A grand day out

Finding common ground at the House of Lords

It was September 2019, and we were on a Eurostar train, en route to Cologne via Brussels. We were browsing The Rough Guide to Cologne, and talking about what we might do and see during our stay. A woman in the seats across from us, travelling with her friend, asked if they could take a look at our guide book. We fell into conversation, and I said I was going to Cologne for the first time, part of doing sixty things for the first time before my 60th birthday.

We learned that our travelling companions were called Nick and Miranda. We had been speculating if Nick was an MP, through eavesdropping on their conversation before we spoke to them. Just before we pulled into Brussels, Nick handed me a piece of paper with his email address ‘Come to tea at the House of Lords,’ he said. The email address was for Nick, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth. After nearly six years, we took him up on the offer.

We had originally made dates that had to be postponed, due to Brexit votes as I recall. Then Nick cancelled one in February 2020, without making another date. We were to go into lockdown the following month. I thought I'd missed my chance.

Some months ago, my granddaughter, Caitlin, told us that she'd had her local MP, Lauren Edwards, to talk at her school during Parliament Week. I told her about meeting Lord Bourne and the invitation to tea at the House of Lords.’ Why don't you ask if you can still go?’ she said. So I found the email thread, contacted Nick, and the invitation was extended to Caitlin as well.

Maria and Bob on the River Terrace

It was several months until we could find a date. The House doesn't sit during the school holidays, so it had to be a date when there was a school closure. It had been super-hot the previous week, but thankfully cooled down in time for our visit. The only problem was nerves. Both Caitlin and I worried about our outfits. Bob was not as concerned. And we also checked our bags for items we might not be able to take into the building.

Caitlin had read that queues for security could be long, and to allow 45 minutes. It took less than five minutes, so we sat on rather uncomfortable red leather sofas in the Lords and Ladies cloakroom for a long time, watching people come and go, including Robert Winston, and scanning the coat pegs for famous names. I found Lord Heseltine's peg as I wandered around after a trip to the Ladies. Wandering around solo is not permitted, once you enter the House of Lords proper. Neither is photography, except in a couple of places.

When Nick came to meet us – Miranda joined us, too – we were led through corridors, rooms pointed out left and right including one set up for President Macron's state visit the following day. There were glimpses into a bar and a library; neither allowed public access. Then onto the Peers’ Dining Room for tea, no photography allowed. We had a good spot in the middle of the room, to people-watch, and gaze at the grand surroundings. I asked early on if we needed to call Nick, ‘My Lord’. He smiled and shook his head.

I can't say that the tea was a high point, despite Nick having passed on my dietary requirements in advance. I am coeliac and lactose intolerant. The waitress seemed confused, and I ended up with only a dish of fruit salad and a small oat and fruit slice. I did, at least have a second helping of the fruit salad, as I watched the others tuck into crumpets, scones, jam and clotted cream. I'm quite used to this, and bring my own snacks, plus we stopped an M&S Food at Victoria Station on the way home.

I would have liked to write more about our conversation, but Nick was very relaxed and off guard, and I would guess he wouldn't want some of his remarks repeated. For me, I found it a great lesson in listening to all sides. Nick is a Conservative peer. My politics are different, but I found we have a lot of common ground. In a world where views are polarised, it was great to find that we agree on a lot of things. I can tell you that Miranda and I learned that we were brought up in the same area, and weirdly discovered that we had shared the same dentist.

Nick left the table a couple of times, to vote, when a bell symbol appeared on a screen announcing votes of various amendments to the Renters’ Bill. The Lords vote ‘Content’ or ‘Not Content’ by walking down a certain lobby.

As we left the dining room, Nick pointed out the Peers’ dining table, a long table where peers are seated if dining alone. The next peer to arrive is seated next to you, which he said was a good opportunity to talk to people aligned to different political parties.

We were left in a corridor when Nick went off to vote again, and watched in awe as famous faces hitherto only seen on a TV screen surrounded us. Theresa May, Robert Winston (again), Norman Lamont, Tanni Grey-Thompson, and others whose faces we couldn't put names to.

Caitlin was a little shy in the grand surroundings of the dining room but did ask some questions. How many Lords and Ladies are there? About 800. If they all turned up at once there wouldn't be enough seats. I asked if there was an attendance requirement. Only once a year, though there are calls to make it a 10 % attendance. Also to limit the numbers by calling for retirement over the age of 80. Nick said there are a number of 80-plus peers who still make a contribution. Also, it could be difficult to get the age limit passed since the ageing Lords and Ladies would be reluctant to vote for the change.

The Lords’ side of the River Terrace

The last part of the afternoon was a tour of the River Terrace, St Stephen's Hall and Westminster Hall, where the Queen had laid in state in 2022. This impressed Caitlin, who hadn't known the names of many of the people we talked about during the afternoon. She is, after all, only 11 years old. Caitlin was also surprised to see that the Houses of Parliament has its own Post Office.

It was a marvellous afternoon, a grand day out. We said our goodbyes, hung up our visitors' lanyards and stepped through the new, £8 million door (which apparently doesn't work properly), and out into the busy London streets.

My book launch takes place this Saturday, 19 July, The Creation Space, Sun Pier House, Chatham, 1.00 - 2.30. More details here.

Buy a copy of Learning to be Irish at the link, or from the usual outlets.

I am thinking of taking a short break from posting. There may or may not be some photos from my book launch as next week’s post, then we are off to the seaside for a week. Happy holidays!