MPs describe the 'whirlwind' first year in their new jobs

In the early hours of the morning on 5 July 2024 it became clear that the political map of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough was about to change. Six of the MPs elected were new to the job. How do they feel a year into their roles?

Prior to the general election on 4 July 2024, the county had seven MPs - six of which were Conservative. Only Labour's Daniel Zeichner, the MP for Cambridge, did not sit on the then Conservative government's benches.

Boundary changes meant the county was given an eighth parliamentary seat and as the general election results started to come in the colour of the political landscape turned from blue to a rainbow of blue, red and yellow.

Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough, says the last year has been a "rollercoaster ride".

Like all new MPs, after winning his seat in July he went straight to Westminster for inductions and felt like he was setting up a new business at the same time.

"It's like getting two jobs at once" as you establish your MP office, he said.

He has welcomed a relaxation of rules by the government which could boost the number of apprenticeships, previously describing them as the "golden thread" running through all the government's plans to boost growth and the NHS.

In June the government announced Peterborough would receive funding for a new station quarter and sports quarter, which will include a new swimming pool.

By the time of the next general election, which is expected in 2029, Pakes wants to see "spades in the ground" for the projects.

"It's the craziest, biggest job, I have ever had and I'm loving it," says Pippa Heylings, the Liberal Democrat MP for South Cambridgeshire.

Heylings recalls having to "hit the ground running" in July 2024 and set up her office whilst learning to do the job.

She says she and her team have handled about 7,000 cases from the constituency in the last year.

Going forward the growth agenda is her focus, she says, and giving her constituents a voice.

She adds she also wants to get plans for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and Cambridge Children's Hospital "over the line".

When asked what advice she would give her newly elected self, she says: "It's a marathon not a sprint."

Charlotte Cane, the Liberal Democrat MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, said the past year has been "a whirlwind, very challenging and a steep learning curve", but also a "real honour".

In the first few weeks following the general election she says she found the role "very overwhelming", after receiving "floods of emails" and with no staff to help at the beginning.

"I didn't even have anywhere to store physical letters," she says.

Yet, she says she has enjoyed visiting the different types of businesses in her constituency, from high tech companies "where people are literally doing things in outer space" to the large number of farms in the area.

She describes her shock after hearing about the challenges disabled people are facing when applying for grants to help them get into work, with some cases having "taken up to a year", she says.

A "learning curve" and a "rollercoaster" is how Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, describes his first year as an MP.

He says he underestimated how full on the job is, saying: "A news headline late one evening will affect how you do your job the next day. It's difficult to switch off."

On reflection, he says, he should have "factored in some more free time" as trying to find a work-life balance is difficult.

Over the next four years the MP is calling for a dedicated strategy for male victims of domestic violence.

He also wants to see more new defence technology companies come to his constituency, along with a new train station at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire.

Sam Carling, the Labour MP for North West Cambridgeshire, was the youngest MP elected in the country at the age of 22.

He describes his first year as a "baptism of fire" following the intense media interest in him since his election.

"I even got recognised on the train," he says.

He describes his first year in Parliament as a "steep learning curve", but he says he has enjoyed doing case work and building relationships with colleagues.

"Everybody is just normal and I really wish the public could see more of the collaborative work that MP's across all parties do," he says.

Over the next four years he wants to see more GP appointments and dental care made accessible to constituents and greater protection of rural bus routes.

"Thrown in at the deep end" and "drinking from the fire hose" is how Ian Sollom, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, describes his first year.

He says his proudest achievement is getting employment coaches from Huntingdon Jobcentre to come to St Neots to support people looking for work.

The experience gave him "the taste to influence things", he says, of which he is keen to do more.

Over the next four years he wants to see better health infrastructure established in the new towns and estates in his constituency, including primary care.

He also wants better funding for Cambridgeshire Police and reforms to special educational needs and disability provision, so all children "get the education they deserve".

The role has been "everything I hoped for", he says, and he feels like his team are making "little differences".

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