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An experience of a lifetime: Man with Marion ties enjoys working for Member of British Parliament

Staff writer

Sean Mann, grandson of Marion resident Earlene Hague, is learning about the British system of government firsthand working for an elected member of the House of Commons.

Mann, the son of former Marion resident Roxie (Hague) Mann, grew up in Livonia, Mich., according to his grandmother Earlene.

After graduating from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Mich., he moved to England a year-and-a-half ago to pursue a postgraduate degree in international relations at the University of Bristol.

"I came to England to study international politics because I figured no matter where I went the main topic of conversation would be America," Sean wrote in an e-mail. "So it would probably be more interesting to be surrounded by non-Americans and talk about American foreign policy."

After finishing his degree in September 2004, Sean moved to London and went to work for Don Foster, a Member of Parliament from Bath, England.

Foster has been a member of the House of Commons since 1992 and is a member of leadership for the Liberal Democrat party, Sean writes.

In addition to representing the city of Bath, Foster serves as the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport.

"The position doesn't exist in our political system but it would be like the Democrats having a Congressman with the specific role of overseeing an executive department like Defense or Energy," Sean explained via e-mail.

Sean said working as an intern has been an "amazing experience" in many ways.

"Every day for nearly half a year now I've taken the Tube to Don's office at Westminster Palace, with Big Ben always towering over, and it hasn't even come close to getting old yet," he writes.

As part of his job, Sean writes speeches and press releases, compiles briefs and talking points for debates, works on legislation, and conducts research on assorted issues relating to culture, media, and sport.

"The differences between American and British politics are greater than one would anticipate," Sean notes. "Mr. Foster is a senior member of his party but his parliamentary office is made up of only one part-time paid researcher and two interns, which is nothing compared to the dozens of staffers each U.S. Representative has in their Washington office."

Sean said he is lucky to be working in his present position during an election which is "vastly different than the American system."

"The Prime Minister calls the election when he feels it is the right time, as long as it hasn't been more than five years since the last election," Sean writes.

The election takes place one month after the Prime Minister calls it. Thus, campaigning only lasts four weeks, instead of months or years. Also, there are strict rules regarding campaigning, including an almost complete ban on television advertising and a cap of approximately $20,000 on what each Member of Parliament can spend on their campaign.

Sean indicated he plans to continue working in Foster's office through the next national election "which depending on when Tony Blair (prime minister) calls it will most likely be the first week in May," he writes.

Sean said his long-term career goal is to enter the U.S. Foreign Service. However, in the meantime he is looking for a job as a political researcher in Europe or Washington, D.C.

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