Leaving the House : The Experience of Former Members of Parliament Who Left the House of Commons in 2010

This article reports the findings of a large-scale survey investigating the experiences of the large number of MPs who left Parliament following the 2010 General Election. We have found that: the widely held perception that MPs make a smooth transition into lucrative private sector employment after leaving Parliament is largely mistaken; the MPs' expenses scandal has seriously undermined the status of MPs and, as such, may also have made a career in Parliament less enticing for good prospective parliamentary candidates; and the job of an MP remains fraught with difficulties for women due to the strain it places on family life.