What is the employability of former MPs?

Such is the cutthroat nature of politics, MPs can lose their jobs overnight, leaving behind a starting salary of £91,000.

As the dust settles after one of the most dramatic general elections of a generation, how can long-serving politicians cope with losing their seats? And what support is available for those facing the prospect of unemployment?

Like hundreds of other MPs, mostly Conservatives, Peter Aldous lost his seat last week.

He had served the Waveney constituency in Suffolk for 14 years and was standing for the newly formed seat of Lowestoft, which fell to the Labour Party with a majority of 2,000 votes.

“All political careers end in failure,” says a discouraged Aldous.

“And now I don’t really know what to do next… I’m 62, what is the employability of former backbenchers?”

“Of course I wanted to be re-elected,” he said. “But halfway through the campaign, I realized I would end up in the situation I’m in now.”

“My team and my supporters are incredibly upset and I support them in this ordeal.”

Mr Aldous’ office employed four staff members who would now be made redundant, something he said he felt “guilty” about.

On Sunday he went to Westminster to clean out his parliamentary office.

“I am a former chartered surveyor, but when I became an MP I was no longer involved,” he said.

“I don’t think surveying is something I’ll do again because things have moved on.

“I’m starting from scratch… It’s too early to say whether I’ll stay in politics.”

Mr Aldous describes the Waveney performance as a “huge privilege”.

“Time will tell if I have left a lasting legacy,” he adds.

Like all MPs defeated in the general election, Mr Aldous will be able to receive support to help him plan for his future and “adjust to life away from Parliament”.

The House of Commons funds, with taxpayers’ money, a “transition” service to help “retiring MPs” plan their careers, write their CVs and prepare for interviews.

It also offers advice on personal security issues, returning IT equipment, safeguarding personal data in accordance with GDPR and mental health services.

Recent changes to the way former MPs are treated by the House of Commons have been introduced following reports that large numbers of them have been placed on leave. “The edge of the financial and professional abyss.”

House of Commons officials hope the move will make a career as an MP more attractive.

“If you take on that role like I did, it’s absolutely relentless,” says former Conservative MP Duncan Baker.

“I haven’t had a day off since the day I was elected. I’ve seen friendships disappear because there just isn’t time.”

Mr Baker, 44, had represented the North Norfolk constituency since 2019 before it was won by the Liberal Democrats last week with a majority of 3,000 votes.

“In some ways, it’s a weight off my shoulders now,” he says.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing my family again. I’ve missed them so much.”

Former MPs receive a Loss of Function Payment (LOOP) as well as a liquidation paymentequivalent to four months’ salary.

Asked how he feels about losing his £91,000 annual salary, Mr Baker, a father of two young daughters, says it is “tricky”.

“But you have to be reasonable, you have to prepare for these things and you have to make sure you have a certain level of savings to be able to continue for the next few days,” he adds.

“I am very fortunate that my wife works extremely hard to provide a dual income for the household.”

The House of Commons gives outgoing MPs four months to end their term.

For Mr Baker, a qualified accountant, this means closing his local constituency office, supporting his six staff members through redundancies and ending a contract with a London family from whom he rented a room to fund his stay in Westminster.

He now says he is looking for a “business opportunity”, perhaps in the charity sector, and rules out an automatic return to politics.

“I really enjoyed what I did… but I feel like I’ve done my time,” he adds.

“You should never say never, but for now I want to leave public life.”