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The UK House of Commons

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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...".

      P Offline
      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

                L 1 Reply Last reply
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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

                      G 1 Reply Last reply
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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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