Fair Pay For Interns

Posted: 13 June 2011

Hazel Blears has welcomed the launch of the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements scheme and said that it will play a vital role in making Parliament more accessible for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The scheme, a cross-party initiative that will give 12 people from ordinary backgrounds the opportunity to undertake a paid internship in Parliament, was formally launched by Speaker Bercow last week, with applications now being accepted through the Social Mobility Foundation website.

Commenting on the launch of the scheme, Ms Blears said:

“I am absolutely delighted that our scheme has now been launched and is open for applicants. Over the past few months the role of internships has been under intense scrutiny, and those of us who work in politics know too well that the system of unpaid internships freezes people out of political life.

“I hope that our programme can act as a catalyst for change by demonstrating that unpaid internships are unjust and unfair. There’s a real difference between short, work experience placements which are voluntary, and long term internships which are exploitative.

“Our scheme will make Parliament more open and accessible. It will give people from working class backgrounds the opportunities that currently just aren’t open to them, and take an important step towards making our politics more representative of ordinary people.

The Speaker added:

“I am delighted to support the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placement Scheme. This excellent cross-party initiative will create a number of paid internship positions in Parliament for people from disadvantaged backgrounds. At a time when Parliament needs more than ever to reconnect with the British public, it is vital that the opportunity to gain experience of working here is open to as diverse a range of people as possible, not just to those who can afford it. I very much hope this scheme goes from strength to strength.”

Applicants can apply using the online form provided on the Social Mobility Foundation website – www.socialmobility.org.uk