Jo Swinson MP has joined a cross-party group of MPs to launch an internship scheme which will open Parliament’s doors to young people of all backgrounds.

Jo launched the Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements Scheme last week, along with Labour and Conservative MPs Hazel Blears and Eric Ollerenshaw.

In a bid to make Parliament more inclusive and open, the scheme hopes to attract 12 young people from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, who’ll be given the opportunity to complete a paid internship in Parliament. They will begin their placements after conference season this autumn.

Jo said:

I am delighted this scheme has now been launched and is open for applicants. With internships recently coming under intense scrutiny, this scheme is a positive first step toward making our politics more representative of British people.

The Speaker’s Parliamentary Placements scheme will make Parliament more open and accessible to those who have previously not thought of applying for an internship, whether due to their distance from London, lack of contacts, or financial constraints. I hope that people who are passionate about politics will consider this valuable opportunity to really see how Parliament works.

The recruitment process is now open and you can find the application form on the Social Mobility Foundation website at www.socialmobility.org.uk