Second year Politics and International Relations student, Emily Rejwan, recently completed a paid internship alongside fellow student Harry Davies working in the constituency office of Gedling MP, Michael Payne. These placements provide our students with critical insights into the inner workings of local parliamentary democracy with exposure to areas such as casework management, carrying out research and performing other local administrative duties.
In reflecting on her experience, Emily shares some insights into her responsibilities as an intern, as well as some of her biggest learning curves:
"Working with an MP has been such a valuable experience. It's given me a real insight into the day-to-day workings of a constituency office and opened my eyes to the complexity of the relationships between Parliament and various stakeholders. I’ve learned how careful language needs to be when communicating with organisations to ensure alignment with Michael’s beliefs, and with broader party policies. It’s something I hadn’t really considered before, but it’s definitely made me more aware of the nuances of political communication.
One of the biggest learning curves has been drafting emails for constituents. Working alongside Michael’s caseworkers, I’ve written hundreds of responses, and over time I’ve noticed real improvement in my ability to write formally and appropriately adapt tone depending on whether I’m writing to a constituent, a local authority, or another organisation.
On a more practical note, being part of a busy office working full-time hours has been really motivating. From attending team meetings to using a parliamentary laptop and having my own desk, I’ve really enjoyed the professional atmosphere. It’s shown me how productive I can be in the right environment, and I genuinely feel like it’s boosted my work ethic.
Michael has been incredibly welcoming, even taking time to ask about my family, and it’s clear how much he cares about his constituents in Gedling. His willingness to take on so much and his constant engagement with constituents, despite a packed schedule, is truly inspiring. Although a trip to Parliament hasn’t worked out (understandably, with how unpredictable politics can be), it’s something I’d still love to do in the future.
The whole team has been fantastic. At first, Harry and I were shadowing the caseworkers, but as we grew more confident, we began working independently on drafts and tasks. It was also really nice to go through the experience alongside someone from my course - we were able to support each other, compare notes, and share a few lunch-break chats about university life.
The team have been really flexible and accommodating too, which is so important for university students on placement. They were understanding about my pre-booked holiday, and even worked around my teaching timetable, which I really appreciated.
Oh, and getting paid definitely doesn’t hurt!
All in all, it’s been a genuinely brilliant experience. I haven’t stopped smiling, and I’d absolutely love the chance to return to the office in the summer or sometime soon."
Emily is in the second year of her degree and studied the British Party Politics module in the autumn.
Posted on Wednesday 7th May 2025