Election 2019: Job hunt for MPs who misplaced their seats

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There’s typically an assumption that former MPs are set for all times after shedding their seat, with many strolling into consultancy jobs or equally well-paid roles. Whereas public sympathy could also be low for many who fail to get re-elected, the fact of on the spot political redundancy hardly ever entails strolling right into a high-flying place – it means a visit to the job centre.

Laura Smith, Crewe and Nantwich MP 2017 – 2019

Former instructor Laura Smith misplaced the Crewe and Nantwich seat within the December election after two years within the function. When she was photographed job-hunting, she posted it on social media, tweeting with the shrugging emoji: “What do individuals anticipate me to do?”

The ex-Labour politician advised BBC 5 stay: “I’m not ashamed to be going to the job centre, it’s about coping with this false impression… that people who find themselves members of parliament – even native councillors – are type of sitting on a financial institution of reserves or will robotically have connections who will come and need to rent you.

“I’m anyone from a working class background, I’m like thousands and thousands of different individuals in search of work and I have not actually acquired the luxurious to sit down round for too lengthy excited about it, I have to get on with it.

“I do not need anyone to really feel sorry for me – you already know the dangers about being voted out. I might be mendacity if I stated it hadn’t [been tough], I completely liked my job. I used to be by no means anticipating to be elected in 2017 to characterize my dwelling, so I used to be gutted [to lose in 2019].

“We have been clearly in it to win the seat and I really feel desperately sorry, actually, that I wasn’t capable of persuade sufficient individuals to vote for me. That’s the nature of politics.

“You get a time frame to wind up your constituency workplace, which is by the top of February, after which it’s mainly statutory redundancy.

“I want to keep in politics in some type or one other, however once more, it’s important to take a look at your choices. I have to hold a roof over my household’s head and we’ll see what occurs.”

Karen Lee, Lincoln MP 2017-2019

Ex-Labour politician Karen Lee replied to Ms Smith’s tweet, saying she too was on the job centre in search of work “such as you and thousands and thousands of others”. The previous nurse was ousted on the basic election from the Lincoln seat and has utilized for six positions since then.

“The truth for MPs is completely totally different to the notion. I’ve seen individuals on-line saying we get an enormous payout – I get a little bit of redundancy pay however it’s not large and I have not acquired a job so I’m residing on it.

“It’s not like I’m taking a vacation to the Bahamas, it’ll pay the mortgage and fuel invoice. It ought to final till I get one other job. I used to be within the job centre on Wednesday and the employees there have been very type, supportive and useful.

“Going [there] should not be one thing that we dismiss. I feel it’s a constructive that MPs mirror the individuals they did characterize or nonetheless characterize.

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“It was actually disappointing and unhappy to lose my seat. However on the evening I believed to myself an enormous quantity individuals had come out throughout the marketing campaign and helped me and gave it their all.

“Because the election I’ve been serving to my group wind the Lincoln workplace down. I really feel very fortunate to have had the chance to go to Westminster and characterize the town I’m from.

“I misplaced my daughter Lynsey to breast most cancers in 2011 when she was 35, and when you’ve had one thing like that, it places this stuff into context. I nonetheless have my nursing registration and have put myself down for shifts at my native hospital however in the end I want to do one thing extra strategic.

I really feel optimistic, in search of one other job is kind of thrilling.”

Jo Platt, Leigh MP 2017- 2019