United Kingdom: social workers in Westminster – party or profession?

This chapter explores the political activities and career trajectories of 32 social workers who became Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2019. Contrary to expectations, findings suggest that some of the values associated with social work, such as a desire to promote social advocacy through political action, may be more strongly mediated by political party and gender than by a professional background in social work. It is suggested that there may even be an element of disidentification with social work by some MPs, resulting in a distancing from the profession once on a political career trajectory. The fact that most British MPs engage in a form of ‘social work’ through their representation of constituents with grievances adds another layer of complexity to the understanding of social workers who hold political office in the British context.