2.2.1 – The structure and role of the House of Commons
When someone is elected to Parliament, they are expected to quickly stand down from their previous job. They need to go to Parliament immediately to represent their constituents. It is a whirlwind experience, particularly after a by-election, when you are doing it by yourself.
The election of Hannah Spencer to the House of Commons is interesting because her background in a manual trade is something that is often seen to be lacking in Parliament. In 1979 it was estimated that 15.8% of MPs had a background in manual work. By 2019 this had dropped to just around 3%. This change came as the UK economy went a transformation and was deindustrialised under Thatcher and subsequent government’s.
Spencer is a plumber and has had a manual trade since leaving school aged 16. Upon being elected, she had to email her future customers apologising that she would not be able to fulfil their appointments!
At the 2024 General Election there were estimated to be 7% of MPs from a working-class background. However, the gap between the population and Parliament has undoubtedly grown with up to 40% of Britons self-identifying as being from a working-class background.
Whether descriptive representation matters is contested. Background does not determine how an MP will act, but a Parliament that looks very different from the public it serves can raise questions about trust and legitimacy. Spencer will be hoping she is setting a positive trend with more people with experience in manual trades representing Britain.