Being new MP like 'building a plane as you fly it'

This weekend marks the first 100 days of the new Labour government, and for many members of parliament, the first 100 days of being in the job.

The number of new MPs has been much higher than in previous administrations, with 335 of the 650 never having served before.

For the first time in parliamentary history, the proportion of women elected was more than 40%, while the proportion of MPs from ethnic-minority backgrounds is now 90, up from 66 in the last election.

The BBC has been speaking to two MPs, Labour's Bayo Alaba, who represents Southend East and Rochford, and Liberal Democrat Victoria Collins, MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, about their first 100 days.

Reflecting on his first three months, Bayo Alaba decided overall, they had been good and full of responsibility.

What he found most challenging was being plunged straight into the job.

He did not receive his MP laptop until two days after being elected - and opened it to find hundreds of emails from constituents, and no team or office in place to help him respond to them.

"Some of these cases were urgent," he said.

"They were housing matters. They were people trying to keep their business afloat, people wanting school places.

"There was certainly the need for political representation."

He believes it would be helpful if MPs had a longer transition time from winning an election to taking their seat, so they "can be more effective operationally".

While his party had to contend with its own political difficulties, less than a month after he was elected, the city of Southend in his constituency hit the headlines over a stabbing and violent disorder on the seafront.

He said the "alarming" events had "worried a lot of people" who were looking to him for leadership.

Mr Alaba said he entered the political fray at a time when "people's faith in politics has been poor," but found most constituents to be very supportive, and more concerned about local issues.

"What have I enjoyed most about the job? I suppose being able to pick up the phone, send an e-mail and try and solve a problem or put someone in the pathway to solving a problem," he said.

"Parliament's great, but actually, you know, being in the constituency is really the more important aspect, representing people, meeting community groups, connecting people, giving them support, that's what I've liked."

Victoria Collins, the new Liberal Democrat for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, described her first 100 days as a "whirlwind" and like "building a plane as you fly it".

Ms Collins, who ran her own business and was a consultant prior to being elected, approached her new job by putting a 100-day plan together.

She focussed on recruitment in the first month and then cracked on with the work, managing to meet with 150 organisations.

"So I had a really good team to help make that happen," she said.

"And then there was also a surgery and meeting people in every village and town.

"But throughout I was making sure that I was meeting my campaign promises, which were around health and social care, cost of living, and sewage in our waterways," she said.

The Lib Dems are the biggest third party parliament has ever seen, with 72 MPs, something Ms Collins said has allowed them to act more effectively as an opposition party.

"Even Wes Streeting (health secretary) says he's happy he now has 72 new pen pals," she said, as the party tries to hold Labour to account on social care policy.

She has also managed to get a parliamentary debate on sewage in local chalk streams.

This has meant she can ask a minister to respond on specific issues, and has secured a follow-up meeting after an investigation into why this pollution has occurred.

"It can be the most wonderful job in the world because you feel like you can make a difference and advocate for things, the issues and cases that come in our inbox, and I've been a voice for them in the chamber," she said.

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