St. Wilfrid's day in Parliament

Seven o’clock, Monday the 8^th of March on a cold frosty morning, a party of 19 student councillors, all wide awake, accompanied by 4 dutiful members of staff, set off on the journey to Westminster to meet local Labour MP John Trickett.

Two political researchers waited there to practise their skills as tour guides and our grand tour of the Houses of Parliament began. On the itinerary: Westminster Palace with angels supporting the roof beams; the broom cupboard where Emily Davison hid from cleaning duties; various statues and portraits of Prime Ministers, including Winston Churchill’s well rubbed toe; the House of Lords with the Queen’s throne, Woolsack and red benches; the door battered by Black Rod on the state opening of Parliament. Then into the Chamber of Commons, (no sitting on the green benches!), the Speaker’s Chair, (and footstool), Dispatch Box, TV cameras and microphones.

So it is a real place after all – not just a film set for the News!

The Question and Answer session in the Committee room showed everyone had been very attentive and meant everyone received a badge and pencil as prizes including Mr Maltman. Some very interesting questions were put to John Trickett about an MP’s lifestyle and salary, not to mention life inside 10 Downing Street with PM Gordon. No time for shopping but everyone posed for the group photo taken in the 800 year old Palace of Westminster (where Henry VIII played tennis and Charles I faced trial). Back on the tube to King’s Cross, up and down escalators, quick bite to eat on the station platform and return to Wakefield.

I wonder what John Trickett thought about it all?

“Jon Trickett met a group of very intelligent young students from St Wilfrid’s in Featherstone when they came to the House of Commons yesterday. They had a tour of Parliament and then received a briefing from staff in my office and the office of Yvette Cooper about how Parliament works. I joined them in what was a busy day for a question and answer session. I have to say that they were very tough in their questioning but also fair!"

(entry on John Trickett’s Facebook page)

Mr N Turner (NELC Coordinator)