'You can feel the history in the walls' - new MP

Sarah Smith says many aspects of starting life as an MP are similar to starting any new job

Starting a new job can always be a challenge - but what if that job is becoming an MP?

With 335 of the 650 people elected at the general election having never been an MP before, there's a lot of new faces who are all finding their way around the systems in the Palace of Westminster, as well as the corridors and rooms.

Sarah Smith was elected as Labour MP for Hyndburn.

She not only has to think about herself, but also her four-month-old son Eli and she said that had "added some logistics" to her life.

"What's amazing is there is a family room here that's set up for him, there's a nursery on site that I'm talking to [to] get a place sorted," she said.

"In the meantime I've been relying on family and friends to come in and help out but we're getting there."

She added: "I stand on the shoulders of the women and men who've come before me.

"When I think about when Harriet Harman was first elected and she was pregnant and none of this was set up, but things have moved into the 21st Century and I've been really impressed at how inclusive it is and how supportive and welcoming everyone has been."

Sarah Smith has brought her four-month-old son with her to Parliament

As well as finding care for her son, she also has been finding her way around the buildings too.

"It's all those kind of basics of getting into any new job," she said.

But Ms Smith said the team in the House of Commons have been "amazing" in helping the MPs get their IT and systems up and running so they can start their work.

"Unfortunately no offices yet, but I think that's going to take a big longer but we're making progress."

'Am I actually an MP now?'

Although Sarah Smith is completely new to the Palace of Westminster, one of her fellow Lancashire MPs has spent time in the building before.

Andrew Snowden is the Conservative MP for Fylde and was the county's Police and Crime Commissioner from 2021 until May.

"As Police and Crime Commissioner I was here regularly lobbying for funding, but here as a member is completely different because what you do when you're here as a visitor is you just follow someone around, you don't pay any attention to where you're actually going.

"You can use your pass and get into corridors and places like that that otherwise you can't and it makes you think, 'am I actually an MP now?'"

Andrew Snowden had visited Parliament in the past but says being there as an MP is "completely different"

He added arriving at Parliament as an MP was "incredibly special and humbling".

"You can feel the history in the walls and every corridor you think 'did Churchill walk down this corridor?'"

All new MPs have to be sworn in and Mr Snowden said that was "truly, truly special".

"That moment is the moment of realisation that, yes I'm now an MP and I've got a huge amount of work to do but it is a huge proud moment and you get that text off your mum saying 'aww I'm so proud of you, I've just seen you being sworn in'.

"It's a lovely moment for the whole family as well."

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