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Be a member of Parliament for the week in a new UK video game
At the start, though it's not very clear, you need to pick a constituency, a political party (leading or opposition) and a difficulty setting. Once you've done that, click 'start' and off you go! Like most modern games, your smartphone acts as your game menu. In any given day you can attend a debate, answer correspondence from your constituency or even instigate a committee inquiry into culture or the environment! If you need help (because let's face it, we're not all destined to be politicians), there's a handy guide that'll give you some tips.
It's a cute game and, I hope, fairly representative of the job itself. If you're interested in becoming a politician yourself, or if you're merely curious about what politicians get up to, give the game a go! It's in Flash, so you can jump right in (and if you're American, enjoy the quaint London accents...)
Comments
10
Subscribe to comments216Jan 14th 2010 10:46AM
Is there an option to engage in a Sleazy, tabloid-friendly political scandal? That'd be fun
Sebastian AnthonyJan 14th 2010 10:50AM
I think this game is probably designed to banish that particular view of British politicians :P
Kris120890Jan 14th 2010 10:56AM
They're also thieving sponging bastards.
r3loadedJan 14th 2010 11:03AM
I couldn't find the expenses claim form - any help? I need a duckhouse, and my moat needs repairs.
Sebastian AnthonyJan 14th 2010 11:04AM
As a fellow Brit that also has a moat, I have to say they do require quite a lot of maintenance -- and it's not cheap!
GavJan 14th 2010 11:28AM
'a member of the UK Parliament is equivalent to a representative in the US House of Representatives.'
Not really...
Sebastian AnthonyJan 14th 2010 11:30AM
Do I have to specify that it's the Commons or what? MP kind of implies that.
But if you're going to be informative, please do so -- don't just troll. It makes you look silly!
GavJan 14th 2010 11:34AM
Sorry, I wasn't trying to 'troll'. My point was that the UK and US system of government are very different, so a MP and a member of the House of Representatives aren't equal.
It's a game though so it's hardly a big deal :P
Sebastian AnthonyJan 14th 2010 11:41AM
I thought Senate -> Lords and Representives -> Commons.
Obviously the actual system isn't the same, but how else would you have had me draw the comparison for American readers?
HBJan 14th 2010 12:55PM
House of Representatives = US legislator (as opposed to executive or judiciary).
House of Common = UK legislator (as opposed to executive or judiciary).
I think it's safe to say they are rougly equivalent.
Furthermore, both countries have bicameral legislators (all be it the UK's secondary chamber isn't elected) so there really isn't that much of a difference.