LIFE in the House of Commons has been something of an eye-opener for Northwich’s MP Mike Amesbury.

The former Manchester City councillor of 11 years has plenty of public service under his belt, having also served as the former parliamentary adviser to Shadow Education Secretary, Angela Rayner MP.

Prior to being elected as the MP for Weaver Vale in May, Mike worked as an adviser on Andy Burnham’s successful Greater Manchester mayoral campaign.

Despite this, Mike admits it has still taken time to adjust to the ‘strange customs and practices’ carried out in the Commons.

He told the Guardian: “When you do prayers people stand up with their backs facing the reverend who might be blessing the speaker. Those proceedings in the house is something you don’t see on the TV.

“And you turn round halfway through, it’s almost like doing the hokey cokey and nobody tells you why you’re doing this. Apparently it’s when they used to have swords so they could stand up.

“It’s a place that seems to be obsessed with swords. Inside the Commons, as a Member of Parliament for Weaver Vale, there’s a place for my sword.

“There is quite a number of MPs who buy plastic swords. It’s strange things such as that.

“It feels like a place that, people refer to it as Hogwarts, or very much like an elitist public school that I certainly never went to, where some elected members, mostly on the Conservative side but not exclusively, are familiar with that.

“The likes of me, in my case a Mancunian that was born in Wythenshawe Hospital on a council estate, it’s pretty alien to us.”

Mike says the past three months have been a ‘whirlwind’ since taking up office.

He recently announced that his constituency office, based in Runcorn, is now up and running.

He said: “People have assumptions that you inherit an office and you don’t.

“You arrive in parliament and they say here’s a laptop, you don’t have an office in Parliament.”

Mike spends the majority of the week in Westminster, usually arriving back in the constituency on Thursday until Monday.

He admits spending so much time away from his wife and seven-year-old son has been the most difficult change to adjust to since taking office.

“Sundays I’m trying to keep for my family quite religiously,” he said.

“Key events I will be there but I will try to take my family there. There’s loads of plus sides to being MP, the biggest negative is not seeing my son as much as I’d like to and my wife.”

Without hesitation, Mike said his favourite part of the job is meeting with constituents.

He said: “I find that the most enjoyable aspect of the role. Working with a broad range of community groups and individuals.

“I want to keep my feet on the ground, keep in touch with local concerns and issues and celebrate some good practices going on.”