Douglas Carswell's Blog

Ending unpaid interns - what about PPSs?

If unpaid internships are to be discouraged, I presume that the government will now put unpaid Parliamentary Private Secretaries onto the government payroll?

Over the past year, an unprecedentedly number of MPs have been made PPSs under the Coalition.  Even quite junior ministers now make use of these unpaid ministerial aides.

An internship of sorts, PPSs put in very long hours shadowing ministers.  In return they get a better understanding of what life might be like as a government minister - with plenty of introductions to the world of red boxes, special advisers and the Thick of It. 

Like those doing work experience the world over, PPS roles are generally not advertised - and they are all unpaid.  

Just as MPs discovered that the Freedom of Information Act applied as much to them as anyone else, so to I presume the government's new stance on unpaid interns will take effect in the Commons, too?  

Back to all posts