please empty your brain below
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Please be sure to fill in the DG 'Gifts, Entertainment and Hospitality' register, so that we can see who has lobbied you.
new still anon | 13.05.18 - 12:56 p.m. | #
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I too know someone (actually more than one person) whose place of work is the Houses of Parliament, and have had the opportunity to tour the building. I'm easily impressed by grand buildings, but was gobsmacked that day to find myself in the historic palace. Didn't make it to the Terrace unfortunately, but did go through an underground tunnel to Portcullis House and got to tour the new committee rooms - truly fascinating, and full of historic portraits and contemporary art.
Frank F | 13.05.18 - 1:04 p.m. | #
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A very interesting read,DG,and I'm envious.
However,I think that the front benches in the Commons are two swords lengths apart not sword widths. That would have the opposite parties with their knees touching! Not a happy thought but it might liven up PM's question time. 😂😂
Jo W | 13.05.18 - 3:10 p.m. | #
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Having had a different privilege of a learned lecture on the state of the Palace of Westminster's services, the splendour is suported by Victoian plumbing, 20th century electrics and asbestos. If one talks about being sh*t upon from a great height, it could happen....literally! That is one of the reasons why they want everyone to move out whilst they fix it.
100andthirty | 13.05.18 - 3:38 p.m. | #
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Our local MP invited our fairly small council department for a visit and gave twelve of us a grand guided tour, I was very pleased that we ended up having a very enjoyable drink on the terrace overlooking the river, we were lucky enough to bag a group photo before we were approached and told in no uncertain terms that photography was not allowed, this being our third reprimand of the day, the first two for sitting on the benches in both the commons and the lords.
fishislandskin | 13.05.18 - 4:06 p.m. | #
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Much easier to apologise than to seek permission!
100andthirty | 13.05.18 - 4:16 p.m. | #
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Nice views from the terrace!
Cornish Cockney | 13.05.18 - 6:07 p.m. | #
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Good words which convey a lot of atmosphere, and as well illustrated as it could have been given the rules. Or probably better than a strict following of the rules might have achieved - I assume that any photo-ban on the terrace was not mentioned...
I particularly like "while pretending to be asleep". I suspect "pretending to be awake" may arise more frequently, but who knows?
Malcolm | 13.05.18 - 6:59 p.m. | #
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I did the "official" tour years ago as a schoolboy, but this was much more interesting. Thanks!
James Webber | 13.05.18 - 7:14 p.m. | #
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The official tour is very good, and you get to see all the big important rooms.
diamond geezer | Homepage | 13.05.18 - 7:18 p.m. | #
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£1.41 for kippers isn't that cheap if they have been there since Monday!
greatkingrat | 13.05.18 - 8:59 p.m. | #
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Rather ironic that it shows its who you know that still opens doors to Parliament
Saatchi | 14.05.18 - 7:03 a.m. | #
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I met a friend for lunch in the Commons - we went to the Terrace tearoom, but were told that the Terrace itself was for members only, no visitors. (The cafe inside is fine, though has a screened-off area at the back for MPs. We saw John Prescott heading in to that bit.)
My most recent visit was part of an NCT-organised lobby of MPs - it must have been an odd sight to see so many prams lined up at Cromwell Gate.
martin | 14.05.18 - 8:03 a.m. | #
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Lovely article, as usual, but I must protest that the Houses of Parliament are *not* government buildings: the freehold is owned by the Crown, and (since the days of Harold Wilson) Parliament itself (in what legal guise I do not know) controls most of it. What Parliament does not control, the Crown does. (https://whoownsengland.org/2016/09/06/who-owns-parliament/)
Lilyami | 14.05.18 - 8:07 a.m. | #
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When I had a similar tour with our local MP, I was appalled at the subsidised canteen with the smiling dinner ladies spooning out public school nosh to pampered parliamentarians. I thought this kind of thing had been phased out in government offices about 20 years ago! It probably has, but not here.
I felt that the whole oak panelled, gold plated and leather bound building, with its hot and cold running servants and cheap booze, just feeds the sense of clubby entitlement that so many MPs display. It's certainly not a practical or efficient place for our legislators and their staff to work in, but we're still going to spend £4bn to keep it that way!
ActonMan | 14.05.18 - 5:02 p.m. | #
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I once got to go down on to the floor of the US Senate when my daughter was a Senate Page. I highly recommend everyone try to see the places our leaders go to work everyday, if only to see that they really do work in the most beautiful places....now, how hard they're working is another story.
steven | Homepage | 14.05.18 - 6:17 p.m. | #
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Well yes, our highly paid legislators do get subsidised food and drink, but the vast majority of the subsidy will go towards the (largely underpaid) parliamentary staff and researchers. Whilst subsidised work canteens are certainly less common than they were, a lot of big employers do still seem to have them. The subsidised booze isn't so easy to defend, but the people I know who work in parliament do work hard and some very long hours.
Anders | 15.05.18 - 1:22 p.m. | #
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..to which the answer is to pay the low paid workers more or give them meal vouchers. I see that the total annual parliamentary food and drink subsidy is about £2.5 million, and prices are still subsidised in areas where only MPs have access. The whole place just oozes selfish entitlement!
ActonMan | 15.05.18 - 7:43 p.m. | #
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