Moments after being announced as the new MP for Chichester at about 4am last Friday, I was handed a white envelope by the returning officer with a booklet explaining what to do when I first arrived at the Houses of Parliament. Aside from the exhaustion, I was so honoured to have been elected as the first Liberal Democrat MP for 100 years in Chichester and keen to get straight to work representing the constituency I have grown up in. The weekend passed in a blur, doing media interviews, responding to all of the well wishes and thanking everyone who had supported the campaign.
On Monday morning, the newly elected Liberal Democrat MPs came together at our party HQ for the first time. We had a hugely successful election, going from 15 MPs at the end of the last parliament to 72, the biggest number in more than 100 years. A new colleague quietly said to me: “No more jokes about being able to hold our conference in a telephone box.” Ed Davey arrived to rapturous applause and welcomed us all, reminding us “the campaign will have felt like the hard bit, but the hard work starts now”.
Walking into parliament for the first time that Monday afternoon felt akin to a first day at school. We were presented with our passes at the gate, on distinctive lanyards, to differentiate MPs from the staff. I was assigned a parliamentary buddy, who gave me a tour of key areas, while reassuring me that it was totally normal to feel lost and confused “for many months”. The parliamentary estate consists of more than 3 miles of corridors, 1,000 rooms and 100 staircases. Any MPs wanting to escape the “Westminster bubble” first need to be able to find the exits.
On the site there is a post office, a hairdresser, a launderette, a library, a direct entrance into Westminster tube station, multiple restaurants and cafes and access to a nurse and GP. The irony was not lost on me that I could quickly visit the doctor while on the estate while my constituents back in Chichester are struggling to get an appointment.
In previous parliaments, induction processes for new MPs were criticised as being severely lacking, with many reporting arriving and being told to “get on with it”. There was cross-party backing for more support to be offered to every new MP and the focus of the first week was delivering that.
The first afternoon consisted of short meetings with the various departments and independent bodies that work closely with each MP. I was given my computer equipment and my parliamentary email addresses for the first time. We then had meetings on budgets, safety and security, and vetting of staff before being taken to our temporary lockers outside large rooms that are available for hot-desking while office spaces are vacated and re-allocated.
On Tuesday morning, the new MPs from all parties gathered in the House of Commons. More than half elected this parliament are new and we filled the chamber. This was an opportunity to hear about processes and procedures and sit on the green benches for the first time.
In the afternoon came the first official business of the Commons: to elect the speaker. When the prime minister, Keir Starmer, arrived, there was jubilant applause from the government benches, before they were reminded by the serjeant at arms that clapping was uncouth and not appropriate in the chamber.
Meanwhile, the emails from constituents are piling up in my inbox – some people are in real distress and seeking support, others are inviting me to support their project or to attend an event. Typically an MP has four staff members to support with casework and diary management, but with security vetting taking up to six weeks, it’s easy to understand why the first few weeks can feel overwhelming.
On Wednesday I had the opportunity to “swear in” – taking my oath of allegiance to the crown – and officially take my seat in parliament, which was a particularly special moment in the day. I then hit the ground running by writing a letter to the environment secretary on pressing matters affecting Chichester, organising meetings for the weekend to discuss sewage and water quality, dealing with media inquiries, supporting residents and, last but not least, trying to remember where I’d last spotted a ladies loo.
I finally returned home on Friday, feeling weary but elated, humbled and privileged to have been afforded this incredible honour of representing the constituency that I love.