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

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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!
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[@MarkmanOTW]

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]

Well said, I absolutely agree with you. 😊

[@djs98blue]

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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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

[@markfour2841]

The Great Fire of London was 200 years earlier

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

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]

​@@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]

@@SeasideBandit By we l think you mean you.

[@SeasideBandit]

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

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

@@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??

[@bear6845]

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

[@andrewcoates6641]

As did Sir Winston Churchill.

[@MiningForPies]

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

[@andrewcoates6641]

@@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]

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

[@MiningForPies]

@@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.

[@christineharding4190]

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.

[@paulwright9749]

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 😮

[@AceEagle-pm1bn]

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]

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

[@RevPeterTrabaris]

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]

​@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]

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]

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!!!

[@davidwatts-hw2dh]

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

[@poppletop8331]

Absolutely right.👍👍👍

[@djs98blue]

Not sure the House of Lords is a symbol of democracy

[@katharinereynolds25]

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]

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

[@ffotograffydd]

Is anyone actually disputing that? 😂

[@surfaceten510n]

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

[@watcherzero5256]

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

[@stephwaite]

​​​@@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]

@@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]

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]

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

[@whitedwarf4986]

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]

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

[@Millennial_Manc]

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]

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]

@@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]

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

[@mattk5020]

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

[@margaretnicol3423]

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

[@claregale9011]

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

[@pabmusic1]

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

[@stevehartley7504]

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

[@margaretwilliams3504]

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

[@LEuington6]

168 years apart

[@davidsmith8728]

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]

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

[@user-eb1sd2vj9r]

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]

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]

_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]

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

[@wallythewondercorncake8657]

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

[@user-eb1sd2vj9r]

@@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!

[@KingOuf1er]

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]

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. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿😔🇬🇧🤔🖖

[@nadeansimmons226]

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

[@liveinhope]

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.

[@FilmNerdy]

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]

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

[@FilmNerdy]

@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]

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

[@ffotograffydd]

@@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]

@@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.

[@maggie2759]

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

[@Duff1701]

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

[@helenbailey8419]

😂😂thats what I thought

[@Lilyofthevalley377]

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).

[@kourian1234]

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!

[@marcuswardle3180]

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.

[@PLuMUK54]

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.

[@martinwebb1681]

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.

[@blueflamingo6307]

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]

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

[@nettys1947]

Loving your hair today Lyndsey 😍

[@Hairdooer]

Guys it’s a palace, the Palace of Westminster

[@P.G.Wodelouse]

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

[@Millennial_Manc]

And the 26 bishops have a reserved seat

[@MichaelJohnsonAzgard]

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

[@gdok6088]

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]

Yes and thats an extremely important fact

[@keithparker5125]

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).

[@danielgardecki1046]

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

[@kathleenhyde771]

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

[@ffotograffydd]

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

[@nigelanscombe8658]

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.

[@afterthemouse]

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]

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

[@offal]

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.

[@louisemiller3784]

Yeah and cost an absolute fortune

[@Delicious_J]

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!

[@helenbailey8419]

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

[@reactingtomyroots]

Thanks, Helen! ❤️

[@jasonsmart3482]

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]

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

[@baronmeduse]

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.

[@kenUK762]

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

[@thewatcher776]

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

[@1984Nets]

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.

[@paulallaker8450]

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

[@TheSportsBoffin]

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.

[@DylanSargesson]

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.

[@ArsenaISarah]

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.

[@barrynorthey8403]

You need to check out The State Opening of Parliament.

[@davidwallin7518]

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

[@barrygage2176]

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

[@101steel4]

That we know of.

[@Vegplot]

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

[@ffotograffydd]

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

[@jasoncallow860]

The poor were not counted

[@alisonrandall3039]

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.

[@josiebridle1947]

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.

[@charlesfrancis6894]

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]

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.

[@chrisedon]

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 😊

[@PWdeBB]

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.

[@steveclarke6257]

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).

[@richardthomas2818]

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,

[@penname5766]

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.

[@joemarkham5142]

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.

[@jenniferdundon5491]

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.

[@jacquelinepearson2288]

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.

[@lindylou7853]

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 …

[@1851johnny]

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]

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]

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!

[@brian9731]

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.

[@kenhobbs8565]

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.

[@watcherzero5256]

Yes you guessed right, watching debates is free and open to everyone despite their nationality to attend on a first come first served basis. You can also attend public tours of the building (expensive!) when its not in session on Saturdays and during holidays. Free private mid-week building tours when it is in session have to be arranged through your MP and usually have a 3-4 month waiting list.

[@shaunbyrne9037]

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 .

[@chrissmith8773]

The great fire was 1666 and did not get as far as parliament. The 1834 fire was limited to the parliamentary estate. Part of the original building survived, called the great hall it has the largest medieval clear span wooden roof in Europe.

[@bedwynevans206]

The great fire of London was in 1666 so the fire that destroyed the Palace of Westminster was much later

[@pjgtech]

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

[@nickgrazier3373]

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.

[@petebeno08]

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

[@andrewpinks3678]

The present building was built in the middle of the 19 century (Victorian era) starting in 1840, following a fire in 1834.

[@martinwebb1681]

It still has some older surviving parts, Westminster hall (1087-1100) is the oldest original surviving part, the Jewel tower which also survived dates from 1365.

[@andrewpinks3678]

@@martinwebb1681, agreed. Westminster Hall is the location for the Trial of King Charles I, before he was executed a few minutes walk away at the Banqueting House.

[@1justme]

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.

[@user-eb1sd2vj9r]

The Great Fire of London was in 1666 and was located in the City of London (Westminster was outside London at that time - Westminster’s name comes from Westminster Abbey, consecrated in 1065 but built on the site of an earlier Benedictine Monastery dating from about 960, and has been the coronation church since 1066. Westminster means the Minster (Abbey/cathedral) to the west of the City of London).

[@philipmorris9154]

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.

[@janettesinclair6279]

I had to write to arrange this but many years ago I was given a tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords by the secretary of my local Member of Parliament (it was during summer when they were on recess). It is a tremendously grand building, and it was a privilege to see it, especially the throne area where the King/Queen sit when they attend. I have also been able to visit the upstairs Visitor's Gallery in the House of Commons to listen to debates on the floor below, which was interesting to hear and watch the procedure, and listen to the Speaker as he/she tries to keep debates moving along!

[@Jawa1604]

The building you see today doesn't look anything like it would've done before the fire. The previous building grew up organically over time where as the current one was built to a plan and for the purpose of Parliament. Some of the older building survives, most notably Westminster Hall which was was built by William II in the late 11th century. Queen Elizabeth II lay in state in the hall before her funeral in Westminster Abbey, which is just across the road. You can get a good idea of the hall and how big it is by watching some of that footage. Members of the public can visit the Hall all year round unless it is needed by the Government. You can also do tours of the chambers during the summer months when Parliament is on summer break. The Palace was gradually used less and less by the monarch over time, especially by the 16th century when Whitehall Palace took over in prominence. By the time the Palace burnt down is was used pretty much by just Parliament. Both chambers are different colours, the Commons are green, and as you saw here, the Lords is red. Due to past events the Monarch is banned from entering the House of Commons. Parliament used to meet in St Stephen's Chapel in the palace. The pews used to face inwards and you can still see the echo of that in the way the benches face each other in the Common and Lords chambers. It is now called St Stephen's Hall is no longer a chapel but the space is still the same dimensions. If you walk the public entrance from Westminster Hall to the Central Lobby you walk through St Stephen's Hall. The undercroft of the chapel, known as St Mary's undercroft, is another of the existing parts of the old palace. This is not open to the public but is used by people who work there.

[@littleannie390]

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]

Senior Judges & Military also get peerages by default.

[@nigelanscombe8658]

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]

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

[@janewalker3921]

VERY well said.

[@danielderozarieux8832]

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]

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

[@lindakirk698]

1666 was the darte if the Great Fire of London. What happened to the other part of tge video around the House of Commons???

[@offal]

Your Congress is a direct copy of the English system, but yours is more of a Senate set up, a semi circle facing the speaker etc, the English set up is both sides facing each other and the Speaker to the left or right. MP`s must speak through the speaker as is so in the US congress, Lords are not Elected, so we have Commons which are, these are the MP`s and government Ministers, and bills have to be moves through both houses and eventually to the monarch for Royal accent, then it becomes law, both chambers refer to the other as the other place.

[@Malfie657]

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!!

[@susanrussell-gough2227]

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.

[@amandaabrahams5118]

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.

[@user-gt2ud2gw9e]

I'm fairly sure you can visit it. The general rule in Britain is that you can visit most everywhere you chose to go. The thing to remember is there is often set times, and even certain days of the week. Each place should be checked first on Google. Its the same story with ancient castles, palaces, and manor houses. You'll sometimes be shown round by the owners themselves who live there. So, obviously they're not going to be opening the front door every time someone chooses to pass by.!! And don't forget your N.T. pass - British people don't pay individual entry charges at each place (far too expensive). Me - I also have HCC so I'm covered virtually everywhere I go through the length and breadth of the nation.!

[@davidgrainger5378]

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.

[@shannonexelby897]

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! 😁

[@mervinmannas7671]

It is a truely magnificent building. At the moment there are some large scale and costly renovations planned and it is going to mean moving prats of the chambers out while this work continues. There is a more modern building on the opposite road called Portcullis House which has many MP's offices etc and it is belived that will be used more as work goes on. It will take a few years but is long overdue as some parts of the intricate stone work is crumbling. The Elizabeth Tower was renovated a few years ago and now looks amazing. there is a great video about that and the renovaation of the clock face.

[@juliarabbitts1595]

The Palace as we see it had to match Westminster Hall which is the main bit of the old palace that survived the fire; the story goes that the Clerk to the Palace was asked by the firemen what they should save and he said the Hall. The Hall is where the late Queen lay in State before her funeral. The interior of the Palace was designed by the architect Augustus Putin who usually designed churches and loved medieval history.

[@katebatt7538]

The Great Fire of London didn't destroy the original Palace of Westminster. The Great Fire of London occurred in 1666, the fire which destroyed the Palace of Westminster occurred in 1834. The architect for the Palace we see today was Sir Charles Barry and the interiors were designed by Augustus Pugin. Both worked in the Gothic Revival style, which attempted to emulate English Gothic architecture, typically of the 13th - 15th century.

[@kaspianepps7946]

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

[@ulyssesthirteen7031]

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.

[@jimEdmonds-vx9lb]

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

[@eyenot9327]

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.

[@markpstapley]

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

[@donnacollie7955]

Best cemetery is Highgate cemetery in London has some very famous people buried there and some very beautiful monuments

[@lindyashford7744]

Also a part of Parliament is Westminster Hall which you may have seen during the funeral ceremonies for Queen Elizabeth II. It is the oldest part of Parliament and very historic. Much more austere than the House of Lords it is nevertheless very beautiful and grand.

[@paulsmith9740]

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.