Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament
Conservative and Unionist Party	1 seats
Labour Party	3 seats
Vacant	28 seats
Body	House of Commons
Seats	32
Elected by	Voters in each constituency
Elections	General elections and by-elections, run by the Electoral Commission
Post-nominal	MP

A Member of Parliament (MP) is the elected representative of one constituency in the House of Commons. There are 32 constituencies in UKOGB, from Cities of London and Westminster to seats across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and each elects one MP. An MP has the letters "MP" after their name for as long as they hold their seat.

Becoming an MP

MPs are chosen at general elections and by-elections run by the Electoral Commission. A member who wants to stand applies on the website for a seat, with the party they will stand for and a statement to the voters. At the election the candidate with the most votes in each seat wins it. If a seat falls vacant, because its MP resigns, is removed, stays inactive for too long or leaves the community, a by-election is held to fill it.

Work

MPs have three main jobs. In the chamber they debate and vote on bills and motions, and question ministers. In committees they examine the work of government departments in detail. And as constituency representatives they take up the problems of the people they represent.

Most MPs belong to a party and are expected to follow its whip when they vote, though members can and do rebel. MPs from the governing party may be appointed ministers, including to the Cabinet, while MPs from the Opposition may be appointed to the Shadow Cabinet.

Pay and privileges

MPs are paid a salary for their work, taxed like any other income. What they say in the chamber is protected by parliamentary privilege, so they cannot be sued for it, though the Speaker can discipline members who break the rules of the House.