Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Could you be a British MP for a week?

It was the former Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson that once proclaimed "A week is a long time in politics” - a statement which is certainly true. So do you reckon you could survive a week as a British MP?

If you answered 'yes', or you're just curious, then try the new online game 'MP for a Week' that has been launched this week by the British Parliamentary Education Service and see for yourself!

While admittedly it is aimed at 11-14 year-olds to give them an idea of the sort of work done by an MP, it is an extremely well presented game, very colourful, interactive, eye-opening, informative and above all: really challenging!

Once you've set up your character, you're thrust into the shoes of a backbench MP and it is your task to negotiate the week (can choose to attend debates, go to the constituency, attend hearings, plant questions in the House of Commons, conduct research, answer press calls, etc...) all while trying to remain in the good books of the party, the public and the press.

As you can imagine this is hard work, but then again this is what our 646 MPs have to cope with in reality on a day to day basis...

So can you survive a week? I did... click the image above to play!