What do we want from our MPs?
What does it mean to be a member of parliament? What do people expect from their elected representatives? And how much have these expectations changed in recent years?\n\nThe row about MPs\u2019 second jobs has triggered a discussion about what MPs are for and what their priorities should be. From representing constituents and dealing with casework to scrutinising government and improving legislation, MPs have many responsibilities.\n\nSo how should an MP divide his or her time? How has this changed over recent years? Should MPs be taking on extra paid work outside parliament? And what do constituents ultimately want from their representative?\n\nTo discuss these questions and more, the IfG brought together an expert panel:\n\nTim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary, University of London\nSir Peter Bottomley, Conservative MP for Worthing West\nBen Lake, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion\nMarie Le Conte, political journalist and author\nThis event was chaired by Dr Catherine Haddon, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Government.\n\n#IfGParliament