A great opportunity arrived as the State Apartments of Speaker's House, which accommodated visits and banquets for royalty and heads of state for over 160 years, became available to the public for the first time in a brief series of guided tours.
The tours occurred for only nine days in April 2022, from Monday, April 4th to Thursday, April 14th. They were priced at £13 per person. It was great since the Speaker's Art Fund, which supports cultural and educational programs to raise awareness of Parliamentary democracy across the UK, is bound to receive 100% of the proceeds from the tours.
The tour begins and ends in Westminster Hall, where MPs or Members of Parliament can raise local or national concerns and obtain a response from a government minister. Any MP can attend a discussion in Westminster Hall. Additionally, the primary Deputy Speaker, the Chairman of Ways and Means, is in charge of the business at all Westminster Hall sittings. If the Petitions Committee agrees, debates take place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Westminster Hall.
After exploring the Westminster Hall, we went to the recently restored State Apartments of Speaker's House, the area of the Palace of Westminster where the Speaker performs official business and stays. It now has offices, a dining room, and a bedroom.
Furthermore, during our stay there, we learned about the history and traditions of the Speaker's position. The Speaker's job dates back to at least 1377, and it has a lengthy history of changing responsibilities and customs. Today's Speaker has a wide range of responsibilities. His primary responsibility is to preside over House of Commons debates, but he also works to represent the House of Commons nationally and internationally. This pack of information includes the display of amazing artworks on exhibit.
Moreover, at the Houses of Parliament, I learned that in 1836, Sir Charles Barry won the design competition of Gothic architecture for this building after the old one burned down. This building was given to Parliament by the royals.
Also, people get kicked out for the use of unparliamentary language, which violates the rules of politeness and etiquette in the House of Commons. The Speaker's job includes ensuring that MPs do not use disrespectful or unpleasant language and do not accuse one another of lying, being inebriated, or misrepresenting one another's comments. Over the years, the Speaker has objected to the words blackguard, coward, git, guttersnipe, hooligan, rat, swine, stool pigeon, and traitor. The Speaker will tell an MP who has used unparliamentary language to retract it. If an MP refuses to withdraw a statement, they may face disciplinary action.
Furthermore, during the House of Commons and House of Lords debates, a formal discussion of a proposal will occur. Members of Parliament and Members of the House of Lords take turns speaking. The most important requirement is that debates be conducted according to norms and traditions. MPs and Lords have the chance to debate government policy, propose new legislation, and topical issues during debates. Members of the House of Lords can talk about matters brought to their notice by the public, and MPs can express their constituents' concerns and interests. All discussions are documented in the 'Hansard,' which is accessible online or in print.
Aside from all of that, throughout the one-hour tour, we were able can explore the Grand Staircase, the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, and the State Bedroom.
To conclude, it was a fantastic experience and opportunity to learn more about how the UK Parliament operates, including the debating process, how they address public issues and the lengthy history of Speakers. Furthermore, the guided tour is brief, and a one-hour trip is insufficient to learn about the Parliament's rich history. However, through being visually immersed in history, I was able to comprehend and completely appreciate the work of the United Kingdom's supreme legislative body.
