Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Latest News:
    • 10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair to be held this January
    • John Stevenson MP welcomes the 2024 National Living Wage and National Mininum Wage Rates
    • How to Support our High Streets
    • Remembrance Sunday is a Chance to Reflect but also to Focus on how to Act for Freedom
    • Oral Question: British Steel
    • John Stevenson welcomes the Conservative Government’s Long-term Decisions at the King’s Speech, Setting us on the Path for a Brighter Future
    • John Stevenson MP welcomes the inclusion of the Football Bill in the King’s Speech
    • John Stevenson MP urges Local Business to Sign Up for the 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair
    Subscribe
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    John Stevenson MP
    MP For Carlisle
    • Home
    • In Parliament
    • News
      1. Latest News
      2. E-Bulletins
      Featured
      18th May 20230

      John Stevenson MP for Carlisle is Hosting the Northern Nuclear Conference on 29th and 30th June 2023

      Recent
      27th November 2023

      10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair to be held this January

      27th November 2023

      John Stevenson MP welcomes the 2024 National Living Wage and National Mininum Wage Rates

      20th November 2023

      How to Support our High Streets

    • About John
    • Gallery
    • Conferences
      • Northern Nuclear Conference
      • Northern Research Group Conference
      • North East Regional Conference
      • Party Conference 2023
    • Events
    • Get In Touch
    John Stevenson MP
    You are at:Home»Latest News»Publications»The Two Main Roles of a Member of Parliament
    John's Column at the News & Star

    The Two Main Roles of a Member of Parliament

    0
    By John Stevenson on 14th December 2021 Publications

    There are two main roles for a Member of Parliament these days. The first is as the representative in Parliament of the constituency that they were elected in. The second role is the work they do locally within their constituency as the local MP.

    The second part of the job tends to get more focus because as MP I hold surgeries locally, dealing with an incredibly wide range of issues, and visit many different local organisations within the city. Carlisle has such a diverse range of businesses and organisations there is always a huge amount to see and attend to – and because these places so directly affect us in Carlisle, it is often this part of being an MP that understandably gets attention in the city.

    However, the other part of the job which involves representation in Parliament is of course just as important. As MP I represent the whole constituency in the House of Commons – and help make the laws of the land, hold the Government to account, and participate in other Parliamentary activities from Select Committees to Westminster Hall debates.

    At present I sit on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (‘PACAC’ for short). This follows the Cabinet Office which in many respects is the Department of the Prime Minister. It covers the senior civil service and ranges over much of Government and the relationship they both have with the constitution. I can assure you that it is more interesting than it seems.

    Another committee I am a member of is the ‘1922 Committee’ – often just referred to as The 22 – which was actually set up in 1923…!

    The 22 is made up solely of backbench Conservative MPs. Its job is to support other backbench Conservative MPs, make the rules about leadership contests within the party, and advise the Prime Minister and Chief Whip of backbench opinion and views within the country (which themselves are shaped by the correspondence and interactions we have with our constituents). The Labour Party have their own equivalent called the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

    Recently I, along with my fellow members of The 22, met with the Prime Minister at Downing Street giving us all the opportunity to express our views on current political issues!!

    I also held a Westminster Hall debate last week on the importance of food and drink to the country’s economy. Given the number of food manufacturing sites in Carlisle – and, of course, the agricultural history of our city – I am always using what opportunities I have to make sure the Government remembers how important these things are and it is these checks, balances, committees and interactions in Parliament that make our democracy work.

    In the summary of the debate, the Minister at Defra referred to me as the hon. Member for custard creams – which, if you have ever been to the McVitie’s factory in Carlisle you will know is not too far from the truth. Perhaps the two roles of being an MP aren’t that separate from each other after all!

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    How to Support our High Streets

    Remembrance Sunday is a Chance to Reflect but also to Focus on how to Act for Freedom

    We Need to Pursue a Foreign Policy that Benefits Us as well as the Wider World

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Newsletter

    Enter your information below to stay up to date with John Stevenson's Newsletter. All emails include an unsubscribe link. You may opt-out at any time. The information you enter here will be stored in line with our Privacy Notice.

    Please wait...

    Thank you for signing up!

    • Skills & Apprenticeships
    • Infrastructure
    • Business & Investment
    • Charities
    • The NHS
    27th November 2023

    10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair to be held this January

    6th November 2023

    John Stevenson MP urges Local Business to Sign Up for the 10th Anniversary Carlisle Skills Fair

    19th September 2023

    “Save the Date” for John Stevenson MP’s 10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair!

    31st May 2023

    John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, urges Colleges across Cumbria to bid for New Funding from the Conservative Government to boost Skills Training

    14th April 2022

    John Stevenson MP Welcomes £4,104,659 in Funding to Level Up the Carlisle area

    2nd June 2021

    Carlisle MP Welcomes Openreach’s Full Fibre Commitment

    14th May 2021

    Carlisle MP Welcomes Announcements in Queen’s Speech

    21st April 2021

    Carlisle MP asks Rural Constituents to Take Part in Open Consultation on ‘Improving Broadband for Very Hard to Reach Premises’

    20th November 2023

    How to Support our High Streets

    16th October 2023

    John Stevenson MP visits New State-of-the-Art Komatsu Premises

    23rd June 2023

    pladis Opens New Carlisle Warehouse as part of £12m Investment

    8th April 2023

    John Stevenson MP welcomes £474,841 Investment for Carlisle from the Conservative Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund

    2nd June 2023

    John Stevenson MP Thanks Local Charity Volunteers during Volunteers’ Week 2023

    20th January 2023

    John Stevenson MP for Carlisle welcomes News of the National Lottery King’s Coronation Fund

    15th August 2022

    John Stevenson MP on Flying Visit to Great North Air Ambulance Service

    15th August 2022

    John Stevenson MP backs Silver Sunday, the National day for Older People, Sunday 2nd October 2022

    9th August 2023

    John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, Welcomes Government’s £600 Million Package to Help Recruitment and Retention in Social Care

    23rd February 2023

    John Stevenson welcomes Cheaper HRT for Women experiencing Menopause Symptoms

    16th February 2023

    John Stevenson MP welcomes £3m to Boost Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery in Cumbria

    23rd January 2023

    John Stevenson Champions “Make The Early Diagnosis of Liver Disease Routine” Campaign

    Search by Category
    • Agriculture
    • Arts & Culture
    • Business & Investment
    • Charities
    • Communities & Local Government
    • Crime & Police
    • Education
    • Energy
    • Health & The NHS
    • Housing
    • Immigration
    • In Parliament
    • Infrastructure
    • Latest News
    • Publications
    • Skills & Apprenticeships
    • Transport
    • Work & Pensions
    Latest Photos
    John visiting the new state-of-the-art Komatsu premises
    John sitting at table at the North East Regional Conference
    John at the North East Regional Conference
    John at Stanwix Community Centre on his Summer Tour
    John declares War on Weeds
    John shows Lord Parkinson (Minister for Arts and Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) some of Carlisle's Tourist Attractions
    John on Facebook
    John Stevenson MP

    3 hours ago

    John Stevenson MP
    www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/23952457.carlisle-mp-welcomes-increase-national-living-wage-minimum-wage/ ... See MoreSee Less

    MP welcomes increase in National Living Wage and Minimum Wage

    www.newsandstar.co.uk

    John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, has welcomed the Chancellor's announcement on the increase of national living wage and minimum wage rates for the...
    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    John Stevenson MP

    18 hours ago

    John Stevenson MP
    www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/23948892.carlisle-mp-visits-school-see-pupils-work-anne-franks-story/ ... See MoreSee Less

    MP visits school to engage with pupils' work on Anne Frank's story

    www.newsandstar.co.uk

    A Cumbrian MP visited a school to see the work done by primary school pupils focussing on the life and legacy of Anne Frank.
    View on Facebook
    · Share

    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

    About

    JOHN STEVENSON

    John was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and Dundee University. John subsequently qualified as a solicitor in 1990. In 2010 John was elected Conservative MP for Carlisle and was re-elected with an increased majority in 2015. John was re-elected again in 2017 and 2019 with a new majority of 8319. Carlisle is the only city in Cumbria and John enjoys representing a constituency at Westminster with such a strong identity.

    Latest Posts
    27th November 2023

    10th Annual Carlisle Skills Fair to be held this January

    27th November 2023

    John Stevenson MP welcomes the 2024 National Living Wage and National Mininum Wage Rates

    20th November 2023

    How to Support our High Streets

    Photo Gallery
    John visiting the new state-of-the-art Komatsu premises
    John sitting at table at the North East Regional Conference
    John at the North East Regional Conference
    John at Stanwix Community Centre on his Summer Tour
    John declares War on Weeds
    John shows Lord Parkinson (Minister for Arts and Culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) some of Carlisle's Tourist Attractions
    John discussing Dream Placement
    John holds campaign leaflet for Progress Schools 'In My Shoes' Campaign
    John speaking with apprentices and employees at Nestle factory
    John on stairs overlooking Carlisle Skills Fair 2023
    John Stevenson finding out more about the Great North Air Ambulance Service’s (GNAAS) life-saving work during a visit to its Langwathby base
    John on walkabout with Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, and Local Officers
    Copyright © 2015 JOHN STEVENSON. This website is funded by Parliamentary allowances. Promoted by Carlisle Conservative Association on behalf of John Stevenson, both of 2 Currie Street, Carlisle, CA1 1HH
    • About John
    • Privacy Notice
    • Get In Touch

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.