New cohort of students poised to undertake ‘outstanding’ parliamentary programme

Twelve students from the School of Politics and International Studies have been selected for the prestigious Politics and Parliamentary Studies programme, following a competitive application process.

The new PPS students will undertake an internship working for an MP in the Palace of Westminster between September 2025 and May 2026, during which they will play an active role in supporting their MPs, drafting press releases, managing diaries, corresponding with constituents, and researching briefing papers.

To ensure the students get the most of their experience in Parliament, they will spend the next twelve months preparing for their internship, learning about parliamentary procedure, and being given practical training for work in Westminster.

Leeds students in high demand

The Politics and Parliamentary Studies (PPS) programme at the University of Leeds has been running since 1986 with graduates including Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Judith Cummins MP, and the Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard.

The strong reputation of PPS means that Leeds students are in high demand in Westminster: in the last academic year PPS interns were hosted by Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, in addition to a range of other frontbench politicians, including Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP and Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran.

Demand from MPs is currently outstripping supply of students: the PPS programme has received record interest from MPs – including many newly-elected Parliamentarians – keen to host Leeds students in their Westminster office. As a result, the programme is due to expand to 20 students per year in the next five years.

Life-changing internship

Josh King (left) and Ben Moos-Golding (centre) outside 10 Downing Street, and Phoebe Tolhurst-Cohen (right) on the House of Commons Terrace

Josh King is returning to Leeds for his final year of his PPS degree after completing an internship with Rachel Reeves, ahead of her appointment as the UK’s first female Chancellor of the Exchequer.

After the general election, Ms Reeves thanked Josh for his work by inviting him to Downing Street. Josh, who has been selected as one of the UK’s top 150 Future Black Leaders, said,

I’m so happy that I’ve been able to enter spaces I never would’ve considered entering growing up.

Ben Moos-Golding, another of the PPS students on placement in 2023-24, will be deferring his final year at Leeds in order to take up a role with the Parliamentary Labour Party. Ben spent his placement in the office of Sir Keir Starmer, then Leader of the Opposition, and worked full-time for Sir Keir during the general election.

Phoebe Tolhurst-Cohen, who worked for Dan Jarvis MP, supporting him in his role as Shadow Security Minister, has spoken about her ‘amazing year’, highlighting the vital research and briefing skills she developed.

Dr Alexandra Meakin, Lecturer in British Politics and Programme Director of the PPS Programme, undertook the PPS internship as an MA student at the University of Leeds in 2005-06. She said:

My PPS internship was life-changing: I was offered a job with two MPs before even finishing my placement, and I stayed working in and around Parliament for a decade, before moving into academia.

Now as the PPS director, I love getting to place our students in Westminster and seeing their confidence and skills transform during their time immersed in the centre of British politics.

New Politics and Parliamentary Studies cohort: 2024-25

 

Left to right from top to bottom: Dan Bilenga, Carly Heller, Tess Bowyer, Isaac Reuben, James Childs, Eve Robinson, Jade Fearon-Jones, Georgia Ryb, Evie Gibbon, Philip Weston, Yotam Havkin, James Withington.

I am delighted to have a new cohort of students who will continue the outstanding reputation of the Leeds PPS programme. I know that this new group of PPS students will work hard in Westminster, making a real difference in the lives of constituents across the UK, and helping to scrutinise the legislation brought forward by the new Government. In doing so they will be building their skills and developing the experience they need to be ready to tackle the challenges facing the world today.

In addition to developing Leeds students for future political careers, the parliamentary programme enables stronger relationships between the University, cabinet ministers and key government figures and builds deeper connections with Leeds and West Yorkshire MPs.

Find out more about the Parliamentary Studies Pathway here.