Targeted at young people aged 11 to 14, “MP for a week” gives young people the opportunity to get a virtual taste of life as an MP, as they navigate the daily challenges of life as a backbencher. Players are scored according to the judgements they make and the likely effect on their party, reputation and constituency.
Since it was launched in 2010, “MP for a Week” has been Parliament’s most popular educational game, receiving 26,000 distinct ‘plays’ in the 2015 calendar year alone. This figure is expected to increase in 2016, as the rebuilt version of the game can now be played on all tablet and mobile devices.
The relaunched game will allow a whole new cohort of players to experience the ups and downs of life as an MP
As the game progresses, players can select which parts of speeches to use in debates, attempt to get the attention of the Speaker in the packed Commons Chamber, manage requests from constituents and face a press conference with hostile journalists. Their success or failure at these tasks determines their media profile, voter support and reputation within their own party, and through that, whether they ‘win’ the game.
Dr Edge Watchorn, Head of Education, said:
 “I am hugely excited to see this game relaunched. Use of mobile devices of all kinds has doubled and redoubled in the years since ‘MP for a Week’ was developed. The relaunched game will allow a whole new cohort of players to experience the ups and downs of life as an MP. By learning through play, we hope that students will come to find the political process more meaningful and relevant to them.”
For more information about other programmes available from Parliament’s Education Service, visit www.parliament.uk/education
