MPs, even those of us who have not been caught out making creative expense claims, are held in low esteem these days. But before you write us all off, give the following some thought.

Occasionally, I travel up to Westminster on Sunday night to make an early start the next day but usually I go up on Monday morning. Once I arrive there maybe meetings to attend and sometimes constituents to meet but there will certainly be paper work to catch up with, email to answer and preparations to be made for the week ahead.

The House sits formally at 2.30pm although other committee meetings may have been held in the morning. The final vote on a Monday will be at 10pm unless the business of the day is excluded from this rule in which case the House can sit much later. There is an adjournment debate after the final vote, so I will head to my London accommodation either at about 10.30pm after the vote or at 11pm after the final debate.

Tuesdays to Thursdays I will be at my desk by 8am. On Tuesday, like Monday, the House rises around 11pm. On Wednesdays the final debate concludes about 8pm and on Thursday’s by around 6.45pm. If I can get away on a Thursday I head back to the constituency, if the House is sitting on Friday I may have to stay another night.

Friday’s, when the House is not sitting to discuss Private Members Bills, are constituency days. I visit schools, local businesses and health services as well as meeting the police, constituent groups or attending PACT meetings or meetings at the Council. Friday in my case is also surgery day. Saturday’s and Sundays can also be working days for MPs as we visit fetes, exhibitions, visit constituents or show our support for local voluntary groups.

Throughout the week there are the demands of running what is in effect a small business. We have our staff to manage and our ‘customers’ to serve. My office receives hundreds of letters every week and every day I receive about 100 emails. I estimate that my team and I have helped about 20,000 people over the years and we write about 3500 letters to and on behalf of constituents every year.

Then there is the political work that MPs don’t get paid for but which is a vital part of our democracy. I have meetings with Party members and trade union groups to attend. Doorstep campaigning is also vital. Political mail, web sites and emails all have to be handled separately from Parliamentary communications and, in my case, because I am Vice Chair of the Labour Party I will sometimes have to make speeches to Party groups around the South East as well.

All this adds up to about 60-70 hours a week when Parliament is sitting. When Parliament is in recess, contrary to what the press like to print, MPs are not on holiday. I get to take a few weeks break like everyone else, but most recesses I work in the constituency. I don’t do the same hours as I would when the House is sitting but I expect to do about 35 to 40 hours most weeks.

The above is based on my own work pattern but most MPs would tell a similar story. None of it is an excuse for fiddling expenses. Nor is it a demand for a bigger salary. It is a plea, however, for you to understand that most MPs do work very hard. Don’t tar us all with the same brush.