As most of my friends will know I was a guest of an MP friend of mine at the House of Commons last week, so here is how the day went.
my brother in law Les and I left Crouch Hill at 9.30 got a bus to Finsbury Park tube station on the Victoria line to Green Park then one stop on to Westminster.
Well Westminster station was the first surprise SECURITY.......
As the tube came into the station their was reinforced glass all along the edge of the platform with doors to let people on and off the train, there were cameras every where and when we went to the main foyer it was all 18'' stainless steel girders, supporting re- enforced concrete which was similar to a honeycomb design. All though it sounds ugly there was a modern stylish look to it.
We maid our way to the visitors gate where there it was generally school children on day trips mostly English but few French and German
We were asked what our party was (I was ready to say Labour) I told him we were going to see our MP, so he gave us a visitors pass and we waited to go through security which was similar to that of airport security.
We made our way to the Central Lobby via Westminster Hall where the Queen Mother lay in state.
On approaching the Central Lobby there was a weird feeling of being in a very, very special place.
we got there about 10.30. and we were not to meet until 10.50 so we sat on these giant bench's, I am not a short person but when I sat right back I could not bend my legs, as my knee's were still on the seat and when I sat on the edge my feet couldn't touch the ground.
There were statues of all the Kings and Queens each about three feet high, standing on top of one and other to form four arches one each for St George, St David, St Patrick and St Andrew. and in the center was a candelabra that dell boy would have been proud of that hung from a mosaic turret which was mirror on the floor by a tiled pattern.
There seemed to be wood carvings everywhere.
I was like a wee boy in a toy shop, head moving from side to side sometimes nearly completing a 360 turn. As we were sitting there Bruce Forsythe and his wife walked by us and went into the House of Lords, so don't be surprised if he gets a Knighthood.
My mate came from the Commons, gave us our order papers got us our tickets for Prime Ministers\Questions and asked if we would like a quick look around.
Note: Any person registered to vote in an election in the UK has the right to enter the Central Lobby without gaining prior permission .
He took us into the corridor that has the Emblem of St George above it, it was the entrance to The Lords. It was smaller than you would imagine all decked out in red leather and carpet just as seen in the Queens opening of Parliament. The throne was something else, I am not a royalist but this was one of those ''fuck me moments'' ( I bet it has not been described like that before)
The hall at the back of the commons is all large paintings and has tables and chairs dotted about it, I thought that this was where all the defibrillators were kept, no but good idea.
In this hall directly behind the throne, back to back with it is a life size marble statue of Queen Victoria on her throne, which must be a bit strange for the Queen but I don't think she does strange.
From there we stood at the corner or the commons and the Central Lobby awaiting the Speakers procession suddenly the police are all over the place about ten of them and on stands in the center of the Central Lobby, the shout goes up, in a strange high pitched yell Speaker entering and the police man in the middle shouts strangers remove your hats (why is this I wonder) then the speaker enters the Chamber led by someone in 18th century dress and a woman carrying ''The Mace''.
I said to my MP pal I thought the Speaker would have got a taxi but seemingly the expences don't go that far now.
From there we went into our seats in the Commons for PMQ's Once again it seemed smaller than on the telly (yes I do watch the Parliament on telly , sad old man that I am)
The noise is louder as well and chattering when someone is speaking is out of order not to mention bad mannered, if kids were like that at school they would be made to stand out side the room.
There was cheering and booing hissing stamping and stomping and waving of order papers and I would have been disappointed if there wasn't. But some of the younger ones were like football supporters with their cries of ''bring it on'' is this the way ahead , I hope not.
After PMQ's we went to the Strangers Bar and had a few drinks, not as cheap as the press would have you believe we couldn't have lunch as he had a meeting at two with an other Scottish MP.
We got a few photos outside by the Thames it was a great day, my old dad would have been proud as he had always liked my mate, the MP as a young man.
My next post will be a short joke.
