Americans React: Tour of the House of Lords - Inside the UK Parliament

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  • Опубліковано 29 кві 2024
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    Reacting To My Roots
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    In this video, we react to a tour of the House of Lords and discover what happens in this essential half of the UK Parliament. We were amazed by the stunning beauty of the House of Lords-it almost looks like a cathedral!
    Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this reaction please give this video a thumbs up, share your thoughts in the comments and click the subscribe button to follow my journey to learn about my British and Irish ancestry.
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    👉 Original Video by UK Parliament:
    • Take a tour of the Hou...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 718

  • @MarkmanOTW
    @MarkmanOTW 28 днів тому +95

    I visited the House of Lords whilst I was a student. Sitting in the public gallery I witnessed the Lords refuse the Commons proposal to withdraw free bus travel for schoolchildren. It brought home to me that the House of Lords is filled with experienced and wise heads, appointed from across society and the political spectrum that are less driven by short-term political ambitions of the 'elected MPs' in the Commons, but are focused on the wider good for the nation in terms on impacting on the culture and long-term wellbeing of society and the UK.
    It's a favourite target for many to dismiss how important and relevant the House of Lords is and their role, and complain that they are 'unelected' (with the inference that 'elected' representatives will be somehow more relevant/in touch and better equipped), and therefore not make decisions in the best interest of the UK's citizens. It's a fair observation that historically, the HoL was comprised of hereditary peers (aristocracy) and perceived as a 'mens club' and out of touch, however this has been reformed in recent decades with a greater proportion men and women being Life Peers appointed from government, business, judiciary, science, arts etc + the Bishops of the Church of England.
    The sentiment to remove the House of Lords can come from those who either don't fully appreciate the balance this brings to Parliament, and the impact they have on national life, or it simply reinforces their own personal views and political agendas. The Lords perform an important constitutional role in scrutinising the proposals received from the House of Commons, as well as holding them accountable, and ultimately approving the passing of legislation.

    • @chixma7011
      @chixma7011 28 днів тому +11

      Well said, I absolutely agree with you. 😊

    • @djs98blue
      @djs98blue 28 днів тому +7

      I agree with the spirit of what you have said but are they really representative of the wide range of people and interests across the UK? 72% of the Lords are men, the average age is 71, 70% are privately educated, and 95% have a university degree, 85% are married, there are 55 ethnic minority members out of 787. Perhaps we need a system to ensure wider representation and better accountability of the House of Commons. We could have qualifying criteria for their appointment or maybe just elect them on longer-term.

    • @MarkmanOTW
      @MarkmanOTW 28 днів тому +9

      @@djs98blue Agreed, there's always room for improvement. At the same time I would say that the HoL doesn't operate in a vacuum, and with (maybe slow) change, can understanding of 'real world issues' move forward hand-in-hand with gravitas, wisdom, values, informing decision-making instead of succumbing to populist trends or self interest. The heft and responsibility of the HoL does require suitably experienced people from diverse backgrounds, but should be comprised by those of high standards, character, cultural sensitivity, and intellectual and emotional intelligence whatever their age or gender. 😊

    • @tonys1636
      @tonys1636 28 днів тому +5

      @@djs98blue With age comes wisdom, not guaranteed, life experience of what has worked in the past and what did not so the mistakes and the just daft can be avoided where possible. Whether an Hereditary Peer (believe that only 14 allowed to sit nowadays) or been elevated to a Life Peer, a Lord/Lady Bishop or a Lord/Lady Justice (when not sitting in the Supreme Court) they all play an important role.

    • @djs98blue
      @djs98blue 28 днів тому +1

      @@tonys1636 i'm sure they do and I guess as society becomes more inclusive the HoL might be too but I suspect there is more than could be done

  • @bear6845
    @bear6845 28 днів тому +62

    The oldest bit that survives and is still used is Westminster Hall, 1087 ish. Queen Elizabeth II, lay in state there.

    • @andrewcoates6641
      @andrewcoates6641 28 днів тому +11

      As did Sir Winston Churchill.

    • @MiningForPies
      @MiningForPies 28 днів тому +4

      @@andrewcoates6641just Winston Churchill, not Sir Winston when he was lying in state (knighthoods are lost at the moment of death)

    • @andrewcoates6641
      @andrewcoates6641 28 днів тому +1

      @@MiningForPies I acknowledge your point of protocol but at the point of writing he was held in such high esteem by the entire country that had looked to him in the time of war for his leadership.

    • @martynmiller4247
      @martynmiller4247 27 днів тому +1

      @@MiningForPies He was offered "Duke of London" and declined it...

    • @MiningForPies
      @MiningForPies 26 днів тому +1

      @@martynmiller4247 he was already a Duke. That’s how he passed his entrance exam into one of the most exclusive schools, he wrote “I am the son of the Duke of Marlborough” and that was enough.

  • @markfour2841
    @markfour2841 28 днів тому +107

    The Great Fire of London was 200 years earlier

    • @tamielizabethallaway2413
      @tamielizabethallaway2413 28 днів тому +11

      Which one???
      😂 I know you mean 1666 ...
      but I only recently discovered there were quite a number of historical fires of London! Honestly! We never learnt THAT in school! 😊

    • @SeasideBandit
      @SeasideBandit 28 днів тому +3

      ​@@tamielizabethallaway2413It is ashame that we are only taught some of the most prolific events in history at school, such as tad bits about Henry VIII and WW2. I took Interest in Richard III after they found his skeleton under a car park in Leicester. Boudica is another.

    • @billythedog-309
      @billythedog-309 28 днів тому +1

      @@SeasideBandit By we l think you mean you.

    • @SeasideBandit
      @SeasideBandit 28 днів тому

      @@billythedog-309 can you not use any punctuation marks on your keyboard? I can't make any sense of what you have typed.

    • @tamielizabethallaway2413
      @tamielizabethallaway2413 28 днів тому

      @@markdevonshire6052 yes I know, I'm just saying if you Google it, there were a LOT of fires in London, that were each known in their day, of being The Great Fire of London...perhaps... I can't remember now...but perhaps 1666 was the last one and why it was remembered as being as though it was the ONLY one??

  • @christineharding4190
    @christineharding4190 28 днів тому +48

    The Great Fire of London happened in 1666 and destroyed huge swathes of the City of London that is nothing to do with the area now known as the City of Westminster, which is aprox 4.5 miles to the west. The 11th century Westminster Hall, the last remaining section of the old Palace of Westminster, was incorporated into the rebuilt H of P. There have been several big fires in/near London, including the destruction of Whitehall Palace in 1698. All that remains of Whitehall (White Hall) Palace is the Banqueting House which stands opposite Horse Guards in Whitehall.

  • @claregale9011
    @claregale9011 28 днів тому +12

    Hi Guys , westminster Hall where the late queen lie in state is very old 1097 . Its still standing . 😊

  • @margaretnicol3423
    @margaretnicol3423 28 днів тому +6

    If you like smaller parties there is always Screaming Lord Sutch's Official Monster Raving Loony Party! 🤣🤪

  • @paulwright9749
    @paulwright9749 28 днів тому +33

    It’s a royal palace in that it is owned by the crown and so yep, they made it look sumptuous. It wasn’t the great fire of London and not all of the original building was destroyed. Take a look at Westminster Hall where HM The Queen was rested in state. The hall was built in the eleventh century 😮

  • @davidwatts-hw2dh
    @davidwatts-hw2dh 28 днів тому +70

    NONE of this happens without the people of the UK. IT is OUR Parliament! WE built the place!

    • @poppletop8331
      @poppletop8331 28 днів тому +11

      Absolutely right.👍👍👍

    • @djs98blue
      @djs98blue 28 днів тому +22

      Not sure the House of Lords is a symbol of democracy

    • @katharinereynolds25
      @katharinereynolds25 28 днів тому +5

      Unfortunately it's a shame that the political parties spend alot of their time highly paid and asleep which to me is appsolutly disgusting

    • @davidwatts-hw2dh
      @davidwatts-hw2dh 28 днів тому +1

      @@djs98blue I will let you know when I am made a 'Lord'. ha ha

    • @ffotograffydd
      @ffotograffydd 28 днів тому +2

      Is anyone actually disputing that? 😂

  • @AceEagle-pm1bn
    @AceEagle-pm1bn 28 днів тому +18

    People will always complain about the House of Lords being unelected, but it is infinitely more competent than the idiots that sit in the Commons. The Peers have worked, they are land owners, business owners, and far more in tune with the country than the wastes of space that we elect to the Commons every few years. For example, the UK would have joined Bush in the invasion of Iraq had the Commons had their way - the Lords blocked it. People forget this along with many other examples. Love the reactions guys!

    • @cheryltotheg2880
      @cheryltotheg2880 28 днів тому +2

      I still think they shouldn’t get those free lunches and expenses though. Why can’t they buy their own lunches ?????

    • @RevPeterTrabaris
      @RevPeterTrabaris 28 днів тому +3

      It is fascinating how we pretty much think of the members of the Lower House, or the Commons, depending on which side of the pond we are on, as the idiots. Thankfully, your House of Lords is not as worries about elections as our Senators have to be. This American so prefers your form of government, even including the Monarchy. I'm weird that way. Peace

    • @glastonbury4304
      @glastonbury4304 28 днів тому

      ​@RevPeterTrabaris ...prefer our Monarchy as its a constitutional Monarchy, rather than a ruling one....I'd absolutely hate losing the House of Lords to another load of elected muppets only concerned with themselves and easy to manipulate ...it works as it is and most crackpot schemes the Lower House come up with are thrown back to the Lower House....

    • @michaels640
      @michaels640 28 днів тому +1

      I strongly believe that the Lords should not be elected. We elect the House of Commons; we choose them to be the government. The Lords is a check, and can ask three (?) times, will you consider this? and the Commons deal with those questions. If the Lords were elected, then they too can say they have a ‘mandate from the people’ - you then have two separate mandates which might conflict. I think you should keep it simple, Commons to pass legislation, Lords to be a check with limited number of times they can send it back to the Commons, and if the people don’t agree with the Commons, then vote them out at a general election. As we are about to do…

    • @lindylou7853
      @lindylou7853 26 днів тому

      Religious leaders of all sorts … charity workers … people who have done good deeds … BUT an awful lot of people are elevated to the Lords as a result of political favours or financial support for the various parties … ex- prime minister can select people for honours … so friends, supporters. … and even family get elected to the ores or given honours . The Lords have a few subsidised restaurants and bars … their families can get married there … during the time Parliament is sitting, lords get about £300 a day for attendance … not working … my old company chairmen had the company chauffeur drive him there for lunch every day and then back to the office afterwards … £300 a day plus unquestioned expenses, when he didn’t have any!!!

  • @pabmusic1
    @pabmusic1 28 днів тому +16

    The Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) did not burn down in the Great Fire of London (which was in the 1600s). Different fire.

  • @liveinhope
    @liveinhope 26 днів тому +1

    With reference to the committee corridor, the carpet colour of the Lords corridor is red and the Commons Corridor is green.
    The fire of London was in 1666 and did not burn down the palace then. The 1834 fire destroyed all of the palace apart from the Great Hall dating back to 1085. Any visitor tends to pass through the great hall when they enter the palace.

  • @KingOuf1er
    @KingOuf1er 28 днів тому +7

    You might find it interesting to watch something about the restoration of Windsor Castle following the fire in the early 1990s. It will show that there are still amazing craftsmen and women around who can produce buildings and their contents every bit as magnificent as those created centuries ago.

    • @brigidsingleton1596
      @brigidsingleton1596 28 днів тому

      The fire which did so much damage to Windsor Castle was in _1992_ ... I'm not likely to forget it because our late Queen Elizabeth II called it her "annual horibilis" but for me, the same was true due to the fact I had twins - a boy & a girl - in January 1992... Philip Julian Leigh lived 6_hours, Marianne Zara Cyrena - breech-born 6_minutes after him - lived 12_hours....
      A year truly never to be forgotten. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿😔🇬🇧🤔🖖

  • @margaretwilliams3504
    @margaretwilliams3504 28 днів тому +16

    Great Fire of London 1666. 1834 Houses of Parliament burned down.
    These were two very different fires over 200 years apart.

  • @Millennial_Manc
    @Millennial_Manc 28 днів тому +31

    Overseas visitors are allowed into the public gallery to watch debates. There are public galleries in the committee rooms too where a group of MPs will tackle a specific subject and take evidence from witnesses, often after a scandal but sometimes just for shaping new policies and legislation at the early stages. The public gallery is just attending a specific area, not a tour, as the tours are only on days when it’s not sitting ie weekends and the Summer Recess.
    Visiting the Palace of Westminster is one of my favourite things I’ve ever done in London. UK residents can get free tickets from their MP, otherwise £26 for an audio tour.
    One of the most remarkable things that not many people know is that the term “lobby your MP” is literal in the UK. You have the right to arrange to meet your MP in person in the lobby (where the video tour started) to raise any issues or injustices that are very important to you.
    Not many people do it because MPs have a ‘surgery’ in their constituency where you can visit them or their team without travelling to London, but it’s a way of getting their undivided attention. Whether it’s a local beloved building about to be demolished or if you have something to say about the conflict in Ukraine, can say your piece to your MP’s face.

    • @reactingtomyroots
      @reactingtomyroots  28 днів тому +5

      That's awesome that you can literally meet them there and "lobby." 😂 I think we can do that as well, but like you said, most just arrange to meet in their "home" offices if need be as it's more convenient. Visiting the parliament building is definitely something we'd prioritize if and when we make it to London!

    • @Joseph13163
      @Joseph13163 28 днів тому

      @@reactingtomyroots Your whitehouse is based on leinster house irelands parliament building though at the time it wasn't a parliament building it was the home of a Duke.

    • @mattk5020
      @mattk5020 28 днів тому

      Foreigners are allowed in the House Of Lords..​@@reactingtomyroots

    • @mattk5020
      @mattk5020 28 днів тому

      ​@@reactingtomyrootsCheck out Hampton Court Palace and Blicking Hall and Tower of London and Sudeley Castle and Muncaster Castle and Powderham Castle.

  • @surfaceten510n
    @surfaceten510n 28 днів тому +45

    The Houses of Parliament is also known as the Palace of Westminster

    • @watcherzero5256
      @watcherzero5256 28 днів тому +4

      Because it was originally a Royal Palace that was given over to be used by government.

    • @stephwaite
      @stephwaite 28 днів тому +1

      ​​​@@watcherzero5256wasn't that the old Palace of Westminster that burned down in 1834?
      I think work started on the current PoW in 1840. The architects Were James Barry and Augustus Pugin. Pugin had a house in my father's home town of Ramsgate. There was a TV programme about him that showed the house.. it was incredible.

    • @watcherzero5256
      @watcherzero5256 28 днів тому +6

      @@stephwaite There are still bits of the original building left, such as the Westminster Hall which is the original medieval great hall from 1097, the wooden roof thats still in situ dates back to 1393.

    • @missharry5727
      @missharry5727 28 днів тому

      The Palace of Westminster is probably the finest example of the architectural style known as Victorian Gothic. Gothic architecture is the various styles used for building churches and so on in the Middle Ages, like most of our great cathedrals. The Victorians thought that Gothic was a really good style for big important buildings. Half the churches, town halls etc in England are built in the Gothic style but are actually Victorian, built in the mid to late 19th century. The real thing dates from the late 12th to the early 16th centuries. The Palace of Westminster was built in the mid to late 19th centuries after its predecessor was destroyed by fire, NOT the great fire of London

    • @kathchandler4919
      @kathchandler4919 27 днів тому

      @@watcherzero5256 which most folk would recognise as the place her Majesty the Queen lay in State

  • @stevehartley7504
    @stevehartley7504 28 днів тому +19

    Our MPs have to register any companies who they work for.

  • @davidsmith8728
    @davidsmith8728 28 днів тому +3

    It used to be that tours were restricted to UK residents only. However, that has now been relaxed and, when parliament in in recess - during the summer for example - it is possible to book tours of the Palace of Westminster and the Queen Elizabeth Tower which houses the Big Ben bell. If you ever come to the UK, I can highly recommend it.

  • @helenwood8482
    @helenwood8482 28 днів тому +4

    It wasn't the people who took power from the monarch. It was Parliament.

  • @whitedwarf4986
    @whitedwarf4986 28 днів тому +22

    If you see the Palace lit up at night, there are two huge parts at both ends in total darkness. The one on the left is where the Speaker of the House of Lords lives, and the other is where the Speaker of the House of Commons lives. They both live there full-time with their families. They are not illuminated from the outside in order for them both to sleep without beams of light shining on their windows.

    • @finwilliams4550
      @finwilliams4550 28 днів тому

      And people still don't get that the royals still control both houses.

  • @TheSportsBoffin
    @TheSportsBoffin 17 днів тому

    My late Grandfather Raymond Carter was a MP between 1970-79 and was a Junior Minister for Education and a Junior Minister for Northern Ireland.

  • @Lilyofthevalley377
    @Lilyofthevalley377 28 днів тому +5

    Construction started in 1840 and lasted for 30 years, suffering delays, cost overruns, and the deaths of Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin. The palace contains chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch, and has a floor area of 112,476 m2 (1,210,680 sq ft).

  • @nadeansimmons226
    @nadeansimmons226 28 днів тому +12

    Love the hair style today Lyndsey (sorry I probably spelt your name wrong)

  • @maggie2759
    @maggie2759 28 днів тому +10

    I have been in there for Afternoon Tea. It was a very nice day..

  • @user-eb1sd2vj9r
    @user-eb1sd2vj9r 28 днів тому +46

    Hi. Don’t take this the wrong way, I just mean as people who are unfamiliar with our political system it will be easy for you to understand if you watch the teaching videos on the UK Parliament website. They are aimed at school children so will be easy for someone unfamiliar to understand. They will explain the history of the English (later UK) Parliament from the 1230s onwards. They may not have updated the bit about the European Parliament since Brexit. If so, you can ignore that as it’s no longer relevant. However it will explain how both the House of Commons and the House of Lords work and the Monarch’s role (and most importantly what the Monarch cannot do). The Palace of Westminster is the whole estate of buildings. It is split into the Houses of Parliament (the Central Lobby - from which we get the phase “to lobby” and the word “lobbyist” as this is where members of the public can meet with parliamentary members (Commons or Lords), the House of Commons, and the House of Lords), the Victoria Tower (which has the Union flag flying and is where the Monarch’s entrance is located), the Elizabeth Tower (before 2012 known as the Clock Tower - this houses the bells that chime the famous and much copied around the world “Westminster chimes” and the famous Great Bell that chimes the hour affectionately known as “Big Ben”), and lastly Westminster Hall (it was completed in 1099 and is the only part of the original Palace of Westminster built from 1016 onwards to survive the fire of 1834). The new buildings (other than the surviving Westminster Hall) were built from 1840 and completed in 1876. It was built in a style to reflect back to its medieval origins, so, like Tower Bridge mimics the style of the Tower of London, it’s a Victorian structure made to look medieval.

    • @wallythewondercorncake8657
      @wallythewondercorncake8657 28 днів тому +2

      It's been almost a decade so my memory may be a little off, but I'm fairly certain we even watched a few of those videos doing A level politics

    • @harbl99
      @harbl99 28 днів тому +2

      _They are aimed at school children so will be easy for someone unfamiliar to understand._
      Really good idea. We used to learn the basics of spoken French and German that way: watch some European kids tv in the original language. Simple stories, clearly drawn characters, short and simple sentences. It was created for the level at which we were (functionally) working.

    • @WJS774
      @WJS774 27 днів тому

      I'm not sure if watching _Parliament's own propaganda_ is really the best way to learn about how they actually work.

    • @wallythewondercorncake8657
      @wallythewondercorncake8657 27 днів тому

      @@WJS774 It's about the basics. Take the tinfoil off for five minutes you loon.

    • @user-eb1sd2vj9r
      @user-eb1sd2vj9r 27 днів тому +2

      @@WJS774 it’s not propaganda. It’s not promoting any kind of political agenda and merely explains Parliament’s history and how it works. It’s not about any political parties’ policies. That’s like saying that telling the history of my house and its layout is propaganda!

  • @FilmNerdy
    @FilmNerdy 28 днів тому +17

    If you would like to learn more about the political parties in the UK here is a brief overview:
    1. Conservative Party: Founded in the early 19th century, the Conservative Party, often referred to as the Tories, has historically upheld traditional values, free-market economics, and lean more as socially conservative although they have now accepted most LGBT rights but are now increasingly become more involved on a anti immigration and culture war issues (particularly Trans issues). Notable Conservative leaders include Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and David Cameron. The party has frequently held power, both in majority and coalition governments, making it one of the two major political forces in the UK. They are basically small C Conservatives, kind like a more lighter version of the Republican Party.
    2. Labour Party: Established in the late 19th century as the political voice of the working class and trade union movement, the Labour Party advocates for social justice, workers' rights, and historically use to be a Socialist party advocating more government intervention in the economy and mixed market approaches although it does fluctuate between left wing to centre left/centrist politics. Notable Labour leaders include Clement Attlee, Tony Blair, and Jeremy Corbyn. Labour has historically implemented policies such as the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS) and welfare programs. Like the Conservatives, Labour has frequently held power, offering an alternative to Conservative governments since the 20th century and are the main rivals to the Tories. They are like a more left wing version of the Democrats.
    3. Liberal Democrats: Formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Liberal Democrats position themselves as a centrist party advocating for civil liberties, social liberalism, and electoral reform. They have focused on issues such as environmentalism, education reform, and proportional representation. When they were just the Liberal Party they dominated politics in the 1800s with PMs like Gladstone. Notable leaders include Paddy Ashdown, Charles Kennedy, and Nick Clegg. While they have been part of coalition governments, they haven't reached the same level of dominance as the Conservative and Labour Parties in recent years last forming a government in their own right in the early 1900s when it was just the Liberal Party. They use to be the main rivals to the Tories before the 20th Century. They are more like your moderate Democrats.
    4. Green Party: The Green Party of England and Wales, along with the Scottish Green Party, focuses on environmentalism, social justice, and grassroots democracy. They advocate for sustainable policies, renewable energy, and social equality. While they haven't held significant power nationally, they have gained influence in local politics and the European Parliament. They currently have just 1 MP but do get about 3 to 5% of the National vote share in recent elections.
    5. Nationalist Parties: In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) advocates for Scottish independence and represents Scottish interests in the UK Parliament. In Wales, Plaid Cymru seeks Welsh independence and promotes Welsh language rights and social democracy. In Northern Ireland, parties like the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin represent various nationalist and unionist perspectives, with complex dynamics influenced by the region's history and the peace process. These parties often focus on issues specific to their respective nations within the UK.
    6. Reform UK is a new political party but use to be the Brexit Party and have had members who traditionally Sat as UKIP politicians or voters. They are more to the right of the Conservatives being anti immigration, anti European, more socially conservative and feel more engaged to culture wars. Probably best described as the right of the Republican Party.
    This is a very simplified summary so pitch of salt required.

    • @ffotograffydd
      @ffotograffydd 28 днів тому

      The SNP and Plaid Cymru are national parties not nationalist parties.

    • @FilmNerdy
      @FilmNerdy 28 днів тому +4

      @ffotograffydd Mate I am calling/reclaiming the word nationalist purely on as a party that speaks in the interests of their nation or nationhood and in the interests of fighting for their interests and sovernity. It's literally in their name: Scottish Nationalist, Welsh Nationalist, Quebecan Nationalist. You are the one who jumped the gun and assumed another kind of nationalism and their are plenty of left wing parties that are Sovereignist/Nationalist's parties. That is on you to interpreted another form. New Zealand literally has a centre right party called the National(ist) Party. You are misreading what I wrote!

    • @MiningForPies
      @MiningForPies 28 днів тому

      @@ffotograffyddSNP are a nationalist party. Plaid, not so much.

    • @ffotograffydd
      @ffotograffydd 28 днів тому

      @@MiningForPies They’re called the Scottish National Party, not the Scottish Nationalist Party. Both they and Plaid Cymru want independence, they aren’t different in that respect.
      Reform UK, or whatever they’re calling themselves this week, on the other hand are definitely nationalists.

    • @MiningForPies
      @MiningForPies 28 днів тому

      @@ffotograffydd the SNP are nationalists. They play that down in some media and play it up in others. Any and all issues are blamed on “the other” (in this case the English) one of the key tenants of nationalism.

  • @Duff1701
    @Duff1701 28 днів тому +3

    I'm totally lovin' the Princess Leia vibe Lindsay!!!❤❤❤

  • @1984Nets
    @1984Nets 28 днів тому +1

    My Uncle is a Bishop in the House of Lords, Bishop of St Albans, it’s a beautiful building. Construction started in 1840 and lasted for 30 years, suffering delays and cost overruns.

  • @kathleenhyde771
    @kathleenhyde771 28 днів тому +4

    The building was originally built as a palace which is why its so grand

    • @ffotograffydd
      @ffotograffydd 28 днів тому +1

      It wasn’t. The current building, Westminster Hall aside, wasn’t completed until 1860.

  • @nettys1947
    @nettys1947 28 днів тому +4

    Loving your hair today Lyndsey 😍

  • @kourian1234
    @kourian1234 28 днів тому +28

    Yes, foreigners can go in, you just book a ticket. Security is obviously very tight.
    I’ve done this tour and it’s fantastic. The House of Commons is so much smaller than it looks on tv but the building is breathtaking and so much history. But it’s cold so wear a jacket!

  • @blueflamingo6307
    @blueflamingo6307 28 днів тому +2

    Hi Steve, love your channel you and your family are awesome keep posting as you keep my week happy, Lynsey's hair looks cool today x

    • @reactingtomyroots
      @reactingtomyroots  28 днів тому

      Thank you! Glad you enjoy the channel. We appreciate your support :)

  • @Delicious_J
    @Delicious_J 28 днів тому +1

    When myself and my american partner were in the us visiting her family, in her hometown we ran into a guy who'd toured the houses of parliament some years ago in the independent coffeshop there, and he described seeing the house of commons as 'peering into the reactor core of all modern democracy in the world'. I like that description, and I said as much. What a great descriptor of the houses of parliament!

  • @josiebridle1947
    @josiebridle1947 28 днів тому +1

    My local MP used to regularly hold tours for his constituents to view the Houses of Parliament. fter going through security, we would be met by his secretary in the Lobby. She would then show us around the building. We viewed The Commons, but couldn't view The Lords as they were sitting that day. We then met our MP in his office for a cuppa & a slice of cake. Afterwards, we were free to stroll through the public areas of the building.

  • @afterthemouse
    @afterthemouse 28 днів тому +4

    the oldest section is the Westminster Hall, a part of the early Royal Palace - you'll have seen the hall as it is where the late Queen was placed for her subjects to pay their respects before her state funeral.

    • @martinwebb1681
      @martinwebb1681 28 днів тому

      Yes, the hall dating from 1087-1100, the Jewel tower also survived and dates from 1365.

  • @baronmeduse
    @baronmeduse 28 днів тому +1

    The thing Lyndsey mentioned at the end 'the burning of small wooden tally sticks' refers to how the exchequer used to set and collect taxes. Initial credit spending was made via the low-tech method of hazel tally sticks which are rematched upon payment and then burned.

  • @danielgardecki1046
    @danielgardecki1046 28 днів тому +3

    Recommendation - *The Hairy Builder* (2016) - A 15 episode series presented by *Dave Myers* who died on the 28th of February 2024 of Cancer.

  • @PLuMUK54
    @PLuMUK54 28 днів тому +6

    Tally Sticks were an early form of recording tax paid. A piece of wood had notches cut in it to indicate the details, and then it was split to create two copies. One was given to the taxpayer as proof they had paid. The other was retained by the Exchequer and stored in the Palace of Westminster. By the early 19th century, there were probably hundreds of thousands of Tally Sticks. The system had been superceded by bookkeeping, so it was decided to burn the sticks to heat the Palace. Whoever was doing the job overestimated how many could be burned, and the fire got out of control and burned the Palace down.
    The replacement was built in Neo-Gothic style, partly to match the Gothic Westminster Abbey, which is opposite.

  • @jasonsmart3482
    @jasonsmart3482 28 днів тому +1

    Many years ago i went to dinner at the House of lords in a private dinning room. we also had a tour around the building, it was eveing and quiet so was amazing. The food was stunning too.

    • @reactingtomyroots
      @reactingtomyroots  28 днів тому

      I bet that would be a really cool experience and awesome food, I'm sure.

  • @Hairdooer
    @Hairdooer 28 днів тому +2

    Guys it’s a palace, the Palace of Westminster

  • @nigelanscombe8658
    @nigelanscombe8658 28 днів тому +2

    The Palace of Westminster was rebuilt in Gothic revival style, based on medieval architecture.
    The whole of the interior was designed by Augustus Pugin who also designed several Cathedrals and a number of churches.
    The House of Lords and the House of Commons each have their own colour scheme.

  • @GillianSmith-fp2fi
    @GillianSmith-fp2fi День тому

    I am British, age 69, and I still don't understand all the workings of our government, but I will say if you ever come to London you must do the tour of this beautiful building - it is wow,wow, wow. It is the Palace of Westminster, and you should recognise Big Ben, the clock tower and the beautiful building alongside the river Thames.

  • @ArsenaISarah
    @ArsenaISarah 28 днів тому +2

    I think that’s one thing I miss if I lived in the US. I do love our old buildings, my friends live here in Cornwall UK and many live in 12th Century cottages by the sea and with their little ‘noises’ 😱 they are incredible.

  • @P.G.Wodelouse
    @P.G.Wodelouse 28 днів тому +37

    one point they didn't mention is none of those people are voted in

    • @Millennial_Manc
      @Millennial_Manc 28 днів тому +7

      And the 26 bishops have a reserved seat

    • @MichaelJohnsonAzgard
      @MichaelJohnsonAzgard 28 днів тому +8

      We vote the Commons in, but they're no better.

    • @gdok6088
      @gdok6088 28 днів тому +6

      In the US Senate they are 'voted in', but in reality it's big money backing and sponsorship that gets you there. I am unhappy that the Lords are not elected and there is lots of political nepotism, but when it operates correctly Lords are appointed for their long political experience or their specialist knowledge in certain areas such as the law, business or industry. In the UK the problem is political nepotism; in the US the 'corruption' comes down to $$$.

    • @Rich-pj9wv
      @Rich-pj9wv 28 днів тому +1

      Yes and thats an extremely important fact

    • @keithparker5125
      @keithparker5125 28 днів тому +8

      A fact lost on a lot of people (and forgotten by many governments today) is that the Lords is NOT meant to be the primary legislature and therefore does not need to be an elected body! The purpose of the Lords is to be a primary check on legislation produced by the Commons in order to try to avoid excesses. The idea, from the 20th century onwards, was that life peers were selected on the basis of their knowledge and experience of industry, business, and life in general so that they could apply their wide experience in vetting legislation and policies put before them. The number of hereditary peers able to vote in the Lords has been progressively culled over the last 50years. Unfortunately, this idea has been somewhat corrupted by recent governments who have seen the appointments as a means of installing their cronies to advance their means (an idea that they have clearly adopted from across the pond).

  • @helenbailey8419
    @helenbailey8419 28 днів тому +1

    😊😊it is so lovely to see your reactions and responses

  • @DylanSargesson
    @DylanSargesson 28 днів тому

    The building that the House of Lords and House of Commons are in is called the Palace of Westminster. It has been expanded and renovated a lot over the years, but the oldest remaining part is called Westminster Hall which was built in 1097.
    Rooms in Westminster Hall are still used today as an extra debating room for the House of Commons (like the Moses Room for the Lords, ahown in this video), but also for major ceremonial things. When the late Queen was Laying in State that was in the Great Hall, or when foreign leaders (such as President Obama) came to give an address to both Houses of Parliament they did it there too.

  • @penname5766
    @penname5766 27 днів тому +1

    The original Palace of Westminster was adjoined to a Benedictine monastery. It was actually built before the Norman conquest by Edward the Confessor (who is buried inside Westminster Cathedral, along with countless other legendary historical figures), at a time when the whole of Westminster was basically an island surrounded by marshes.

  • @davidwallin7518
    @davidwallin7518 22 дні тому

    Been inside the Palace of Westminster in the past. Incredible building.

  • @helenbailey8419
    @helenbailey8419 27 днів тому

    😊😊😊Lindsey you look like Princess Leia from Star Wars with your hair up and the ear phones😂😂😂so sweet

  • @PWdeBB
    @PWdeBB 28 днів тому +1

    I’ve managed to go around this place twice before, once with school and most recently last year. It’s such an amazing building to be in.

  • @offal
    @offal 28 днів тому +7

    It`s a Palace, some goes back a thousand years, if you look at the Scottish Parliament, beautiful building but inside it looks like lecture hall inside an Ikea. They call this the mother of Parliaments and you can see why.

  • @edwardnock6808
    @edwardnock6808 25 днів тому +1

    You should watch the 2023 state opening of Parliament: the state opening is the only time in the parliamentary calendar where the three branches of Parliament (the Commons, the Lords and the Monarch) meet together

  • @1justme
    @1justme 27 днів тому

    If you remember the place where the Queen was laying in state while we all went to pay our respects, that is Westminster hall, it's the only original part of the Palace of Westminster and is almost a thousand years old.

  • @kenhobbs8565
    @kenhobbs8565 23 дні тому

    The first gentleman you hear speaking 2mins 29sec in the House of Lords is The Earl Howe... Deputy Leader of the House of Lords. Freddie. I've met him several times, a really nice man. My wife is his wife's PA who is equally nice.

  • @marcuswardle3180
    @marcuswardle3180 28 днів тому +1

    The Victoria Tower, which is at the other end from the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben, houses a lot of Parliamentary Archives. Before the fire which destroyed the Palace of Westminster it used to house the Exchequer's collection of Tally sticks. This was how you recorded payments of debt from Medieval times. It was basically a stick with the debt written or carved into it and split into two. Every time payment was made the two sticks were put together and it was notched (a cut was made) which corresponded to an amount paid. When the correct amount was notched onto the Tally stick the debt was paid. One person kept one half, the other person kept the other half. The idea was that in a dispute over the debt or payments the two stick could be put together and you could see how much was exactly paid. This is where we get the word "Tally" from, it tallies, it agrees. The Chancellor of the Exchequer kept them there and periodically the old ones were burnt. Somebody was enthusiastic about burning them and an overheated stove caught fire causing the fire to spread. With bundles of Tally Sticks being held it was basically a giant kindling stack! The fire was in October 1834 and was limited to the Palace of Westminster, some parts of it survived the fire. The Great Hall, or Westminster Hall, survived the fire and is where Monarchs are placed for Laying in State before burial.

  • @martinwebb1681
    @martinwebb1681 28 днів тому +1

    The Palace of Westminster has 1,100 rooms and 100 staircases and 3 mile of passageways on four floors. The oldest surviving part of the Palace of Westminster is Westminster Hall which dates from 1087-1100. The hall is notable for being one of the only parts of the Palace that remains almost entirely in its original form. The Jewel tower which is also part of the Palace of Westminster dates from 1365.

  • @susanrussell-gough2227
    @susanrussell-gough2227 27 днів тому

    Westminster Hall is the oldest part of the area. The fire of London was in 1666. The fire that destroyed the Houses of Parliament was in 1834.

  • @paulallaker8450
    @paulallaker8450 28 днів тому +1

    You can get tickets to tour our Parliament, it is amazing.

  • @chrisedon
    @chrisedon 28 днів тому +2

    You both are really sweet people and I admire your interest and vids you have produced on UK subject matter. You realise that learning about another Nations history, politics and more makes you far more intellectually aware than most of your politicians. 😂 take good care the both of you and maybe consider getting into politics yourselves 😊

  • @shannonexelby897
    @shannonexelby897 28 днів тому

    The Great Fire of London was 1666! I remember it by the rhyme: 1665 no one left alive (the Black Death), 1666 London burnt to sticks! 😁

  • @charlesfrancis6894
    @charlesfrancis6894 28 днів тому +3

    We actually have a party called "The Monster Raving Loony Party" and you will not be surprised that it does not have any representatives in the Commons other than the loony politicians that frequent the Commons today.

    • @grahvis
      @grahvis 28 днів тому +1

      Some years back one member did win in a local election, I think in Cornwall. Other members asked what they thought they were doing, they were not supposed to win.

  • @lindylou7853
    @lindylou7853 26 днів тому

    The Houses of Parliament were created in the 1800s… 1835 Charles Barry won a competition and was the architect. His assistant Augustus Pugin was a a bit obsessive about derail .. so there’s themes for the picture and furniture in keeping with the popular gothic style of the times …

  • @jacquelinepearson2288
    @jacquelinepearson2288 28 днів тому

    Westminster Hall is the only part still standing from the original Palace of Westminster which was burnt down. It has a magnificent ceiling which was constructed in the 13th century. You should take a look at this building. It was where thousands of people filed past Queen Elizabeth's coffin during her lying in State. Also check out the State opening of Parliament. The great fire of London was in 1666.

  • @ralphhillier676
    @ralphhillier676 15 годин тому

    I was born into this system, but it is pleasing to hear that Americans are being introduced to other world systems.'I am told from other videos how amazed they are at the "Socialist' (dispised word in US) system workings that your peers will never inform you obviously.

  • @barrynorthey8403
    @barrynorthey8403 28 днів тому +3

    You need to check out The State Opening of Parliament.

  • @amandaabrahams5118
    @amandaabrahams5118 28 днів тому

    I went to Westminster about 16 years ago it was a invitation from one of the lical MPs she booked a tour. It was free back then to enter the building but i don't know how much it costs now or if you need to book in advance things might of changed since but yes you can sit upstairs in the gallery and watch and listen to the MPs both rooms are actually really small compared to what it looks like on TV.

  • @petebeno08
    @petebeno08 28 днів тому

    The Palace of Westminster is in its fourth version and this one was built in 1840 the first version was built of wood back in circa 850 ad at the request of the Saxon king

  • @andrewcoates6641
    @andrewcoates6641 28 днів тому

    Take note that all the seating in the main business chamber of the house of lords is upholstered in a deep red leather, whilst all of the seating in the House of Commons is covered with green leather and unless you are already a member of either house you are not permitted to sit down in either chamber, and anyone who is permitted to sit in one of the chambers is not permitted to sit in the other chamber. So if you ever come to visiting and make a booking for a guided tour.

  • @kenUK762
    @kenUK762 28 днів тому +3

    Yes you can book self-guided audio tours of the Palace of Westminster, including the Lords and the Commons . Book early.

  • @richardthomas2818
    @richardthomas2818 28 днів тому +3

    The Great Fire of London was in 1666 and basically burned down the whole of the City of London about 4 or so miles to the east of Westminster, The Palace burned down in 1830 or so,

  • @MiningForPies
    @MiningForPies 28 днів тому +1

    Look up the privy council. Literally named after people who would sit and chat with the king while he was sat on the toilet 😂

  • @shaunbyrne9037
    @shaunbyrne9037 28 днів тому +3

    The oldest part of the Palace of Westminster is the great Hall which dates from 1097 . It was saved during the fire of 1834 along with a handful of other medieval parts of the building . It ceased to be a royal palace in 1512 followimg another fire which made the royal apartments of Henry VIII uninhabitable. Until the 19th century, it was regularly used for judicial purposes, housing three of the most important courts in the land . Trials including William Wallace , Guy Fawkes, Thomas More and King Charles I before his beheading after the English civil war .

  • @dianeknight4839
    @dianeknight4839 28 днів тому

    The Palace of Westminster was built in the 11th Century and was the home of Kings until 1512 when the private apartments were destroyed by fire.

  • @philipmorris9154
    @philipmorris9154 28 днів тому

    Look into Tony Robinsons' The Peasants Revolt, Guy Folks! and Oliver Cromwell this all ties into the British System of British Key Points in History!!!! Well done both great efforts.

  • @eyenot9327
    @eyenot9327 27 днів тому

    You can do tours of Parliament. It really is worth it. If you are UK citizen, contact your local MP and you will be able to get in for free.

  • @barrygage2176
    @barrygage2176 28 днів тому +7

    As already mentioned above, the great fire of London was in 1666. Incredibly only 6 people died!

    • @101steel4
      @101steel4 28 днів тому +2

      That we know of.

    • @Vegplot
      @Vegplot 28 днів тому +1

      @@101steel4 Indeed. Pleb deaths may not have been.

    • @ffotograffydd
      @ffotograffydd 28 днів тому

      @@VegplotWe actually have very accurate death records for London at that time. They even recorded stillbirths.

    • @jasoncallow860
      @jasoncallow860 28 днів тому

      The poor were not counted

    • @alisonrandall3039
      @alisonrandall3039 28 днів тому

      We went to have a look around a few weeks ago. The thing that most strikes you is the fact, it’s quite small, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

  • @steveclarke6257
    @steveclarke6257 28 днів тому

    The principle architects for the current Palace of Westminster was Charles Barry & Augustus Pugin- Barry did the exterior also designed Churches in the same Gothic Revival style- one is in Whitefield (which is a district in Greater Manchester) not far from me, but he designed buildings in many uk cities in several styles; the interior is all Pugin in its design.
    The old bit of the complex is Westminster Hall and that is from the 14th century (it is where the late Queen laid in state).

  • @joemarkham5142
    @joemarkham5142 28 днів тому

    So a few things you might be interested in:
    The Houses of Parliament are based in the Palace of Westminster, which is a royal palace still although the monarch obviously doesn't live there. It's the building with Big Ben attached, basically. The big gold chair in the Lords chamber is the throne that the monarch sits on during the ceremonial 'State Opening of Parliament'. (worth watching, BIG ceremonial occasion, various videos on youtube).
    So the way our system works is we have two houses. The Lords and the Commons, both based in that building. In the past, the Lords were the powerful ones. They're not elected, they're appointed (officially by the monarch, but in reality it's by the recommendation of the Prime Minister of the day). In the past, they were generally hereditary titles, so if you were a Lord, your son would inherit the title, and your position in the house of lords, after you. This was largely undone a few decades ago. There are also Bishops in the Lords, known as 'Lords Spiritual' so like the most important bishops in the country get a seat in there as well.
    The main chamber though, the actual democratic bit of our system, is the House of Commons, these are the ones we actually vote for. Each local area (650 in total throughout the UK) votes for a local representative and the party with the most representatives chooses a leader and that leader becomes Prime Minister. We don't elect the Prime Minister directly. Like the Conservative Party are in power at the moment, but if the current Prime Minister quit, they would just choose a new leader. There only HAS to be an election every 5 years, so in theory the party could have multiple leaders in that time. (which actually is what's happened lately).
    We don't have term limits, so in theory a Prime Minister could be in power for decades. The longest in the last century though was Margaret Thatcher who was PM for 11 years, and Tony Blair who was PM for 10.
    Closest comparison to your system is the House of Commons is like the House of Representatives and the Lords is like the Senate (if the Senate weren't democratically elected and held their positions for their whole lives).
    As for smaller parties, we;re kind of halfway between the US and the rest of Europe on that. Like we very much have a two party system in reality. Only Labour or the Conservatives have been in charge for the last 100 years or so. We have smaller parties in parliament, who might vote with or against the governing party, but in reality none of them are going to win power outright. In other parts of Europe, they do a 'proportional representation' system, so like everyone votes and whatever percentage of the vote your party gets, that's the percentage of seats you get in the parliament. This almost never leads to one party winning a majority, so parties usually have to go into coalitions with several groups working together. Like all systems, that has it's good and bad parts. It's good in that there's more choice, but bad in that most governments are put together in backroom deals etc. So pros and cons.

  • @Malfie657
    @Malfie657 28 днів тому

    It's certainly an amazing place and I've been lucky enough to see a lot of the areas the public don't get access to over the years, but don't go thinking that the whole thing is that grand. As part of my Civil Service job I was called to meetings at the Palace of Westminster, mostly on Commons business but occasionally also the Lords. Everyone tries to get an office in the building but there aren't anywhere near enough to go around. I always remember getting summoned to a meeting with one particular Baroness and when we were sorting out arrangements I couldn't quite get why she was apologising in advance for her room until I saw it...I've seen much bigger broom cupboards and it was literally standing room only if there were more than 2 people at a meeting, but she still felt lucky to have it!!

  • @danielderozarieux8832
    @danielderozarieux8832 28 днів тому

    You can now go on guided tours of both the commons and lords. 90 mins and only £33. Amazing experience. Went two weeks ago. It looks even better in person and you go literally everywhere. A must do. But book in advance. Been following you since the start! Great videos as ever

    • @reactingtomyroots
      @reactingtomyroots  28 днів тому +1

      Thanks for the insider info, Daniel! :) It's definitely something we'll prioritize seeing and will book in advance.

  • @thewatcher776
    @thewatcher776 28 днів тому

    I’ve been to Parliament three times, absolutely love the detail and history covering the walls.

  • @kaspianepps7946
    @kaspianepps7946 28 днів тому

    3:23 If you want to see a modern take, the Scottish Parliament Building was opened in 2004 - it is quite different in style.

  • @nickgrazier3373
    @nickgrazier3373 28 днів тому

    This is the “Palace of Westminster” which houses and makes up the two Houses of Parliament. The Elizabeth Tower at one end which holds 4 clock faces made of milk glass so almost glows when back lit at night the original mechanism is still there and and is still accurate to a second. It’s famously controlled by the use of old British penny coins which weigh the pendulum while the mechanism is in motion. It has five bells operated by the clock, 4 Quarter bell which ring the Westminster chimes at quarter and half hour then the “Great Bell” famously called “Big Ben” tolls out the hours it’s always been accurate even if the flock of pidgins weighed down stopped one of the minute hands for a while once!
    At the other end of the building is the tallest of the three towers known as the Victoria tower. The Central Tower is actually above the octagonal central era between the two houses and is actually a chimney would you believe originally to vent out the smoke of the 400 fires around the whole building. Westminster Abbey is around here somewhere where the Kings and Queens are interred in its bowels as well as the Tome of the Unknown warrior was put to rest among the Royalty together and equal as it was called.

  • @brian9731
    @brian9731 28 днів тому

    Foreigners are allowed in by prior booking - it is done through embassies I believe. UK citizens can book through their local MP (Member of Parliament - House of Commons). You used to be able to just show up years ago but now because of security concerns, tickets have to be booked in advance.

  • @1851johnny
    @1851johnny 28 днів тому +2

    The houses of parliament building was finished in 1860, the architecture inside and out is beautiful definitely worth taking a look when you come over.

    • @watcherzero5256
      @watcherzero5256 28 днів тому +1

      It was the second major refurbishment/rebuild. First Palace was roughly 1050 to 1512 when the residential part burned down, the remaining part was still officially a home until 1534 when the King moved to Whitehall and the building became solely used for government. Then in the late 18th century around 1770 onwards they started frequently building extensions until 1834 when it mostly burned down in another fire. The reconstruction started immediately and most of what you see today was completed in 1847. Westminster Hall is the last surviving medieval bit that goes all the way back to its beginnings.

    • @willswomble7274
      @willswomble7274 28 днів тому

      The HoP are only old in the American sense, but a quarter way into the 21st C. they are cramped, deteriorating and not up to modern office standards. They are being renovated at astronomical cost - 18 billion just for the Elizabeth Tower (big ben). They are going to need to decamp all persons for many years to enable the major work on the rest!

  • @MrPaulMorris
    @MrPaulMorris 28 днів тому

    When considering how 'fancy' the buildings are, remember that this was the centre of power for an Empire that spanned the globe.

  • @lorrainemcgregor1759
    @lorrainemcgregor1759 28 днів тому +1

    Hi guys, The great fire of london. 1666. Started in a bakers shop on pudding lane, burned for just under 5 days.

  • @paulsmith9740
    @paulsmith9740 28 днів тому

    The oldest part of the Palace of Westminster is Westminster Hall. It is where Queen Elizabeth's body lay in state prior to her funeral. It was built in 1097 so is the best part of 1000 years old. It is also where King Charles I stood trial in 1649. You can visit the Palace of Westminster on a tour or visit to see a debate although that can be busy.

  • @penname5766
    @penname5766 27 днів тому

    It wasn’t the fire of London. This particular fire started in Parliament. Some of the original 11th century Saxon building remains in the basement.

  • @davidgrainger5378
    @davidgrainger5378 28 днів тому +1

    The Palace of Westminster is the official title of the building as it is still technically a royal palace. However, the Houses of Parliament is the name most people use. The Great Fire of London was back in 1666 in the City of London and did not reach as far as the City of Westminster where Parliament is.

  • @markpstapley
    @markpstapley 28 днів тому

    As hinted to in the wikipedia article, the current Palace of Westminster is a modern building (by UK standards), but just looks old because it was built in a style from 300 years earlier. Similarly "big ben" and "tower bridge" in the adjacent area. It is literally falling apart. Because they don't want to move out, even temporarily from the building, the essential repairs are going to take many many years and cost vast sums of money. It would have been far cheaper to close the site for three years completely and do all the work in one go. "Big Bens" (Elizabeth Tower) major and very costly refurbishment, has just been completed. Many support turning the place into a museum for tourists, and building a modern permanent parliament building outside of London, but that's never going to happen because tradition, though for ceremonial reasons, the inside of the new building would have had to replicate the inside of the current building to some extent. Search for example "back rod" getting the door slammed in his/her face. The members of the house of Lords are completely un-elected, and hereditary peers, and senior priests get automatic membership. As to corruption, it is rife, despite checks and balances meant to prevent it. The current conservative government made Baroness (Michelle) Mone aka "Baroness Bra" a member of the house of Lords, and she proceeded to get wealthy when she was awarded lucrative government NHS Covid PPE contracts, which then turned out to be for trash un-usable PPE. She then proceeded to lie about it in the press and was caught out in the lie. A recent piece of corruption is the "cash for honours" case of Major Tory donor Egyptian Mohamed Mansour, who was awarded a knighthood, for no sensible reason. Sometimes the House of Lords works to block parliament, and tables huge numbers of bills leading to show downs on the highly contentious "Rawanda" bill recently. Unlike in America it is illegal for MPs to lobby parliament on behalf of corporations for being paid. There are also legal limits on how much parties can spend on fighting elections.
    www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/michelle-mone-inside-the-extraordinary-rise-and-fall-of-the-lying-baroness-and-her-husband-doug-barrowman/ar-AA1lMW0X

  • @BritishBeachcomber
    @BritishBeachcomber 28 днів тому

    Us Brits certainly know how to do things in style.

  • @jenniferdundon5491
    @jenniferdundon5491 28 днів тому +1

    Anyone can visit the whole of the Building by guide or with a multimedia guide you can do this weekends and holidays. During the time it's open for business anyone can go to the public gallery in the Lords or Commons. Tickets for tours can be booked online, I think to attend a debate you just queue to get in.

  • @littleannie390
    @littleannie390 28 днів тому +6

    The House of Lords is an unelected house. There are currently approx 800 eligible members, the majority are life peers nominated by the government and opposition parties and come from politics, professional and other backgrounds. There are also about 90 hereditary peers (aristocrats). There used to be many more hereditary lords but their numbers were cut drastically about 30 years ago and the seats are no longer automatically passed father to son. In addition there are 26 bishops (all Protestant). There have been many proposals to try and either reform or replace the House with an elected chamber but so far no luck. The purpose of the house is to scrutinise new legislation but their powers are limited and they can only delay new bills or suggest amendments, they cannot stop them indefinitely.

    • @ethelmini
      @ethelmini 28 днів тому +1

      Senior Judges & Military also get peerages by default.

    • @nigelanscombe8658
      @nigelanscombe8658 28 днів тому

      The Speaker of the House of Commons, more often than not, gets a peerage too … unless they upset the Prime Minister too much who then gets their revenge by blocking the peerage.

    • @MiningForPies
      @MiningForPies 28 днів тому

      @@nigelanscombe8658he needed the space for baroness bra and a Russian KGB agent

    • @janewalker3921
      @janewalker3921 27 днів тому

      VERY well said.

  • @jimEdmonds-vx9lb
    @jimEdmonds-vx9lb 28 днів тому

    It was the kings palace most of it burnt down in the fire of London. only the tower next to Lambeth bridge servived

  • @pjgtech
    @pjgtech 28 днів тому

    Hi nice video thanx. The Great Fire of London was a couple of hundred years before the fire at Westminster Palace. Cheers

  • @Adrian_1972
    @Adrian_1972 28 днів тому

    Most commonly referred to as the Houses of Parliament in the UK. The commons was badly bombed in the war and rebuilt. Winston Churchill decided to rebuild it as it was, rather than having a more modern semi circular chamber.

  • @ulyssesthirteen7031
    @ulyssesthirteen7031 28 днів тому

    I was taken on a tour a few years ago, much of it done by my constituency MP. What's most remarkable about the chambers for both the Lords and the Commons is how tiny they are. It really is much smaller than it seems on TV. Much of the whole building is grand, and the Central Lobby that appears on TV a lot for interviews of MPs etc is far more grand than it appears on TV too. I came away being really impressed by the Catholic chapel, the St Mary Undercroft.
    I think everyone should be able to see this place as it's the centre of our supposed democracy but whilst accessible if you're actually in London to start with, it's a trek if you live elsewhere in the country. I think free school trips for all school kids should be provided by the state.

  • @Adrian_1972
    @Adrian_1972 28 днів тому

    Parliament does need a lot of restoration work now. Talk that parliament may temporarily move to a nearby building whilst this is done. (Possibly Queen Elizabeth II Centre).

  • @margaretnicol3423
    @margaretnicol3423 28 днів тому +2

    Don't think that the building mean the Members of Parliament always behave in a stately and dignified way. You should see them shouting at each other during Prime Minister's Question Time! 😀

  • @davesimpson5702
    @davesimpson5702 27 днів тому

    It was built when the Uk ruled the World to a large extent and its grandeur reflects that and of course its long history (in earlier buildings)