Politician's assistant : Job description

Politicians' assistants provide administrative, secretarial, research, constituency, parliamentary and publicity support for elected politicians, who may be Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), Members of the Welsh or Northern Ireland Assembly, or Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Politicians' assistants may also be referred to as parliamentary or constituency assistants (depending on where they are based), personal assistants (PAs), research assistants, case workers or executive secretaries. Although job titles and locations vary, the basic task is to do whatever behind-the-scenes work is necessary to enable Members to represent their constituents. Politicians generally have between one and three assistants.

Typical work activities

Although tasks vary depending on whether an assistant is based in the local constituency office or parliament (London, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Brussels or Strasbourg), typical work activities may include:

• responding to enquiries from constituents (known as progressing casework), other politicians, the media, lobbyists and pressure groups;
• secretarial duties, such as managing the politician's diary, making travel arrangements and taking minutes at meetings;
• undertaking all administrative duties, filing, ordering stationery, responding to correspondence and updating databases;
• carrying out research into local, regional, national and international issues as required, and ensuring the politician is made aware of any relevant matters;
• developing knowledge on specialist areas;
• arranging surgeries for constituents and offering support on the day;
• writing press releases, newsletters and mailshots to promote the work of the politician and keep constituents and interested parties informed;
• monitoring and arranging media coverage;
• assisting with campaigns before and during elections;
• keeping up to date with current affairs;
• attending public and private functions to assist the politician and sometimes standing in when the politician is unable to attend;
• liaising with members of government and local government, party head quarters, other politicians and their staff, embassies, commissioners, relevant interest groups, the media, relevant voluntary sector organisations and constituents;
• helping write speeches by researching information and making suggestions on content;
• helping draft amendments for reports and preparing briefing material;
• providing the politician with the support needed to get an issue on the political agenda, e.g. research or liaising with key individuals or groups;
• updating the politician’s website;
• possibly managing other paid staff within the constituency or parliamentary office, including interns, volunteers and work placements.