Parliamentary Socialisation

Abstract

Newly elected Members of Parliament do not arrive at Westminster to find a fully-equipped office and personal staff awaiting them but rather a confusion of meetings, information packs, receptions, invitations, and bulging postbags. Of course, there are the well-oiled machines of the House of Commons and, for the most part, their parties, but as far as these are concerned the newly elected are more akin to passengers than learner-drivers. There is much to do and much to learn. But are they then simply socialised into their role? The short answer is yes, but understanding parliamentary socialisation requires answers to other, more complex questions, four in particular: