What happens to ex-MPs?

Parliament returns tomorrow – without 47 of the people who were MPs just a few weeks ago. Some, like those standing as independents, had a pretty good hunch that they’d be booted out by the electorate on Thursday. Others had less notice, and realised only as the campaign wore on that their constituencies, many of which had been solidly Labour for decades, were turning away from them. Many of them will be in Westminster in the next few days to clear out their offices and make their staff redundant. You can usually tell the difference between a re-elected MP and one of their colleagues who lost as you watch them walk through the corridors of parliament. The latter keep their heads down, trying to avoid having yet another conversation with someone who wants to offer their commiserations – or someone who hadn’t noticed they’ve lost.

They might not get much sympathy for this, but losing a seat is can be very traumatic for MPs, particularly those who weren’t expecting it.