Traditions in the British Parliament

The formalities connected with the British Parliament are many and these relics of bygone days have been deliberately upheld to overawe and cast a shroud of mist over the members and the public. Aneurin Sevan8, MP has expressed it in this way:

"The atmosphere of Parliament, its physical arrangements, its procedure, its semi-ecclesiastical ritual is all profoundly intimidating." In this peculiar feudal atmosphere it is only the most courageous of MP's who really do express the true feelings and grievances of their constituents.

Let us consider a few of the Parliamentary customs:

PARLIAMENTARY DAY BEGINS:

At this time the voice of a police officer rings through the lobbies: "Hats off strangers"! A small procession then makes its way past bare-headed policemen and visitors to the Commons Chamber — the Speaker's Messenger, the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Speaker, the train of his black gown borne by a train-bearer, and lastly, the Speaker's Chaplain and Secretary. At the cry of: "Speaker in chair", echoing through the lobbies the members sit and the business of the day begins.

STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT:

This ceremony takes place in the House of Lords, with a few of the leading members of the House of Commons standing close together at the end of the chamber opposite to the Throne, technically 'outside' the House of Lords itself. Amid great ceremony the Queen takes her place on the throne and reads out the Queen's Speech, a document prepared by the Government, in which it lays down its programme for the coming Session. From the ancient coach in which the Monarch arrives to the glittering robes and precious jeweled crown, the whole ceremony with its pageantry and glamour diverts attention from the main issues involved.

VOTING:

Voting in the House of Commons is known as a Division. Every debate in the House must relate to a definite proposal, or as it is called motion. A member moves (proposes) a motion, the House debates it. At the end of every debate the Speaker puts the question whether or not to accept the motion that has been debated. If there is disagreement, warning bells ring throughout the building and cries of "Division" are heard. Members vote by passing through the corridors, called lobbies, being counted as they do so. The Aye (Yes) lobby runs down one side of the outside wall of the chamber, the No lobby down the other. Here the members are counted by fellow MP's, known as tellers (one for and one against the motion in each lobby), and the names ticked off by clerks for publication in the official report. There is a limit of six minutes for the Division, and when the votes have been counted the tellers come up to the table in the House, with the tellers for the majority on the right, and the Speaker announces the result.

The ringing of bells summons Members from all over the Palace of Westminster, many of which may not have been present at the debate and are perhaps quite ignorant of the question raised.

The Whips (Party Managers) of the parties stand outside the doors and tell the MPs how to vote. Members vote almost automatically with their Parties.

In matters of procedure of their Chamber, the Lords use different forms from those in the Commons. In their divisions, "Ayes" and "Noes" become Contents and Not Contents.