Who are the british parachute MPs?

Abstract

This report introduces the BritPAP dataset on parachuted deputies in the United Kingdom. By doing so, it examines the broad trends that structure the sociological characteristics of non-local members of parliament, defined as those born in a region different from their constituency between 1945 and 2020. After demonstrating that parachuting is a common practice at the House of Commons, we show that it began to decrease slowly, starting in the early 1990s. Parachuting is primarily a matter of middle-aged men and statewide parties, as region-wide formations include a very low proportion of non-local members of parliament. We also posit that parachute mps typically begin their career through general elections and in available (but not always safe) constituencies. Non-local mps eventually tend to move to the South and adjacent regions according to their party affiliation, where they usually win an average of three elections.