How to become an MP

How to become an MP Do you love watching Prime Ministers Question Time? Are you always up for a debate on your political beliefs? Then you could be the ideal Member of Parliament (MP).There is an MP for each of the UKs local constituencies and they are tasked with representing the views of their residents in the House of Commons.To become an MP, you could be elected at either a general election or a local by-election and your typical responsibilities would include:Going to sessions in ParliamentRaising questions and being part of debatesVoting to decide on whether or not new laws will be passedMeeting with local residents to discuss community issuesProviding interviews to local and national mediaStaying up-to-date with both local and national issuesIs it right for me?To be an MP, you have to be over-18 and a British citizen, plus theres the small matter of getting elected in the first place. To succeed, you have to be nominated by ten parliamentary electors within your constituency and then, perhaps uns urprisingly, win the most votes. Long hours, and frequent travel to London are also prerequisites for MPs.A good MP will also need to be:Passionate about politicsThick-skinnedConfident about public speakingPatiencePersuasivePersistentAble to work under pressureWhat's it really like? My favourite part of the job is being able to make a difference, whether that's getting to meet lots of local people and giving a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard, or debating during Parliamentary sessions to express your opinions on issues that could effect the whole country. If you want to make a difference to your community, not many careers come close. Get qualifiedA Politics degree may help, but is not essential for this role. Your commitment to your party and the policies at hand is generally more important than formal qualifications. Previous experience within political societies, working as an MP Support Officer, or another position within local government bodies could stand you in g ood stead, but are not necessarily pre-requisites.