House of Commons -- Public Gallery review
Whenever I visit the Houses of Parliament I always like to begin my day with a little sit-down in Parliament Square, to watch the flock of pigeons defecate on the statues' heads. This is a great reminder not to think too highly of our politicians -- these people are not role models. Just because we pay them sixty grand a year doesn't mean they deserve it. When you're sitting up in the public gallery you won't see people cheering and clapping and blowing kisses at them. People don't swoon at their heroes like kids do at a pop concert. The seats will be full of people peering down at the performing MPs, trying to spot a few famous faces off the telly.
The first time that you enter the House of Commons is one of those highlights you'll remember forever. It will probably mean much more to a Brit, because they're used to seeing this room on the news every night, but it's still going to be a memorable moment for a tourist. Put it this way: I've been here loads of times now, and I still get a little thrill whenever I step through the door. The public gallery is at the back of the Commons, looking down upon the MPs heads. You can see the Speaker's chair directly ahead, the bewigged clerks below him, the front benches where the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition sit, and the central table where all the books are stacked up, but you can't see anything further south than that. Unfortunately this is where it starts to get a bit boring -- because you have to sit here listening to the politicians. There are only nineteen MPs present in the chamber today, none of whom I recognise, and all I've heard so far is John Bercow droning on about Parliamentary privilege. It's quite warm in here and the MPs are just lounging around waiting for the teacher to stop talking. One guy is happily flapping his tie back and forth over his shoulder. Another lady is lazily arranging the folds of her skirt across the top of her knee. Another Labour guy has spent the last two minutes staring up at the forest of microphones hanging from the ceiling as he waits for Bercow to finish (he's never going to finish). I've never noticed those before actually: there must be a hundred of the things just dangling from the top like streamers. Hmm... interesting. Is Bercow still talking? That guy certainly loves to talk. That must be why they call him the Speaker: because that's all he ever does. This is our government. These are the people who run the country. Sitting here fighting off their pins and needles by making little circular shapes with their ankles. The green seats around them are strewn with plastic folders and typed-up letters. When you finally get tired of trying not to fall asleep then you should definitely seek out the little gift shop and cafe. You can find them through a little door at the end of Westminster Hall. They sell some nice Parliamentary souvenirs in there. Note: the last time I came here they confiscated your camera and mobile phone before you entered the chamber, but they seem to have relaxed the rules now. They still confiscate your camera but they let you keep hold of your phone (even though it has a camera on it). They even let you type on it whilst you're sitting in the gallery -- but they'll kick you out if you start taking phone calls and snapping photos. Photography is still a definite no-no.
I’ve been here more than once…
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