When you consider that, post-election, every defeated MP must be given a few days to move their things out, then every returned MP gets to upgrade to somewhere better, and then the opposition and government must swap their office allocations, it’s quite an organisational feat. Who on earth would want the job of doling out these offices to anxious and pestering MPs? Step forth George Mudie MP, who, partly because he did it in 1997, and partly as a favour to the chief whip, has heroically stepped up to the task.

I was relaxed about being assigned by accommodation until a casual conservation with two new colleagues revealed they had already been allocated somewhere. Fortunately, I think I caught George at a good moment and was offered a modest room in parliament itself, meaning I don’t have to walk too far to get to the chamber when votes are called. Apparently this is a good result – all I can say is that, when I went to look at it, the first office on the corridor belonged to Sir Gerald Kaufman. ‘If it’s good enough for Gerald, it’s good enough for me’ I thought, and quickly accepted.

The other item of early interest has been the election of the select committees. All the chairs are now allocated between the parties, but then the chairs and the membership is elected by a cross-party ballot . It’s quite unusual to have a range of Conservative MPs all vying for Labour votes, and vice versa. It’s brought a welcome injection of democracy to the process, although there are some teething problems. The preferred method of campaigning for most is a parliament-wide email, but when you multiply the number of select committees by the number of positions by the number of candidates for each position it equals several hundred emails. I have to confess I’ve stopped reading them. It also creates an issue for new MPs, who are less likely to be well known, and those committees – such as defence – where a regional balance is important. But on the whole it’s a positive move for parliament, with the committees that will scrutinise the executive becoming genuinely independent of the party leaderships.

In the background to all this the leadership election is progressing well. I have been surprised by how good natured it has been so far, with none of the briefings and infighting that so characterised the Brown-Blair years. The collegiate atmosphere is appreciated by all. The nominations process gave us new MPs unprecedented access to the senior members of the party, and support from the new intake is spread across all five candidates. Combined with the votes for the deputy speakers and, of course, the forthcoming shadow cabinet contest, we’ve all never been so popular. Let’s hope it lasts.

Photo: UK Parliament 2010