices favour those with existing parliamentary connections.
• Low pay: many staff are paid significantly below market rates for comparable roles in the civil service or third sector.
• Poor knowledge management: information is poorly stored, shared and retained across offices. Institutional memory is fragile.