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The UK House of Commons

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  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

    Surprisingly, that turns out not to be the case. The Original Palace of Westminster was pretty much destroyed by a fire in 1834, and the existing building was built in it's place over the thirty years starting in 1840. The number of MPs in 1840 was 658, and the current number is 650 (and about 600 too many, if you ask me). Palace of Westminster history[^] Number of Westminster MPs[^]

    Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

    N Offline
    N Offline
    Nagy Vilmos
    wrote on last edited by
    #13

    Okay, my numbers are 100 years out. Rounding error. :-O


    Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett

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    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

      Surprisingly, that turns out not to be the case. The Original Palace of Westminster was pretty much destroyed by a fire in 1834, and the existing building was built in it's place over the thirty years starting in 1840. The number of MPs in 1840 was 658, and the current number is 650 (and about 600 too many, if you ask me). Palace of Westminster history[^] Number of Westminster MPs[^]

      Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

      J Offline
      J Offline
      JavedFeroze
      wrote on last edited by
      #14

      Thanks.

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      • D Dalek Dave

        Unlike a lot of parliaments, which are 'in the round', the UK Parliament is a confrontational 'You and us' shape. Government on one side, opposition on the other. The gap between the sides is two sword lengths so that on cannot fight in the chamber. It is only a parliament when the Mace is present, when it is not there, it is a committee. (This is evident on budget day when it is removed and the budget is read out). The reason for it's crampedness is that it was deliberately designed to be so. For most of the time there are not many members present, but on big important votes, all are present and it is standing room only for the latecomers. The reason is that on the big votes, the atmosphere is tense and charged, making it openly more hostile between the sides and easier for the whips to get round and ensure the wets don't vote the wrong way.

        ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]

        J Offline
        J Offline
        JavedFeroze
        wrote on last edited by
        #15

        Thanks. The last line looks quite funny but I guess that is what is the origin of the phrase "party issues a whip...".

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        • J JavedFeroze

          Thanks. The last line looks quite funny but I guess that is what is the origin of the phrase "party issues a whip...".

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          P Offline
          Pete OHanlon
          wrote on last edited by
          #16

          Without the whip system, it would be next to impossible for a government to get unpopular legislation through parliament.

          Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

          My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

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          • P Pete OHanlon

            Without the whip system, it would be next to impossible for a government to get unpopular legislation through parliament.

            Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

            My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

            D Offline
            D Offline
            Dalek Dave
            wrote on last edited by
            #17

            See the likes of Belgium and Greece for examples of that.

            ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]

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            • J JavedFeroze

              The Indian House of Commons (Lok Sabha) is in session again and I have been watching intermittently. I watch UK House of Commons in session on BBC news. I had also watched the Murdoch interrogation just recently. I wonder why is the UK's house so very congested. All the MPs seem to be sitting thigh to thigh and shoulder to shoulder. It looks very awkward and uncomfortable. They seem to be crammed. Of course, when its not as roomy as India's, MP's cannot sling punches and chairs. But jokes apart, seriously, why? Why is it like that?

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #18

              Because there are too many of them; we could get rid of at least 50% and it would still be overcrowded.

              Unrequited desire is character building.

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              • J JavedFeroze

                The Indian House of Commons (Lok Sabha) is in session again and I have been watching intermittently. I watch UK House of Commons in session on BBC news. I had also watched the Murdoch interrogation just recently. I wonder why is the UK's house so very congested. All the MPs seem to be sitting thigh to thigh and shoulder to shoulder. It looks very awkward and uncomfortable. They seem to be crammed. Of course, when its not as roomy as India's, MP's cannot sling punches and chairs. But jokes apart, seriously, why? Why is it like that?

                C Offline
                C Offline
                Chris Quinn
                wrote on last edited by
                #19

                It is called doughnuting - MP's cluster around whoever is speaking - they get their face on the telly, and it makes it look like there are lots of MP's attending

                ==================================== Transvestites - Roberts in Disguise! ====================================

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                • D Dalek Dave

                  Unlike a lot of parliaments, which are 'in the round', the UK Parliament is a confrontational 'You and us' shape. Government on one side, opposition on the other. The gap between the sides is two sword lengths so that on cannot fight in the chamber. It is only a parliament when the Mace is present, when it is not there, it is a committee. (This is evident on budget day when it is removed and the budget is read out). The reason for it's crampedness is that it was deliberately designed to be so. For most of the time there are not many members present, but on big important votes, all are present and it is standing room only for the latecomers. The reason is that on the big votes, the atmosphere is tense and charged, making it openly more hostile between the sides and easier for the whips to get round and ensure the wets don't vote the wrong way.

                  ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC Link[^] Trolls[^]

                  R Offline
                  R Offline
                  R Giskard Reventlov
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #20

                  No, it's crowded cos they're a bunch of fat, ugly users with no sense and too much power. :)

                  "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

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                  • L Lost User

                    Because there are too many of them; we could get rid of at least 50% and it would still be overcrowded.

                    Unrequited desire is character building.

                    P Offline
                    P Offline
                    Pete OHanlon
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #21

                    There would be plenty of room if Eric Pickles wasn't there.

                    Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

                    My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

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                    • P Pete OHanlon

                      There would be plenty of room if Eric Pickles wasn't there.

                      Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

                      My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #22

                      :laugh: :laugh:

                      Unrequited desire is character building.

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                      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                        Simple: They know the cameras are there and want to be seen on telly. Before the cameras started broadcasting, if you visited you were lucky to find a dozen in there - and some of those would be asleep.

                        Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                        G Offline
                        G Offline
                        GenJerDan
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #23

                        Public schools.

                        It always itches for the first week or so. My Mu[sic] My Films My Windows Programs, etc.

                        OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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                        • G GenJerDan

                          Public schools.

                          It always itches for the first week or so. My Mu[sic] My Films My Windows Programs, etc.

                          OriginalGriffO Offline
                          OriginalGriffO Offline
                          OriginalGriff
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #24

                          That was an odd email:

                          Public schools.
                          It always itches for the first week or so.

                          In context, it makes sense. Out of context, though...

                          Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                          "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                          "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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                          • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                            That was an odd email:

                            Public schools.
                            It always itches for the first week or so.

                            In context, it makes sense. Out of context, though...

                            Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            GenJerDan
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #25

                            :)

                            It always itches for the first week or so. My Mu[sic] My Films My Windows Programs, etc.

                            1 Reply Last reply
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