Houses of Parliament
24th March 2017
Despite the terrorist attack in Westminster on 22 March, it was ‘business as usual’ at the seat of our democracy when, two days later, a party of fifty of our members visited the Houses of Parliament. Security at the entrance of Portcullis House was, of course, very tight but everyone was ‘processed’ with impressive efficiency, much the same as we are all now well accustomed to face in an airport.
It was fortuitous that our visit took place on a Friday and our ‘timed’ tour scheduled for late in the afternoon. Hence, MPs had left for the weekend which allowed us to see more of the building than I believe would otherwise have been the case.
We started our tour in Westminster Hall – an impression space used for banquets and grand occasions and also for the Lying in State of previous monarchs before burial. From there, we entered the Houses of Parliament proper and after quite a trek through dark passages and corridors, with the history of various artefacts explained by our guide, we came to the ‘Central Lobby’ through which the Speaker of the Commons processes with Black Rod when the House of Commons is in session. The Lobby was much smaller and darker than it appears in TV News reports. We then moved on to the Lords Chamber with its ornately gilded Speaker’s Chair, the Woolsack and the familiar red benches. The Commons Chamber by contrast was decidedly lacking in ornamentation and was very obviously the workplace of MPs. Here again, it is so much smaller than it appears on television. I noted that the Speaker’s Chair was sagging in the seat and the Despatch Box looked decidedly worn. Compared to pictures of the Scottish Parliament (all shiny and new) the Commons Chamber must be a difficult place in which to work, given that there is nowhere for MPs to place papers, much less make notes during debates. Doubtless, it is the history and traditions of the place that sustain them.
The guide took us through a Division Lobby and explained the somewhat arcane system of voting: when the Division Bell sounds, all MPs have 8 minutes in which to present themselves physically to the Whips who ‘count them all into the Lobby’ – a system apparently designed to eliminate corrupt practices. Surely not!
A fascinating visit and a first for me. But I would certainly like to go again when the House is in session and listen to a debate (albeit behind a bullet-proof screen!)
(Pictures provided by Mick Stallwood)
Janet Cato
March 2017
It was fortuitous that our visit took place on a Friday and our ‘timed’ tour scheduled for late in the afternoon. Hence, MPs had left for the weekend which allowed us to see more of the building than I believe would otherwise have been the case.
We started our tour in Westminster Hall – an impression space used for banquets and grand occasions and also for the Lying in State of previous monarchs before burial. From there, we entered the Houses of Parliament proper and after quite a trek through dark passages and corridors, with the history of various artefacts explained by our guide, we came to the ‘Central Lobby’ through which the Speaker of the Commons processes with Black Rod when the House of Commons is in session. The Lobby was much smaller and darker than it appears in TV News reports. We then moved on to the Lords Chamber with its ornately gilded Speaker’s Chair, the Woolsack and the familiar red benches. The Commons Chamber by contrast was decidedly lacking in ornamentation and was very obviously the workplace of MPs. Here again, it is so much smaller than it appears on television. I noted that the Speaker’s Chair was sagging in the seat and the Despatch Box looked decidedly worn. Compared to pictures of the Scottish Parliament (all shiny and new) the Commons Chamber must be a difficult place in which to work, given that there is nowhere for MPs to place papers, much less make notes during debates. Doubtless, it is the history and traditions of the place that sustain them.
The guide took us through a Division Lobby and explained the somewhat arcane system of voting: when the Division Bell sounds, all MPs have 8 minutes in which to present themselves physically to the Whips who ‘count them all into the Lobby’ – a system apparently designed to eliminate corrupt practices. Surely not!
A fascinating visit and a first for me. But I would certainly like to go again when the House is in session and listen to a debate (albeit behind a bullet-proof screen!)
(Pictures provided by Mick Stallwood)
Janet Cato
March 2017