(UK) MPs may be breaking law in offering work to unpaid interns

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Scores of MPs, from millionaire Tory cabinet members to Labour backbenchers, may have broken minimum wage law by taking on unpaid interns, according to legal advice to ministers.

A combination of changes to parliamentary expenses rules and record graduate unemployment is thought to have increased placements offered in Westminster, leading to a fear of a new political class emerging, drawn from those whose parents are rich enough to support months of unpaid work that nevertheless offers networking opportunities.

Hundreds of ads on the Commons site, Work for MP (W4MP) show that, since the election, there have been 260 unpaid internships, some not even providing expenses, the longest lasting 10 months.

Thirteen Tory members of the government offered 28 placements lasting up to six months, out of 138 for Conservative MPs. These included culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, seven, the attorney general, Dominic Grieve , three, and exchequer secretary to the Treasury David Gauke, seven. Ministers Andrew Lansley, Grant Shapps and Andrew Mitchell also advertised.

full: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/nov/27/mps-unpaid-intern-commons