Elected officer or representative - overview

What does an elected officer or representative do?

Your duties will depend on what you’ve been elected to do. For instance, an elected Member of Parliament (MP) has a different role to an elected official in local government. You’ll have office-based work, as well as more varied tasks that are done outside of the office. MPs are mainly based in the House of Commons, while local elected officials usually work in local administrative buildings.

Your job will be to represent the people who voted for you. At a national level, this includes voting in the House of Commons on behalf of your constituents, as well as being available to them on an advisory level. At a local or regional level, you’ll be enforcing government policies and dealing with local issues.

What will your days involve?

Daily tasks will vary but could involve:

• Attending Parliament to vote on new laws and policies
• Debating issues in Parliament
• Holding surgeries for your constituents
• Attending conferences
• Making public appearances, e.g. at local schools
• Writing reports and keeping records
• Managing budgets and funding
• Participating in debates and discussions on local policy

FAQs

How much can you earn as an elected officer or representative?

The average salary for a elected officer or representative in the UK is £43,680.

Does an elected officer or representative role involve travel in the UK or overseas?

These roles often include travel. For instance, as an elected MP you’ll be expected to travel to attend sessions in Parliament, visit constituents, make public appearances and attend national events. As a local representative, travel may be more limited but is still often part of the job. High profile MPs will also be expected to travel abroad at times, e.g. for conferences.

Can you work from home as an elected officer or representative?

There are likely to be some opportunities to work from home in these roles, especially for the more administrative parts of the job.