Part of Parliament: Digital Outreach Manager Laura Bristow
3 min read
Laura Bristow works to connect MPs to the public online. Constantly adapting to the fast-evolving world of social media, her job is an exciting mixture of the old and the new
“But you’re not an MP?”
When I tell people I meet that I work for the House of Commons, they’re always surprised. I think a lot of people see MPs debating on TV and assume that that’s all that happens here but there is so much work that goes on behind the scenes. From the caterers to the doorkeepers, from security to digital support, there’s so much that goes into keeping Parliament moving and you don’t get to see most of it.
After completing my geography degree, I had no idea that I would end up working in politics. After I graduated, I took a job in the House of Commons Corporate Services, the first time I had an insight into the range of roles that the organisation has. I moved to work in digital teams across Parliament until I took the role of manager for the Digital Outreach team.
That’s why I think the work me and my team do is so important. I manage the Digital Outreach team and we use social media and external online forums to encourage the public to learn about and get involved with the work of the House of Commons. We connect MPs to the public online, helping them to hear the experiences of those who have been affected by the issues being debated.
Social media is constantly changing. Its landscapes move and fluctuate and we have to quickly adapt to that. The same could also be said for the House of Commons. Often our business is unpredictable – just think back to the snap election.
The Digital Outreach team have to think on their feet and creatively combat challenges, whenever and wherever they arise. However, this can be the best part of my job. It was really exciting to lead the House of Commons’ social media campaign for the 2017 General Election. It was a time where everybody’s attention was heavily focused on the UK Parliament and it was our role to harness and entrench that.
Parliament is often considered an old, traditional institution. What’s great about working with social media, is that we are able to mix the old, with new, innovative ideas. Digital engagement is a great way to get people involved with our work.
The biggest thing I have learnt is that you cannot expect people to come to you, you have to reach out to them. Our work is all about providing the public with an entry point to the work of the House of Commons. We always try to make sure our content is relevant and accessible. Through our Digital Engagement Programme, we work with MPs from all sides to connect them and their debates to the public, allowing the public’s voices to filter into the Chamber debates. It’s really exciting when our digital engagement work is mentioned in a debate – it will then be recorded in Hansard and will sit amongst the history books that are kept for hundreds of years.
My work is varied – I get to meet new people, learn more about Parliament every day and with the rapid progression and evolution of digital and social media I’m really excited to see how the Digital Outreach team and the House of Commons continue to develop and grow. Who knows what the future holds?
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