This paper had a long genesis (here I am getting caught in the rain during fieldwork in 2020) and thanks are due to many people not least of all the MPs who volunteered their time to explain their work to me and all the others I pestered for feedback over the years!

However, I also find a resilient democracy should be responsible, as well as responsive, and overwork, distrust in politicians and their own representative priorities present challenges for MPs as crisis leaders!

I find using 28 interviews & a survey of ~100 state and federal MPs that they prioritise work which helps build up their service & symbolic connections – coordinating with local civil servants, understanding the impacts & danger signs in their communities & supporting people who are suffering.

In crises we expect our national leaders to be there for us - emotionally and practically coordinating emergency responses/support for those affected. We also hope that our politicians look forward to prevent future disaster. But what about 'on the ground' in individual MPs' constituencies?

Was just in Birmingham for the @polstudiesassoc.bsky.social annual general conference - was fun hob nobbing with other learned scholars like this chap I saw working on the stairs. He had some interesting ideas but didn’t want to connect on LinkedIn. #psa25

In Canberra (or the internet)? Come pop by the launch of LSE's Australia's Evolving Democracy: A New Democratic Audit on Wednesday 5th:

lnkd.in/g7qVNEXU

You can check out the whole book for free which features a chapter on Queensland by Cosmo Howard and I here:

press.lse.ac.uk/site/chapter...