I planned this, laptop on my knees, perching on a green leather bench in the Victorian Gothic corridor – a day in the life of a brand-new MP is chaotic, romantic and actually surreal. They say a week is a long time in politics and for me this has been enough week.
Just last Friday at 4.30am I was elected as the new Member of Parliament for Finchley and Golders Green. I feel like I’ve condensed the experience of a lifetime into a week. From stocking tights to answering constituent emails, my feet barely touch the ground. But every day I am reminded of the privilege of being sent here to serve my constituents and my country.
Thursday – Election Day
Six weeks after Rishi Sunak called the election amid torrential rain, the sun is out as voters head to the polls. My stomach rumbled. All canvassing, hustings and leafleting have been completed. This is the day people decide. I started the morning at Golders Green Tube station with my shiny rosette. Some people tell me that they just vote for me, others avoid eye contact when they go to work (it seems that not everyone is so keen on voting). I spent the day campaigning on every part of the couch until my feet hurt! At 10pm, I watched the exit polls with friends and family – a Labor landslide. It felt like winning a cup final. We hugged, kissed, and I fell asleep to wait for my results.
At 2:30, I left for the election counting. We are in the RAF museum under the wing of a WWII fighter jet. They say I have won. My knees are shaking, but I get the word out – the country has voted for change and now it’s a member of parliament like me. I Quote Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: it is time to build a good society – one that gives each member equal access to hope.
The candidates shook hands and greeted each other. This is the way it should be. A smooth transition of power. Teary-eyed, I went home to tell my two girls that mommy was starting a big new project. Later we sat down with my parents for Friday dinner.
Family time is very important. Saturday is an opportunity to sleep, eat and be together and let the results sink in.
I went straight to the House of Commons for induction. It’s freshers’ week all over again, but in a place that’s part Hogwarts, part Buckingham Palace. Each new MP is escorted by a “buddy”. I was given a laptop, shown how to choose and led into the sanctuary. The day ends back in East Finchley, celebrating with the army of canvassers and leafleters who made the Election possible.
Today it brings together MPs from across the UK. As we gathered a large group photo of 411 Labor MPs – the lens was barely wide enough to fit us all – I was grateful that the commute only involved jumping on the Northern line every Monday morning.
Power has been transferred peacefully. It’s a far cry from the sights we’ve seen elsewhere
Parliament is currently in session with Labor on the Government benches, the Conservatives in Opposition and the new face of Green to Reform. Before we can get to work, we need to elect a Speaker.
As a history geek, I like the tradition of this place – Black Rod entered with his shiny golden mace and the spectacle of Sir Lindsay Hoyle who was ceremoniously dragged from the Government bench and pushed into the chair.
I describe our extraordinary, sometimes strange political system. Power has been transferred peacefully, new members of parliament have been accepted into new roles; a far cry from the sights we’ve seen elsewhere. This democracy is worth fighting for.
In the surprise week there was another twist. The PM asked me to join the Government as Attorney General. This is a great honor and responsibility. I am committed to working hard every day to uphold the rule of law and lead improvements in our legal system.
Then immediately have a meeting with PNS. I was given a red box of paper to read. It’s breathing!
And there is still time to be officially sworn in as an MP. Standing in line to take the oath, I’m grounded again after the whirlwind of this week. I do this to represent the place and community I was born and raised in – it’s an honor for my life. Whatever lies ahead, I promise not to lose sight of why I am here and for whom.
Sarah Sackman is the Attorney General and MP for Finchley and Golders Green
