As I walk up to the entrance of Portcullis House on the Tuesday after the election, it’s hard not to think that barely six weeks ago I was finishing my working day as a solicitor, en route to a resident’s meeting as a local councillor, and now all of a sudden I am here. The speed of my selection and election has meant I haven’t fully been able to take it all in but the splendour of Westminster brings it home. I am now a Labour MP.

On arrival we are ushered into a sort of new MPs triage area in Portcullis House, where we are quickly issued with our passes, laptops, travel information and security briefing. It is an impressive display of organisation, with my only complaint being the photo of me in the Guide to New Members is somehow of a random stranger. All new MPs are from then on told that ‘the Guide is accurate save for Jonathan Reynolds, Member for Stalybridge and Hyde’. My legend grows.

One of the principal items for the first week is our induction to the Commons chamber. We dutifully file in, the Tories immediately heading for the government benches which are now theirs again, followed closely by their new subsidiary the Lib Dems. Everyone else heads for the opposition side. Now sitting on either side of the Chamber, It is the first time we have really been able to eye each other up. There is no doubting which side is which. They look like people born to power. We look like a group of people enjoying a public tour. I’m happiest with my side.

The Commons chamber is much smaller than I thought, and far less intimidating as a result. We get to hear speeches from veteran parliamentarians Sir George Young, Harriet Harman, and David Heath, before putting some questions to them. Most are procedural, although a few make an early attempt to stand out from the crowd. One new Tory member claims the whips are already keeping him in the dark, cracking a joke at their expense. ‘He’s dead’, I see more than one of his new colleagues mouth.

Aside from these formal sessions it’s a case of familiarising yourself with the Parliamentary estate as soon as possible. The Members’ Tea Room proves to be a particularly memorable experience. Immediately we are informed which parts of the room ‘belong’ to each party (Labour near the door, Tories at the rear), like a sort of well-heeled prison yard. Experienced members show us newbies a great deal of generosity and assistance. We are genuinely grateful.

Amongst the new intake there’s much swapping of selection and election stories, sharing experiences and things learnt so far. MPs come to Westminster with very differing circumstances. Already I can see how lucky I am – my constituency is already my home, my background on the local council gives me a firm grasp of local issues, and my constituency party activists are people who I count as good friends, not just colleagues. I’ve also been able to inherit a constituency office with excellent staff, and my neighbouring MPs are people I already know and who are keen to help me. I’m able to hit the ground running and this is clearly an advantage.

The first meeting of the PLP is a boisterous affair. It is packed to the rafters, with standing room only. Tony Lloyd, my MP when I was a student, is magnificent in the chair, firmly in control of proceedings and injecting humour when necessary. There is acceptance of our defeat, and our poor showing in terms of the popular vote, but morale is not low. A widespread feeling pervades that we have shown extraordinary tenacity in the face of a renewed Conservative party, a hostile press, and Ashcroft-funded candidates on the ground. There are plenty of speeches approving our decision not to deal with the Lib Dems. No-one speaks in favour. “At our best when we are Labour” I think.

I have an enormous list of people and organisations I want to meet, campaigns I want to lead, and things I want to change. I feel immensely privileged that, after years as a voluntary activist for Labour, this is now my job. People in my constituency, and in the party, have shown tremendous faith in me. I am determined not to let them down.

Photo: Donnr MB 2009