The Work and Pensions Committee’s recent safeguarding report reminded me of the worst thing about working in politics: other people finding out you work in politics. There was the wedding where four men took turns giving me 30-minute monologues on why the Conservatives lost the election (as if living through it once wasn’t enough). My friends now roll their eyes and laugh when a guy at a party starts talking at me: ‘Oh god, he’s into politics’. Even I couldn’t believe my luck when last month, in a Parisian bar at 1 a.m, I was cornered by someone shouting over the music about u-shaped parliament and how select committees don’t get enough media attention (I’m still cringing). Having worked in No. 10, I had a different take, but chose instead to smile, nod, and run for the bathroom.
And yet, I couldn’t help think of that latest conversation when I heard about last week’s report from the Work and Pensions Committee.
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