RECORD-BREAKING REPEAT OFFENDER JOINS OUR ULTIMATE WALL OF SHAME
* GRADUATE FOG EXCLUSIVE *
Most politicians have finally twigged that openly advertising unpaid internships is no longer a great look. But one MP is digging his heels in – recently recruiting for his EIGHTH unpaid internship. As the most brazen advertiser of unpaid internships in Parliament, his name has today been added to Graduate Fog’s Ultimate Wall of Shame.
While some of his smarter colleagues begin to sense which way the wind is blowing on unpaid internships, record-breaking John Leech – Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington – appears to be staging a one-man campaign to preserve the practice of recruiting desperate young workers to perform what appears to be an unpaid job. For Leech’s latest ‘Research intern’ position, applicants must commit to work at least three months full-time (or 12 part-time). The stated salary is ‘None – volunteer’. Yet the description suggests this person will not just be work-shadowing, specifying:
“Applicants will need to demonstrate team working, computer, and writing skills and an understanding of confidentiality. We expect an excellent standard of written and verbal communication along with an energetic can-do attitude. Excellent interpersonal skills and a sense of humour are also desired.”
Here is a picture of John Leech:
Congratulations to John Leech, the most brazen advertiser of unpaid internships in Parliament
And here is the most recent advert in full (posted on W4MP on 24 March. Applications closed yesterday):
To really appreciate the longevity of Leech’s love affair with unpaid internships, let us take you back to where it all began.
ADVERT NO. 1 AND 2
OCTOBER 2011 Leech’s office posts these two little beauties – the first one for a ‘Campaigns intern’ (suggested length: 3 months):
…and then for a ‘Research intern’:
ADVERT NO.3 & 4
MAY 2012 The roles obviously work out for Leech, because next come two further ads – for another ‘Research intern’:
…and another for a ‘Casework intern’:
(Note that the length of time is no longer a suggestion, but three months is stated as the “minimum”)
ADVERT NO.5
DECEMBER 2012 It’s unclear what happens to May’s ‘Casework intern’ but as Christmas approaches, Leech is on the prowl for a replacement:
ADVERT NO.6
FEBRUARY 2013 Leech gets creative. He touts for a ‘Diary, fundraising, press and communications intern’:
ADVERT NO.7
OCTOBER 2013 Leech fancies having a ‘Parliamentary intern’…
…Which bring us up to date with last month’s ‘Research intern’, the eighth unpaid internship John Leech has posted (that we know of). His last public words on the subject were in January last year, when he said there simply wasn’t enough money to pay interns – telling the Manchester Evening News:
“In an ideal world we would be able to pay interns, but because of budgetary constraints this isn’t possible. If we had to pay interns, we wouldn’t be able to take anybody on.
“You have to ask where do you draw the line between someone volunteering in the office folding leaflets and interns? You are not allowed to pay people to canvas for a political party. I don’t think it’s realistic that people can’t volunteer for their local MP.”
So there you have it. It is unclear to Graduate Fog how Mr Leech feels his persistent employment of unpaid interns fits with his latest advert’s boast that, “He was recently awarded Lib Dem MP of the Year for his work with minority communities and promoting equality.” Thoughts?
*SHOULD JOHN LEECH APOLOGISE FOR THESE ADVERTS?
Is it fair to ask young people interested in a career in politics to work for long periods unpaid first? Have your say below…
What a total leech.
It is a shame that despite asking for comment from the Office of John Leech MP this website chose not to publish any of the comment that was promptly supplied.
@Charles:
Unless that comment was “Okay, we’re sorry. We’ll pay out interns.” I’m personally not really interested to hear what he or his office has to say.
Using unpaid internships is an inexcusable practice which locks all but the priveledged out of certain industries. The only redemption is for an employer to turn their back on the practice and admit their previous wrong-doing.
@Charles Glover
Fear not, that’s coming in due course. Thank you for supplying such a prompt response.
@CostaDel You already know I agree with you 🙂
Tanya
Working in a MPs office was the worst job I’ve ever had in my life.
Sure there is a certain amount of “on the job” training in any role but I simply wasn’t given any direction as to how to deal with situations such as a man walking into our office and announcing “I’m homeless. What are you going to do about it?!”
For a start you often check whether someone is a constituent first — something difficult for someone without a house! Rather than taking me under their wing junior staff treated me as a potential threat to their own jobs.
I hope Mr Leech’s office is more collegial but why anyone would want to do the job for no pay is anyone’s guess!
what shocks me is that he expects people to go to westminster to have interviews, what is he going to refund there train fare, for people from his own area.
i dont think so
@CharlesGlover You should have made clear in your comment that you are an aide to John Leech, so we know where you’re coming from.
Why not use this comment facility to post your comment? You have been quoted by the BBC — http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26968102 — where you claim Leech using unpaid interns is okay. You claim other MPs recruit unpaid interns in secret, but there is a suggestion you’re making this up. Why not name the secret recruiters of unpaid interns (or are too many from your own party)?
John Leech has also been caught paying people no more than minimum wage to travel from Rochdale to south Manchester to deliver his leaflets. He refuses to pay travel expenses.
I find it incredible that you (Tanya) have failed to see the point of a political internship. Due to the fact that British political degree courses fail to provide students with appropriate ‘industry’ experience, an unpaid internship is the perfect way to supplement academia. When these unpaid interns inevitably go on to big things in politics (I can think of several close friends), they feel incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to work for a sitting Member of Parliament and work in the most awe inspiring institution in the world.
I find it incredible that you (Bob) have failed to see the legitimate reasons behind the objection to political (or indeed any) unpaid internships. Due to the fact that only those who are already from privileged backgrounds can afford to work for free and gain that appropriate “industry experience”, an unpaid internship is only a perfect way to supplement academia for those who are lucky enough to be in a position to do them.
Part of the problem (what you seem to see as a benefit) is that those who are already privileged then, as you say, “go on to do big things”.
Why should I, or anyone else, be denied the ability to represent my country politically because of the circumstances of my birth, meanwhile someone far less fit for the job is able to entrench his privilege even further by undercutting his peers in the labour market?
The National Minimum Wage Act exists to prevent this kind of behaviour, yet in careers where there are really important things at stake, this doesn’t seem to apply. The result is we have a homogeneous political “upper class” serving people in positions which they themselves have never faced.
The whole thing is a farce. It needs to stop. If “unpaid internships” are the only solution that people can think of to the failings of academic institutions, then clearly you haven’t thought hard enough.
So the basis of your argument is class and privilege? Typical from someone who has never experienced an internship or working in politics (good presumption eh?) I studied,completed an internship and worked part time, never struggled and lived well. Bit of a chip on one’s shoulder?
“Typical from someone who has never experienced an internship or working in politics”.
Terrible assumption, actually. My career started with a paid internship in politics, no less. Not with an MP, but within the Civil Service.
There’s no chip on my shoulder. I argue the case for my peers because I believe that everyone should have the same opportunity that was granted to me, regardless of a person’s social or economic background.
That’s not my only objection to the whole practice, but it’s particularly pertinent to the discussion of political careers which ultimately put people in very influential and powerful positions. Those entry routes should go to the best, not those who can work for free.
What exactly is your objection to being paid? To me, agreeing to work unpaid is a submission that your labour is worth absolutely nothing. To quote Harlan Ellison, “Everyone else may be an asshole, but I’m not. You gotta pay me.” I’m a firm believer that anyone who agrees to work for free simply doesn’t have the backbone and/or the negotiation skills to sell their value.
Some things are worth more than a few quid an hour in the long run my friend. Think of the bigger picture.
Oh, but I am looking at the bigger picture!
And what an ugly picture undercutting my peers, letting employers blatantly flouting the law, depressing wages and destroying the concept of an entry level jobs paints!
On the contrary, I’d rather be unemployed for the rest of my life than pretend to be grateful for the opportunity to be valued at zero.
I won’t stand for unpaid internships. We’re all worth more than that.
You would rather be unemployed then do something and make a positive difference to the country?
I think we’re stretching the meaning of “a positive difference to the country” if unpaid internships are included in that definition.
This is just anuther examplel of the rich overclassess thinkingg that they canget thesurfs to work for nothing. What i wanna know is how long capatalism thinks it can keep dirtying it;s hands in poor people. WE ARE NOT ALL FORM ETON. I agree with CostaDel, peopl shouldnt have to sacrifice a litle bit of their time to better themselfs and try to improve their future. we should be given it handed to us on a plate from taxing bankers bonusses
Surely an unpaid internship highlights the most determined people in the jobs market making them more employable over others?
That may be the case if unpaid internships and equal opportunity went hand in hand. Unfortunately, they don’t.
Unpaid internships are the antithesis of meritocracy and exist in the opposite end of the spectrum to social mobility. As such, an unpaid internship could represent determination — but it also represents economic and social privilege, which, in-turn, limits participation.
As such, if unpaid internships were open and accessible to all — practically, rather than literally — then there’d be less of a problem. Unfortunately, they’re not and that has broad negative consequences for all (even those who are fine with unpaid internships will ultimately suffer).
@Carolyn I’ve worked for more than twenty years an industry — public relations — that is also struggling to get its act together on unpaid internships. Although when I was starting out, we called it work experience.
In my experience, those taking unpaid internships are not particularly determined, as you suggest, they are simply doing what’s come to be the only way to get a job in many sectors. The Will Humphries character in W1A is pretty spot on (he’s a totally inept intern at the BBC who can’t even stuff envelopes).
The simple truth is that some people enjoy the benefit of parents who will bankroll them through, while others do not. Consequently, family background plays an increasingly important role in the workplace.
Internships have become normalised to the extent that many employers will expect to see an internship or two on applicants’ CVs. This means that some people, who might otherwise go on to great things, are denied an opportunity to step on the very bottom rung of the ladder.