MPS’ STAFF, THE UNSUNG HEROES - An examination of who they are and what they do Rebecca McKee

Meg Russell

17 The foundation for change – reforms in the 19th century The foundation of remuneration for MPs in the UK starts with the labour movement and the reforms in the 19th century.8 Widespread discontent with the existing political system, visible in the work of the Chartist movement, led to Reform Acts resulting in the extension of the franchise, redistribution of seats to the North and the Midlands,. [...] The development of the Library in the latter half of the 20th century is an important part of the narrative in the evolution of MPs’ staffing support and is an important service today for MPs’ staff as it continues to offer vital research services, resources and training. [...] Around the same time the responsibility for administering the staffing allowance was transferred to the House of Commons, although the money still came out of the individual MP’s expenses and the MP remained the employer. [...] However, by the time the Commission reported, the expenses scandal had broken and the establishment of IPSA was on the horizon, bringing the matter of MPs’ staffing allowances and issue of the employment of their staff with it. [...] The scandal laid bare the inability of parliament to manage the expenses of MPs effectively, as ‘both the rules and the spirit of the rules were well and truly broken by some’ (Fisher and van Heerde-Hudson, 2014).