The MP For A Week game simulates the job of a Member of Parliament.
Photo: UK Parliament.
A new virtual gamelaunched by the UK Parliament this week is giving young people the opportunity to play at being an MP.
MP For A Week simulates a week in the life of a Member of Parliament in a fun and engaging way, from crucial debates in the House of Commons to media appearances, committee meetings to tricky questions from your local constituency.
Choose the difficulty level, a name for yourself, your constituency from any region in the UK and whether you want to be part of the government or the opposition party. Next decide if you want to focus on the economy, global issues like climate change or local concerns such as the negative perception of young people in the media.
Then you must make your way through your in-tray – the Chief Whip wants to know which way you’re going to vote on the bill on proposed petrol price increases… Who’s going to attend your committee meeting on the future of the media? ... And should you go to a film premiere with that ‘bad boy’ actor?
Your choices affect your party reputation, voter support and media profile, which you must maintain to stay in the game until Saturday. A week is a long time in politics, after all.
And should you need it, videos from real MPs including Lembit Opik of the Liberal Democrats, Labour’s Parmjit Dhanda and Nigel Evans of the Conservatives offer tips and pointers on life as an MP to help you boost your score.
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