This piece was written by Matthew White, one of the Centre’s 2025 Parliamentary Internship Programme interns.
When I found out I'd be interning with Anas Sarwar MSP, I was both excited and a little in awe.
I called my parents, texted my friends – the general reaction was a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and the collective realisation of what an incredible opportunity had just been presented to me. It’s not every day you get the chance to work alongside the leader of a major political party – and I can say without hesitation that the John Smith Centre Parliamentary Internship Programme has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career.
My very first experience was attending Anas’ New Year Speech at the University of Glasgow. You could feel the energy in the room. Every seat was taken, the atmosphere buzzing, and the stakes high, setting the tone for an important year ahead not just for the Scottish Labour Party but Scottish politics more generally. I realised pretty quickly that this wasn’t going to be a spectator experience. I was right in the thick of it.
Throughout the internship, no two days were the same, and that’s what made it so brilliant. One moment I’d be helping with constituency casework, the next I was writing briefings, sitting in stakeholder meetings, or shadowing Anas around Holyrood. I got to help facilitate and organise policy roundtables, which felt surreal at times. I even got the chance to catch up with some old colleagues from Scottish Water, and the CEO! This wasn’t just filing paperwork or making tea – I was trusted to be part of real, meaningful work.
One thing that really stuck with me was the sheer volume of constituency issues MSPs deal with. Housing problems, healthcare concerns, education support – you name it, it crossed the desk. I got to see firsthand how one phone call, one letter, or one meeting could change someone’s life for the better. It’s easy to forget when you’re caught up in the drama of national politics that this, right here, is where politics is at its most powerful: helping real people, quietly, behind the scenes.
"Now more than ever, I appreciate how important it is to have passionate, thoughtful people involved in shaping the future of our communities."
Being around the Scottish Parliament was another highlight. I’ll never forget the buzz of walking through Holyrood on a Thursday before First Minister’s Questions. Party leaders pacing the halls, journalists buzzing around, last-minute strategy meetings happening in every corner. But beyond the drama, what surprised me most was the friendliness and cross-party respect that exists behind the scenes. I once watched Anas bump into the First Minister in the corridor after a particularly heated FMQs exchange and within seconds they were laughing and chatting away like old friends. It’s a side of politics you rarely get to see, but one that gave me a bit of hope for how politics could be.
Of course, the internship wasn’t without its challenges. Balancing a busy internship alongside final-year university deadlines, particularly my dissertation, tested my time management like never before. Working in an environment where different political beliefs collide also pushed me to question and refine my own beliefs, which proved to be an intellectually fulfilling (if sometimes uncomfortable) exercise.
Looking ahead, this experience has helped guide my career ambitions. I’m more determined than ever to pursue a career in public law after my traineeship, using my legal training to help shape policy and governance. It’s also sparked a desire to get more involved in political campaigning ahead of the next Holyrood elections, because now more than ever, I appreciate how important it is to have passionate, thoughtful people involved in shaping the future of our communities.
I can’t recommend the John Smith Centre Parliamentary Internship Programme highly enough. It’s an opportunity to step into the engine room of politics, develop skills that will serve you in any profession, and, perhaps most importantly, remind yourself why public service matters.
If you’re even remotely interested in politics, public service, or the way decisions get made, apply. Throw your hat in the ring. You never know what doors it might open.
I’m incredibly grateful to the John Smith Centre, the University of Glasgow, and of course Anas Sarwar and his brilliant team for making this internship an unforgettable journey.
Interested in taking part in the John Smith Centre Parliamentary Internship Programme? Sign up to the Parliamentary Internship Programme mailing list to keep up to date with any announcements.
