The UK public elects Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent
their interests and concerns in the House of Commons. MPs are
involved in considering and proposing new laws, and can use
their position to ask government ministers questions about
current issues. MPs split their time between working in
Parliament itself, working in the constituency that elected
them, and working for their political party. Some MPs from the
ruling party become government ministers with specific
responsibilities in certain areas, such as Health or Defence.
Working in Parliament When Parliament is sitting (meeting), MPs
generally spend their time working in the House of Commons. This
can include raising issues affecting their constituents,
attending debates and voting on new laws. Most MPs are also
members of committees, which look at issues in detail, from
government policy and new laws, to wider topics like human
rights. Working in their constituency In their constituency, MPs
often hold a 'surgery' in their office, where local peo