TheyWorkForYou: Transforming Parliamentary Transparency
In the realm of civic technology, few tools have had as significant an impact on political accountability as TheyWorkForYou. Originally conceived as a way to make the complex workings of government accessible to the average citizen, this platform transforms raw parliamentary data into a searchable, user-friendly format, allowing the public to track exactly what their representatives are doing in government.
The Origins of a Political Catalyst
TheyWorkForYou was not initially created by mySociety; rather, it was adopted by the organization in 2006. The original version was built almost entirely by volunteers who utilized parsing software—technology used to analyze and convert raw data—from Public Whip. The project officially launched at the NotCon '04 conference hosted by NTK. Upon its release, the site was hailed by Cory Doctorow as "the most amazing, subversive piece of political webware I've ever seen."
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Over time, the platform expanded its scope. It began incorporating more detailed features and broader coverage of Parliament, including legislative debates and comprehensive information on members of the House of Lords dating back to 1999.
Recognition and Civic Impact
The platform's utility was quickly recognized by both the media and the government. During the 2005 general election, Channel 4 utilized a branded version of the site to provide MP data to the public. The site's contribution to democracy was further validated when it won the Community and Innovation award at the 2005 New Statesman New Media Awards, with judges noting its significant contribution to UK civic society.
The impact reached the halls of power themselves. During a House of Lords debate on the Power Inquiry, Lord Gould of Brookwood described TheyWorkForYou and other mySociety projects as "probably the biggest single catalyst for political change in this country." This level of integration is evidenced by the fact that some MPs now use the site's own email alerts to keep track of their own parliamentary activity.
Technical Evolution and Global Expansion
To foster further innovation, the Department for Constitutional Affairs funded the creation of an API (Application Programming Interface)—a set of protocols that allows different software applications to communicate—in the summer of 2006. This allowed researchers to analyze debating patterns and enabled MPs to automatically publish their speeches on personal websites. Later that year, the site expanded to include the Northern Ireland Assembly Hansard (the official edited transcript of parliamentary debates) and all MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly).
Because the underlying code is open source, the model has been adapted globally:
- New Zealand: A local developer created TheyWorkForYou New Zealand.
- Australia: OpenAustralia launched in June 2008, making the Register of Senators' and Members' Interests available online for the first time.
- Ireland: A beta version called KildareStreet launched in April 2009, covering parliamentary data from January 2004 onwards.
While these adaptations prove the concept's value, mySociety notes that the original TheyWorkForYou code is highly complex and specific to the UK system. For other nations seeking to build similar monitoring tools, mySociety now recommends Pombola, their more generic and flexible platform.
Key Facts
- Founded: Launched at NotCon '04; adopted by mySociety in 2006.
- Core Function: Parses parliamentary data to make MP and Lord activity searchable.
- Key Milestone: Won the 2005 New Statesman New Media Award for Community and Innovation.
- Global Reach: Inspired similar projects in New Zealand, Australia (OpenAustralia), and Ireland (KildareStreet).
- Technical Nature: Open source code, though UK-specific; succeeded by the Pombola platform for international use.
| Year | Event/Milestone | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Launch at NotCon '04 | Initial release by volunteers using Public Whip software. |
| 2005 | New Statesman Award | Recognized for contribution to UK civic society. |
| 2006 | mySociety Adoption & API Launch | Formalized management and enabled third-party data use. |
| 2008 | OpenAustralia Launch | First time Australian Members' Interests were put online. |
| 2009 | KildareStreet Beta | Extension of parliamentary monitoring to Ireland. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who originally created TheyWorkForYou?
The site was created almost entirely by volunteers using parsing software from Public Whip before being adopted by mySociety in 2006.
What is the purpose of the API created in 2006?
The API allows other websites and researchers to access the site's data directly, enabling MPs to post speeches to their own sites and allowing analysts to study political debating trends.
Is the TheyWorkForYou code used in other countries?
Yes, the open-source code was adapted to create versions in New Zealand, Australia (OpenAustralia), and Ireland (KildareStreet).
Why does mySociety recommend Pombola over the original code for new projects?
The original TheyWorkForYou code is complex and specifically tailored to the UK's parliamentary structure, whereas Pombola is a more generic platform designed for broader application.
What data does the site cover beyond current MPs?
The site includes information on members of the House of Lords dating back to 1999 and the Northern Ireland Assembly Hansard.