Yesterday evening was a rather special one, since I spent it in the birthplace of this great democracy (or so they say), The Houses of Parliament. One of the great perks of attending LSE is that we have the opportunity of attending various talks/debates/conferences. Our Irish Politics class was invited by our Unionist lecturer (know simply as ‘The Unionist’) to attend a book launch by the Irish Academic Press for a book about the IRA bombing campaigns in the UK from the 70s to the 90s. So off I trotted in my nice ‘smart outfit’ and proper shoes (I didn’t think the Lords would share my appreciation of fine trainers) and got off at Westminster tube, feeling very chuffed with myself. We walked to the front of the queue of tourist eagerly waiting to get in to visit (always an ego-booster) and showed our invites. After a near cavity-search and extensive groping, we where showed through the grand entrance. I must say, it really is such an impressive building. It has such a feeling of austere grandure, and the first thing you see when you walk in on the left is the original assembly dating back to the 13th century, with its beautifully carved gothic wooden arches. We arrived early (keaners that we were) so we had a look in at the house of commons. It was funny seeing it in real like, with its green leather benches, and it actually feels quite small. They were discussing some sort of health bill and there were only about 5 people dotted around the assembly. The whole thing was really weird and informal, one guy was asleep, another was reading a paper, and this prat actually had his feet up on the desk where the speaker was sitting! I asked one of the ushers about him and he said they all used to do it before the Commons was televised and that now this particular MP was one of the few who persisted with this bad behaviour. Seriously, Brits are weird! And they wonder why the NHS is a shambles? We also had a look into the House of Lords, who were discussing an equally un-sexy and NOT A PRIORITY topic, climate change. The chamber is really impressive and full of gold adornment and plush red seats. I spotted the uncomfortable looking chair-person sitting on the wool sack(!) So the launch was a bit of a disappointment as we came expecting rivers of champagne and stacks of canapés. Unfortunately it was an ACTUAL talk, no finger-food involved in the operation at all.. But seriously, it was all very interesting (the author, Garry McGladdery had given a talk the previous night so I had already met him. He’s quite an outstanding person as he’s partially blind, and still managed to do a PHD and 5 or 6 years research for this book.) I was seated just behind and right of Lord King, who talked about his stay in room 201 in Brighton when the hotel went kamboom as well as the time the entire Conservative cabinet was nearly wiped out when a mortar bomb went off at No. 10. It was fascinating hearing his first-hand accounts. But seriously, what is it about posh-Tory old men and their disregard for articulation? Of the Northern Irish author and Lord King, the one speaking the Queen’s English was the most difficult to understand. (ra ra ra) We went for drinks after and I met one of David Trimble’s advisors from the UUP. (Apparently gay and unionist is not an oxymoron as I had previously been led to believe.) All in all, it was quite a fascinating experience and a real treat to be able to catch a glimpse at the making of British politics from so close. Ps… When you walk into the foyer bit, there are four corridors that stem from the central hall, and the cealing has four mosaics over each corridor representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Irish panel with a mosaic is of St. Patrick and St. Brigid and is handily situated over the exist corridor, for as The Unionist said “Ireland’s on its way out!”
