How to Be a Parliamentary Researcher: How to be a Parliamentary Staffer - Softcover

Robert Dale

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1849549303 ISBN 13: 9781849549301

Publisher: Biteback Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

With a foreword by the Speaker, John Bercow

To some, they are the graduates grasping the first rung on the ladder to power, to others, the unsung heroes of the British parliamentary system. But whether your notion of parliamentary researchers is more The Thick of It than The West Wing, more Yes Minister than House of Cards, there is no doubt that these individuals play an essential role in keeping the giant (and, let's be honest, slightly creaky) machine that drives British politics from juddering to a halt.

Branded bag-carriers while actually performing vital duties like drafting speeches and Parliamentary Questions, handling the media and engaging with constituents online, parliamentary researchers do the dirty work behind the scenes, allowing their bosses to focus on their main job - performing.

With the help of case studies and guest writers, Robert Dale, himself a former parliamentary researcher, tells the fascinating story of how the MP's office has developed over recent decades, and combines practical advice with acute personal observations on how to get ahead as a researcher.

If you're a graduate looking to take your first step into politics, or simply interested in the job around a third of our current Cabinet had before becoming an MP, How to Be a Parliamentary Researcher offers a compelling insight into how the British political system really operates.

About this title

Review:

"A great resource for anyone beginning their career at the heart of British politics." --Professor Tim Bale

"This book is filled with the theoretical and practical guidance necessary to help demystify Parliament and make it more accessible to anyone who aspires to work at the heart of our vibrant democracy." --The Speaker, John Bercow

About the Author:

Robert Dale ran the parliamentary office of Andy Sawford, former MP for Corby and shadow minister. He had the unique experience of walking into Parliament alongside his MP the first day after their by-election victory. Despite never studying politics, Dale oversaw the development of the MP's office in Westminster and was responsible for supporting all parliamentary duties. He now leads on digital and social media strategy at a lobbying and public affairs agency. How to Be a Parliamentary Researcher is his first book.

About this edition

• Publisher: Biteback Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1849549303
• ISBN 13: 9781849549301
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288