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| A view from the front of Parliament at night |
The day began with a cold... very cold, 6AM wake up before meeting the group at Farnham station to catch one of the 'commuter trains'. Naturally, it was still pitch black and each carriage was completely packed with London business-types, and as it happened only two of us managed to saddle a seat (me being one of them). Now it was always assumed that one of us students would sleep through their alarm and miss the train, but it sure was funny to watch Ben run onto the platform as the train slowly rolled past his windswept face.
Due to some clever train switching at Aldershot on Ben's behalf, however, we only had to wait at Waterloo for about 15 minutes. After an overpriced coffee at Costa and with our full team, we set off walking (thanks to ANOTHER tube strike) across Westminster Rd Bridge, marvelling at a few photo opportunities of the famous Big Ben in all its glory.
Upon arriving outside Parliament and surviving their vigorous security checks, our all access tour began. Unlike most others I had already visited both the Commons and the Lords, but I absolutely love the political and historic significance of it all, so it was no skin off my nose... unlike the bleak walk across the Themes.
I think the most noteworthy parts of that tour were being able to stand on the front benches of the Commons and take stance upon the debating table as if I were Cameron or Miliband myself, and being told that Michael Jackson once requested to purchase the queen's ornate gold canopy and throne... only an American aye.
After a disappointing no-show from deputy political editor of the BBC, James Landale, and instead listening to Steve Usher's rather interesting tails of his past journalistic career, we decided to call it lunch. As tempting as my memories of the caramel apple and white chocolate muffins are, £3.50 is just a bit dear, so half of us headed back over the frozen bridge to reap the benefits of our student cards in McDonald's.
We were then given the privilege of sitting in the public gallery of the Commons and watching Farnham's own Right Honourable Jeremy Hunt answer questions from members of the house on the subjects of Media, Culture and Sport. They were mostly uninteresting and difficult to follow, examples being broadband Internet and the tourism industry in Wells, but it was indeed something special just being there. We also got to witness the 700 year-old tradition of the Speaker entering the chamber, who was followed by clerks carrying swords and the queen's symbolic two-foot mace.
Following on we then had a Q & A session, which was mostly just A, with Lib Dem MP for Colchester Bob Russell. Surprisingly, he told us about his original career path in journalism within various newspapers, and announced he was the fastest typing MP, encouraging us all to learn our Shorthand to keep up with the 220 words-a-minute Hansard reporters (lol). But he knew we were all dying to ask him the burning question of university tuition fees, so he came right out with his statement before we could even badger him! In true political fashion, he didn't answer the question with complete clarity, and made his statement "I will stick to the pledge" (meaning the original, reduced fee's), being careful not to respond with a forthcoming yes or no. Still, though, many a man in his position wouldn't even give us the time of day, so I am grateful for his appearance.
We rounded the day off with a nice cold ale at St. Stephens Tavern, which was literally a minutes’ walk from Parliament, courtesy of a very generous Steve Usher. All in all, it was a great day.
