MPs ADVERTISE 260 UNPAID INTERNSHIPS SINCE THE ELECTION
As youth unemployment has soared, Britain’s elected MPs – from millionaire Tory cabinet members to Labour backbenchers – have been disregarding the National Minimum Wage law by employing unpaid interns, a new Guardian report has found.
Since the general election in May 2010, 260 advertisements for unpaid placements have appeared on the Commons site Work for MP (w4mp). Many do not even pay expenses and some last as long as 10 months. And Louise Haigh, of the parliamentary staff branch of Unite union, said W4MP ads were only part of the picture, “We think there are 450 interns; 7% are paid a wage, and 20% are paid expenses.”
Thirteen Tory members of the government offered 28 placements lasting up to six months, out of 138 for Conservative MPs. These included seven internships culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, was exposed by Graduate Fog in October. Three are with the attorney general, Dominic Grieve and seven were with exchequer secretary to the Treasury David Gauke. Ministers Andrew Lansley, Grant Shapps and Andrew Mitchell also advertised.
Lib Dem ministers, MPs and president Tim Farron advertised for 67 for up to six months; 15 were offered even after Nick Clegg this spring condemned a culture of unpaid interns in government. Labour MPs placed 55 ads, four by shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, and six from shadow Treasury chief secretary Rachel Reeves.
Earlier this month, the Guardian also revealed that MPs have been warned that these placements are likely to be illegal – lawyers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills told them that “most interns are likely to be workers, and therefore entitled to the NMW.” Yet these new findings show that a large number of MPs are continuing to flout the law, claiming protection under a ruling by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which appears to exempt MPs from having to pay their interns.
Insiders say that the number of unpaid internships offered in Westminster has increased in recent months, as graduates have become ever more desperate for experience within the corridors of power. There are now real fears that a new political class could be emerging, drawn from those whose parents are rich enough to support months of unpaid work. Those unable to afford this ‘luxury’ are effectively being locked out of careers in politics.
The attorney general Dominic Grieve said he did not think he was breaching minimum wage law by using unpaid interns, telling the Guardian: “I’ve done it in conformity with what’s been suggested by the Ipsa,” adding there was “no money to pay them” anyway, and he set a three-month limit. He said that he advertised on the W4MP website to “broaden the pool” of his intake.
“Some people really want to come in … And, quite frankly, with the current state of the economy I can understand,” he said.
*SHOULD MPs BE BANNED FROM EMPLOYING UNPAID INTERNS?
Have you worked as an unpaid interns for an MP? At a time of record youth unemployment, is it in bad taste that MPs are being allowed to exploit young workers? Share your views here!
I am someone who is interested in the kinds of posts on the W4MP website. I want to work in policy and related areas, so I check this job board every week. In terms of how broad the board is, I find it indispensable to my job search.
It makes me sick, and it really eats me up inside how employers expect graduates like me to jump hoops for them, give us unpaid work and then expect us, in the hope of giving us a position, to be nice and think they are doing us a favour.
I think the utter hypocrisy of it is that they are supposed to be helping people like graduates, and the working class youth. I’ve seen unpaid internships for homeless charities and policy bodies interested in ‘social mobility’ and a fairer society. It’s Orwellian doublespeak, we are being told to celebrate that our chocolate rations are ‘increased’ from 30 grams a week to 20 grams a week. I’m F**king angry at this betrayal, all the parties are committed in their rhetoric to ‘social mobility’ and the notion that the best abled people can go furthest in their careers and industries, but on their own doorstep of politics it’s the people with parents who are able to support them, or those who are close to London who can benefit.
Props to Shiv Malik for giving us a voice and giving some attention to this issue.
M
It’s incredible that politicians think they can claim exemption from the law. If anything, politics is one of the areas where attracting the most talented and able graduates, not the richest, is crucial. Think how much better politics could be if there were more principled, passionate and intelligent people – rather than those born to wealth and power who have the right family and connections. Surely the running of our country deserves the most capable people, not those who buy their way in.
@Sabrina and Michael
Thanks so much for your comments – obviously I agree 100% with your points about the importance of careers in politics being open to all – not just the rich.
However, I also think politicians’ disregard for their young workers’ basic (and legal) right to be paid for their work reveals an embarrassing disconnect between the ‘youth unemployment’ these MPs seem to all agree is a terrible thing – and the fact that their own behaviour is actually contributing to it. Likewise, everyone agrees that ‘social mobility’ is a good thing – yet they are effectively blocking poorer applicants from these roles, by failing to pay a proper wage. In 2011, the ‘unemployed youth’ come from all backgrounds. And, as they prove, so do exploitative bosses.
There is definitely a startling disconnect. I wonder if they, like a lot of the country, see politics as a separate area apart from other types of careers. Maybe they think politics is a tiny job sector that can be ignored – it’s other career paths that would really help with unemployment. I think some of them do ‘get it’ however – but they feel they can’t challenge their leaders on the issue.
For example, the Liberal Democrats SHOULD be all over this issue. This is exactly what their core principles are all about; equality of opportunity and fairness. But if there was a big campaign to pay all their interns, that would be money they’d be down for advertising, campaigning etc (and they would very likely not be able to hire so many)…and they already have less to spend than the Tories and Labour. So I imagine even MPs who can see the hypocrisy will remain quiet. Party politics seem to trump everything, unfortunately, even the welfare of the country.
Given that, it only became clear last year during the Labour Leadership Election, outside of being a Career Politician, Ed Miliband had only secured 6 months experience…. as a Political Intern….arranged by mummy and daddy… is it any surprise that MPs have embraced a Slave based Working Culture amongst staff?
The issue of politicians recruiting interns is not new…but let us not confuse the working culture which politicians have accepted when dealing with their staff, with the offensive attitude of employers who have replaced salaried positions with internships.
Even now, employers are justifying the permeation of a Slave Based Working Culture from the premise that “Why should we not do something which polticians are quite happy to do”.
I am currently writing snotty letters to any MP, firm, institution etc. who is offering an internship that I’m interested in. As I live outside of London and don’t have the bank of Mummy and Daddy behind me to work for months on end voluntarily, I think it’s disgraceful that they are advertising these internships which only a local or wealthy few can take. Alot of talented graduates are being left with little hope and it sickens me to my stomach.
I imagine that when these letters are received by employers they will go straight in the bin, but at least I’ll be able to sleep better at night knowing I’ve spoken out against this exploitation.
Good for you Charlie! First expenses, now using young people as unpaid workers; these people are utterly revolting. Why should we ever listen to MPs preaching to us about about how we should behave when they are consistently breaking their own laws?