Mike Watts
Head of Parliamentary Unit

Mike recently became the Head of the Parliamentary Unit at Westminster Explained, leading on the design, and delivery of bespoke programmes on Parliament and Government.

Prior to this, Mike spent twenty one years in the Civil Service, all with the Education Department (DES, DFEE, DFES, DCSF) and in many varying roles. Mike was Assistant Private Secretary and Diary Manager to John Butcher MP and Alan Howarth MP. Cabinet Documents Officer to Kenneth Clarke MP (Secretary of State for Education), John Patten MP (Secretary of State for Education) and to Gillian Shephard MP (Secretary of State for Education & Employment).

Mike became Deputy Parliamentary Clerk in 1995 before moving to the position of Lords Researcher to Baroness Ashton working direct to the Minister on all aspects of Lords Business from PQs to Legislation (HE Bill and Children Bill). He then returned to the Parliamentary Team as Parliamentary Clerk for the DFES and after the Machinery of Government changes in 2007 the Parliamentary team took on the role of joint working across two Departments (DCSF/DIUS formed from the old DFES) and Mike became the Parliamentary Clerk for the joint Departments.

Mike has produced and facilitated numerous training events within the two Departments, including PQs training, PMQ briefing training, and training on the Role of the Parliamentary Clerk and The Passage of Legislation. Mike has served under both Conservative and Labour administrations.

Contact details:

Westminster Explained
Lower Ground Floor
4 Grosvenor Place
London
SW1X 7 DL

Telephone: 020 7096 2927