What are the UK’s Weirdest Political Traditions?

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The UK’s political system is full of weird quirks that have persisted for hundreds of years. So in this video, we’ll run you through a day in the life of an MP, and explain the origins of some of the odd traditions they’re likely to come across.
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[@PsychoSavager289]

When the new Speaker of the House of Commons is elected, they are "dragged" to their new seat, as Speaker was traditionally not a desirable role to have.

[@davidioanhedges]

Being an MP was unpaid, but since attendance was largely optional it didn't cost much, being the speaker was also unpaid but you had to attend so cost money Also it was a position with no prestige, lots of work, and MP's disliked you ... and one of the requirements was that you didn't desire the position, you couldn't campaign for it

[@neilchristensen6413]

We do that here in Canada, too. However, as far as I can tell, this is a tradition unique to the Westminster system that we both use.

[@brendenwright7957]

​@@neilchristensen6413 lately I've seen videos of Canada's Parliament voting on whether or not taking a Vow to the monarch and singing God Save the King should become optional, and each time the vote has failed, those that voted to keep it mandatory stand up and start singing God Save the King, much to the annoyance of the opposition...

[@potato_nugget]

​@@davidioanhedgesmore importantly than all of this, the speaker is the one who speaks to the king. So if the house of commons decided on something he doesn't like, he is the one that would get punished or killed

[@davidioanhedges]

@@potato_nugget Not for a few hundred years ... and this is done in Canada as well and the King didn't ever do this there ...

[@johnhughes2124]

I believe that you missed the point where during the King's Speech they ritually search the basements beneath the Lords for gunpowder, and ritually take an MP hostage.

[@bmyers7078]

Guy Fawkes did nothing wrong. /s 😂

[@meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee2]

@@bmyers7078 Last man to enter parliament with honest intentions.

[@NAYRUthunder99]

​@@bmyers7078Guy Fawkes did nothing wrong.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

I feel like an argument for that continuing can be made on the same basis why a lot of businesses have super specific and strange sounding warnings on how to use their products, namely… if it’s happened once before it could happen again.

[@hopefulmapper]

So us in America aren't crazy?

[@paologat]

Back in 2019, UK missed the opportunity to establish a new tradition: the yearly request to the EU to further extend the deadline for Brexit negotiations. It could have become an unmissable tourist attraction, both in Westminster and in Brussels.

[@CharlesTysonYerkesOfficial]

Missed opportunity to mention that MPs have to stand on a stage with all the candidates in their constituency when elected/re-elected. This meant Bojo had to stand next to Elmo, Lord Buckethead, Count Binface and others when he was re-elected in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in 2019.

[@stephengray1344]

They don't "have to" do this. It's just tradition that they do so, and that they get to make a speech afterwards. There are plenty of instances where candidates have not been on the stage at the formal announcement of the result. Though it's extremely rare for candidates who have a good chance of winning the seats to not do so.

[@baraxor]

I don't know if many still do, but when the winning candidate is announced by the returning officer, the new MP gives a speech that usually begins by thanking the police.

[@davegreenlaw5654]

I remember staying up late here in Toronto to catch the results of the UK general election in 2015 (I think) on BBC World News. As I watched one of those results - with one candidate dressed like Boss Hogg from the old Dukes of Hazard TV show, wearing a roundel the size of a dinner platter, and another dressed like Jesus Christ on His way to the Crucifixion - I thought "Okay, so Monty Python and Black Adder weren't *THAT* far off on their parodies of UK election nights."

[@lewisknight2226]

The only reason the Monarch still owns all the Mute Swans in the country is because they rarely migrate and cant be shipped of to Rwanda.

[@bulletflight]

I think we should just retroactively apply the migration policy to Rwandans like Suella Braverman and her whole family so that she can show her bravery and principles. Or her cowardice.

[@mariokartpro7406]

imao

[@Dave_Sisson]

Does he own black swans as well or only the white ones which are native to the UK?

[@davidioanhedges]

@@Dave_Sisson Only Mute Swans, only on one stretch of the Thames, and only those not owned by the Vintner's or Dyer's

[@lewisknight2226]

@@Dave_Sisson just the black ones his ancestors plundered

[@TheBT]

The monarch doesn't own all the swans. It is just mute swans.

[@myrddinemrys1332]

It's also only certain ones on a certain stretch of the Thames.

[@Beckford4000]

They are mute, so they can't object to being owned 😂

[@myrddinemrys1332]

@@Beckford4000 Mute swans aren't actually mute. Just quieter.

[@davidioanhedges]

@@myrddinemrys1332 ...and only those not owned by the Vintner's or Dyers's company ...

[@patriarch7237]

The first rule of mute swan club is...

[@jonbob2]

Also worth mentioning that MPs generally don’t refer to the House of Lords by name, rather they call it “The Other Place”.

[@kerrieportman4064]

Does that stem from Oxbridge?

[@thesmithersy]

@@kerrieportman4064 No, it was more resentment by the fact that the Lord's is the Upper Chamber. Likewise the Lords do the same for the commons

[@OrionTails]

Got to respect the mutual disrespect lol.

[@hanquanphoon5664]

Could have ended the video with the mechanism by which an MP resigns from the House, which I think is the weirdest quirk, and we get to hear someone say in the video "The Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds" and "Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead".

[@mittfh]

MPs were unpaid until 1911, and of course until the late 1800s, railways didn't exist either, so being an MP wasn't exactly a job you'd aspire to do. Hence MPs aren't technically allowed to resign, but being appointed to "an office of profit under the Crown" disqualifies them from sitting as MPs. However, since 1975, only those two archaic posts (which are now unpaid) still count - so if a bunch of MPs want to resign at the same time, they'll technically hold the office for a few hours.

[@thesmithersy]

Indeed. Even the vaunted irish republicans Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were once Her Majesty's Loyal Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. Which personally, I find rather amusing!

[@fistsofham8474]

By far our strangest tradition in the House of Commons is that we address MPs as the "Honourable" member for somewhere or other, despite so few of them having even the merest scrap of such a notion.

[@davidioanhedges]

It's retained to slow down speech to keep it from becoming an argument - It takes longer to say "The Right Honorable member for Richmond" rather than Rishi

[@patriarch7237]

And also that MPs cannot address each other directly, only in the third person. All speeches and arguments have to be directed at the Speaker.

[@michaelgreen1515]

it isn't to slow down speech because in some cases it might have been quicker than someone's official titles. There are also Right Hon; Sirs & Dames; Learned's (like Sir Keir & The Right Hon the Learned member for South Swindon) and other titles which go with the honour of that the House is supposed to respect. Friend - in theory someone you have joined with to try and choose a PM; Colleague - any MP; Member for - respecting the fact that they represent everyone from that place even if they didn't vote for them. Colleagues should even tell each other if they will visit another members' constituency on house; government; or political business.

[@noah_gaming_yt5225]

They are additionally referred to as 'the Right Honourable' if they are members of the Privy Council, and sometimes also my Honourable/Right Honourable Learned or Gallant friend if they are serving in the armed forces or as a barrister respectively.

[@NAYRUthunder99]

In Italy too deputies (lower chamber) are addressed to as Honorable ("onorevole"); and I suppose it happens in other countries as well.

[@anubis3669]

When I toured the House of Commons, I asked about the books on the table that are in every picture and video. The tour official in the room told me they are there to hide the cable from the microphones. If they were useful in the past he didn’t know

[@triforium_t]

Up there with the quirkiness of Black Rod is "Le Roy le veult!", i.e. the absolutely hilarious manner of which the monarch signifies to the House of Commons that he or she has given their royal assent to a bill passed by both houses, therby passing it into the law. This is done at the closing of each parliamentary session (also an occasion where the Commons are summoned to the Lords). The Clerk of the Crown reads out the title of each bill which has been given assent, and then the Clerk of the Parliaments turns around to face the Commons and exclamates in old Norman French, for each bill: "Le Roy le veult!" or "La Reyne le veult!" meaning "the King/Queen wills it!" Norman French is still being used in the parliament of the UK over 500 years after the parliament stopped conducting its business in French. Oh you brits!

[@DylanSargesson]

This doesn't actually happen for every bill though - only those bills that need their Royal Assent close to the end of the Session. At other times, the Royal Assent Act 1967 allows the Monarch to just sign the Bill and then the Bill has RA as soon as the Speakers of both Houses publicly announce that has happened. The King also retains the Right to go to Parliament and give his Assent in person, but that hasn't happened since Queen Victoria.

[@triforium_t]

​@@DylanSargesson Thanks for the clearification! I edited the comment, but I would still say the practice is absolutely hilarious as well as very cool

[@DylanSargesson]

@@triforium_t There are other French usages too for Royal Assent. For example, if it's a supply bill the phrase is "Le Roy remercie ses bon sujets, accepte leur benevolence, et ainsi le veult" ("The King thanks his good subjects, accepts their bounty, and wills it so"). And for Personal Bills it's "Soit fait comme il est désiré" ("Let it be done as it is desired"). The Norman French is actually also used on messages that are passed between the two Houses on bills. These are called endorsements, and the Standing Orders of both Houses list different endorsements to use in different circumstances (depending on if they agree or disagree, if there are amendments etc etc). For example when the House of Commons passes a bill, the physical bill is walked over to the Lords Chamber, and on the top of the first page the Clerk of the House of Commons will have written "Soit baillé aux Seigneurs" ("Let it be sent to the Lords").

[@jamesbeesley2767]

… or “Le Roy s’avisera”, if the King refuses Royal Assent

[@bikkiikun]

Let's not forget the fact that the most Kingly of English Kings, the English King to end all English Kings... Richard the Lionheart, was French, of the House Plantagenet.

[@draco84oz]

Thing you missed? Where do we start? - How new Speakers are dragged to their seat - The bag for member's bills on the back of the Speaker's chair - When you want to ask a question in Quesiton Time, you "bob" - The practice of divisions - Which members have priority seating in the House . . . Heck, a brief explanation on how a bill goes through Parliament to become law might be a good one.

[@TroyVan6654]

There is a video on this channel for the last point. It is one of their oldest videos.

[@jameswright4236]

If you're Boris Johnson, by proroguing Parliament and trying to live out some Stalinist fantasy of passing things when you want to. Or suspending Parliament and enacting such totalitarian laws just because someone caught a bad cold.

[@edwardblair4096]

There is also a whole videovabout the office of the speaker. Powers, duties, and traditions.

[@DTWTheWanderingMuzungu]

Snuff was last used in 1989 because they've transitioned to a much more modern powder.

[@leweoldag8882]

It isn’t actually that modern.

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

@@leweoldag8882Kinda is. 1860 isn’t that far back as far as psychoactive substances go

[@scotttyson607]

Coke?

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

@@scotttyson607 No Scotty, they obviously mean ground up placentas *Yes coke*

[@lordbusiness-qs4ok]

Remember that MPs technically* can’t quit

[@fateenshareef8716]

Kinda disappointed that you didn't mention the rich tradition until 2019 of Dennis Skinner heckling the Black rod.

[@BigBlack81]

Truly a high water mark missed. Skinner heckling tradition is one of the things that makes this Yankee from America smile BROADLY. XD LOL

[@thesmithersy]

Ending in 2019 when The Parliamentary Dinosaur became extinct ;)

[@fateenshareef8716]

I'm from India and I think your system is fantastic, the best part being your PMQ's where the PM MUST come to answer questions from the whole house. It helps to keep politicians on their toes and prevents complacency.

[@thebighon6854]

If only the PM actually answered them!

[@lucasdolding6924]

The PM has to respond to questions not answer them, since Sunak has never answered a single question in PMQs, neither did Johnson and nor Truss either but she only had a couple before she was booted out.

[@alexanderkowal5710]

PMQs is complete theatre, it could be done well though in a less adversarial environment

[@mcsaworld2898]

In Australia every citizen is entitled to a free portrait of the monarch, currently King Charles III. You just need to request it from your federal MP. Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II are already a sort after collector's item.

[@ScratchyYard]

i wish the uk had that

[@bt3743]

​@@ScratchyYardwhat a fantastic waste of taxpayers money that would be

[@igorlopes7589]

​@@bt3743Nope, it would not be a waste

[@igorlopes7589]

​@@bt3743You sound like people who think patriotism doesn't matter or is bad

[@NAYRUthunder99]

​@@igorlopes7589based

[@antonyeastham4564]

The putting on of the Top Hat to ask a question? Rees-Mogg too.

[@DylanSargesson]

The top hat was phased out as a requirement in the 1990s - interestingly the Australian House keeps the tradition of needing to be covered to (to get the Speaker's attention during a division), but pretty much always do it with a random sheet of paper.

[@antonyeastham4564]

@@DylanSargesson Yes it was, but really, a top hat as recently as the 1990s. Facepalm.

[@thebighon6854]

@@antonyeastham4564 It was only during a 'division' (vote) because it drew attention the MP wishing to speak when other members might be on their feet and milling around...

[@antonyeastham4564]

@@thebighon6854 Yep. Still ridiculous.

[@PLuMUK54]

Don't forget that your MP is not allowed to die in the Palace of Westminster. Deceased are recorded as dead on arrival at hospital. You could have mentioned the use of the Woolsack in the House of Lords.

[@dariusalexandru9536]

That s so cool ,a law who forbit dying . Well check mate Grim Reaper .

[@DavidPashley]

It's not true.

[@davidioanhedges]

You can die in the houses ... people have

[@DavidPashley]

@@davidioanhedges famously Spencer Percival

[@abydosianchulac2]

You left out the weirdest part of the King's Speech/opening of Parliament ceremony. After the Black Rod is shut out once and then let in to summon the Commons, they are _required_ as a group to be loud and boisterous and irreverent as they head for the House of Lords. This is pageantry as much as everything else is, to show how coarse and low the members of the Commons are compared to the nobility of the Lords with their fur robes and orderly behavior. It's just rare that the prescribed behavior of a governmental ritual/tradition is "be a gentle mob."

[@Vielenberg]

All those outdated customs seem to me as theater of nonsense. But on the other hand - isn't it that this theater is the reason why millions of tourists visit the UK every year?

[@Odin029]

People think they want efficiency until they realize that completely efficiency is as boring as watching paint dry or grass grow.

[@TroyVan6654]

​​@@Odin029The European Parliament can get through about a hundred votes in an hour. A roll call vote takes about 10 seconds from start to finish. If boringness is the price to pay to get the people's business done, then so be it.

[@Odin029]

@@TroyVan6654 All joking aside, getting through 100 roll call votes in an hour scares the crap out of me. Who debated those bills? Did they consider all the ramifications? Did the real debate happen behind closed doors? No law affecting 100s of millions of people should be rushed through. Now house keeping stuff or rubber stamps I can understand. For instance in the US the Senate has to approve executive branch appointees to almost every major position in the US government. There are debates for the top level people, but once those are in place the lower positions can be approved hundreds at a time, but laws shouldn't work that way. I my opinion it lets the government get ahead of the people and that shouldn't be the case.

[@TroyVan6654]

@@Odin029 Well... These bills ("proposals" for them) will have been debated before the vote, either on the day or on a previous day. And a voting session typically go through about two dozens of bills, resolutions, and decisions. There are so many votes because a few of them will have dozens of amendments, and they can vote on that many amendments to a single bill because, again, they can go through a hundred votes in an hour.

[@gothicgolem2947]

@@TroyVan6654 depends on if there is a division. If there isnt a division on votes the Uk parliament could do the same. Tho the Uk parliament rarely has that many votes on one day

[@soccerguy325]

I would start watching Parliamentary debates if Sunak and Starmer broke out in sword fight.

[@jameswright4236]

They'd certainly sort more out in that than the last 5 years of Tory government.

[@GRegBellay]

You guys really like that picture of Ben XD

[@TommyCrosby]

My favourite weirdest political tradition that even exists here in Canada is the dragging of the newly elected House Speaker. It's just the most unexpected thing you can see in the Chamber of Commons.

[@PrograError]

well, I don't think Singapore even follow that... I guess it's just that weird...

[@natemonroe2559]

How about being able to lie your teeth off in the chamber but not being allowed to call anyone a liar? That one seems odd and stupid.

[@davidioanhedges]

You can call someone a liar, it's just you need to be able to justify it beforehand You can also call them out for their lies, afterwards, if you can prove it, with evidence, and then they have to correct what they said in parament ... it's just most of them don't bother ...

[@patriarch7237]

You can exaggerate/obfuscate, but telling an outright lie is seen as a big deal, tantamount to perjury.

[@stephengray1344]

@@davidioanhedges The actual rule is not that MPs need to be able to justify it, but that they need to say it indirectly. Directly calling another MP a liar is unpariliamentary language, and the Speaker will take action against MPs that do so - even if they have just proven that the MP they are accusing did tell specific lies.

[@CarneyBarney-qo7wq]

I'm running for York outer just so I can use the parliamentary snuff box

[@merseyviking]

If Gove got his way, it would be the parliamentary coke box.

[@jameswright4236]

If David Cameron got ahold of it, it'd be the Parliamentary Glory Box.

[@MrUnderworm]

The Remembrancer of the city of the london is a curious one you could havetalked about

[@azgaard]

The now-defunct tradition of only being able to raise a Point of Order with the Speaker if you were wearing a top hat.

[@maxjjackson]

Top hats are bloody expensive items, (not that gentlemen wear hats inside anyway) Which is the reason why you will see a bunch of MPs waving a piece of paper in the air or holding a file/documents over their heads - whilst braying like donkeys - it's supposed to be a representation of you covering your head with your hat.

[@sharkyk0223]

An interesting person you could cover with the up coming London mayoral election is 'Count Binface' who is, in my opinion, among the strangest and best of British politics in current year.

[@PrograError]

oh and the lottery system... apparently you can bet for near anything with an odd...

[@reheyesd8666]

Weirdest tradition? Well it wouldn't be a tradition but a good honest man entering parliament as an MP.

[@Earthcomputer]

You missed that royal assent is still announced in the house of lords in Norman French, instead of English

[@mittfh]

There's also the system of "Parliamentary Privilege", whereby Members of the Houses of Commons and Lords are entitled to freedom of speech, freedom from arrest on civil matters, freedom of access to the sovereign, and that 'the most favourable construction should be placed on all the Houses' proceedings' - so they're free to make defamatory or libellous comments about someone, or breach the Official Secrets Act, as long as it's during "ordinary parliamentary proceedings" and in the Westminster Estate (it doesn't apply to the devolved administrations or any other tier of government).

[@davidioanhedges]

It allows them to speak with complete freedom - very sensible

[@igorlopes7589]

Who would decide what is acceptable to speak or not? This person would be the true legislator, not the parliament

[@Mr_P]

What about the fact that MPs cannot officially resign, but need to be given one of two positions in the government, which are now obsolete by the way, to set off a rule that states that persons who hold that position cannot be MP, effectively relieving the MP of his/her duties.

[@ciaran_oneill8756]

I love these traditions, they add so much character, even a sense of legitimacy, to the whole show

[@Imfernolistico]

0:10 Brutal joke lmao, gave me a good chuckle

[@AlansLessons]

The father, mother and baby of the commons. That parliament used to have a shooting range where MP’s could fire pistols / rifles.

[@guyatkinson2301]

0:03 Flag's the wrong way up.

[@andrewhopkinson2503]

MP's don't go and sit in the Lords for the King's Speech. They stand at the back. One MP has to go to Buckingham Palace to act as hostage for the King's safe return.

[@steve3425]

Canada’s parliament mirrors most of the quirks of the British parliament too.

[@johndeltuvia7892]

There's that weird thing where Commons MP's can't resign, so if they want to resign, they're appointed to be either the Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead, which essentially kicks them out of Commons.

[@freezombie]

Some fairly weird ones that few British people would think of as weird: - tax changes are announced by the government as part of the budget (often with fairly little notice) - the budget lives in a red box - the new prime minister is appointed within hours of the election

[@GreatgoatonFire]

Voting by walking through doors seems very odd and dated

[@sm6allegro]

Germany does it too though

[@Born2EditHD]

I think it's good, we don't need to change it for any important reason and it keeps abit of history.

[@GreatgoatonFire]

@@Born2EditHD what about MPs with movement disabilities, another pandemic or someone who cannot attend in person? The current system isn't without issues.

[@GreatgoatonFire]

@@sm6allegro sucks that both the UK and German are stuck so far back in the tech tree.

[@LordDim1]

@@GreatgoatonFire Members with mobility issues can simply use their wheelchair or other method of movement to go through the voting lobbies without issue. As for people not being in attendance, what of it? I don’t believe any parliament allow absentee members to vote. Norway for example uses electronic voting in its parliament, but you have to be physically present in the Parliament chamber in order to vote.

[@Jedsa009]

Churchill was a staunch imperialist; His decision to rebuild a parliament to be precisely the same reflected his ideal (British Exceptionalism).

[@igorlopes7589]

I fail to understand why preserving national tradition is equal to imperialism

[@adamcrocker4853]

No MP has been up to snuff since 1989, makes sense

[@pyrokar1990]

Isn't the house speaker historically dragged to his seat upon being chosen? As this was the position most likely to end in beheading, if the monarch didn't take quite well what the parliament decided?

[@tisFrancesfault]

Rituals are very important to a society, and should not be removed for the sake of itself. Change for the sake of change does not improve anything. I do tend to find the most aggrieved by British rituals, seem to be fairly middle-class, typically republican and more than happy to visit other countries and wax on about their wonderful traditions and sense of culture; though ostensibly would see its being discarded for being antiquated "clown-shows".

[@LordDim1]

Yup, its strange. It is however far from new, George Orwell himself observed this back in 1941, saying: “England is perhaps the only great country whose intellectuals are ashamed of their own nationality. In left-wing circles it is always felt that there is something slightly disgraceful in being an Englishman and that it is a duty to snigger at every English institution, from horse racing to suet puddings. It is a strange fact, but it is unquestionably true that almost any English intellectual would feel more ashamed of standing to attention during God save the King than of stealing from a poor box”

[@thesmithersy]

You forgot to mention that the Palace of Westminster is a Royal Palace so technically certain laws don't apply there (like the smoking ban) but MPs agree to follow the spirit of them.

[@ceemage]

It's now been discontinued, but until fairly recently, if an MP wanted to raise a Point of Order during a division, they had to sit down and cover their head (order paper, borrow a hat from a lady member,, or get the foldable opera hat kept under the Speaker's chair, kept in a manila envelope).

[@HootMaRoot]

I think MP's are fans of sticking other stuff up their nose these days and not snuff

[@kylegamana8155]

These should be continued till the end.❤

[@CallemJay_McNeill]

You're a good looking guy so I thought I'd support your channel by joining Nebula TV using your link in the description. I'm actually quite happy with the vast amount of content available. Thanks for the introduction 😊 Just subbed to this channel too, had actually found it while searching for news regarding the May 02 election.

[@tinayoung5436]

I loved this video....don't ever change TLDR 😂 Also,great thumbnail...way to go Ben 🫅

[@EclipsePheniox]

I feel it's things like these that give a government and nation some personality rather than being a group of people arguing.

[@markw2016]

Don’t forget…DIVISION!! CLEAR THE LOBBY!

[@waynehanley72]

The ceremony with black rod originates because Charles I invaded the Commons to arrest the leaders. The slamming of the door is a rejection of the notion that the monarch can control the Commons! It's an important lesson!

[@Edwards-Videos]

5:45 Members of the House of Commons cannot sit in the House of Lords, even during the Throne Speech. They stand through the speech.

[@garethaethwy]

You missed Dennis Skinner's regular contribution to Black Rod's presence in the Commons...

[@getnohappy]

Perhaps the weirdest tradition is how a political party can have absolute control of government with about 35% of the popular vote

[@A190xx]

Well the alternatives are endless coalitions, inaction and horse trading. As Churchill might have said, it is the worst form of government bar all the others. Imagine trying to run a company with 3-10 managers with opposing views and varied share holdings.

[@davidioanhedges]

So do over 40 other countries including to some degree the USA and Canada ...

[@getnohappy]

@@A190xx I know, imagine having to govern in a way that reflects the beliefs of the actual people of the country, having to compromise for the majority opinion rather than concentrate on whistling to die-hard supports and romancing swing seats. Sounds a terrible way to run a **checks notes** democracy.

[@Hfil66]

What I find particularly irksome is that MPs are called to vote on matters where they are not expected to sit through the debate. In other words they vote on matters they clearly have no idea about but merely follow instructions as to how to cast a vote as if it was their own considered and reasoned opinion.

[@A190xx]

This is not quite the whole story. They receive a pack with the main parts in advance and they can listen to debate, which is often reiterating points in the papers. No doubt some votes are based on party whips, but most MPs will be able to support the reasons for their votes.

[@DavidPashley]

​@@A190xx yep they watch the debate in their offices while they do other work like committee or constituency work. It would be a complete waste of time for every MP to spend their whole day in the chamber if they're not going to talk.

[@meganfrancis1628]

Part of this is for many votes MPs are ‘whipped’ which means they must votes how their party wants even if they personally disagree or they will get punished by the ‘whips’ so many MPs just turn up and vote where they are told, that’s also why voting records are not always a reliable indicator of an MP’s politics

[@alexanderkowal5710]

Arguments are often predictable

[@kristofkozari9040]

I think this is not unique to the UK, basically this is how it works everywhere.

[@jameswelsh4479]

I'm pretty shore mps have another box in parliament where they snort something other than snuff

[@2SNesbit]

As my old grandmother used to say, "Gooder than snuff and not half as dusty." However, I think she might have been referring to something else.

[@chapmje]

I was in a London pub across from the House of Commons years ago. A bell rang and everyone started downing as many drinks as possible one after another for about five minutes. It rang again and they all got up and left. We asked the waitress what the deal was and she said it was the MPs being called back to vote.

[@scottmartin3816]

UK, never give up your charm.

[@03.achyuthans39]

British Parliamentary Traditions are actually lovely.. they give some character to the running of the nation. Ofc lords reform, honours system reform, peerage reform, common election commission, reducing the commons constituencies and moving to a MMP or MMR system etc are all needed but even with them, should be able to retain some ceremonial stuff

[@user-fg8it6kp3e]

The monarch owns the swans because people were eating so much of them that they were going extinct. So making them the monarchs property stopped them being eaten and becoming extinct.

[@maciej_viking]

1 missed weird thing in the British parliament. The way they vote. No electronics. Just going around corridors and through special doors. The vote for "yes" is "aye". Another weirdness.

[@lemapp]

The video thumbnail showed a golden ceremonial Mace. Historical, maces were clubs used in war. Over time they became symbols of local authority. Here in the US, somr of the older cities that pre-date the revolution, still have their maces. They were presented by the Crown. I live in Norfolk, Virginia and we recently allowed the city's Mace to be displayed in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. [Actually there are two: a replica on display in the local museum and the original locked away for safe keeping.]

[@jesseberg3271]

One thing you missed, you glossed over it twice, is having a monarch at all. Less than 10% of the world's population live in countries that have one, and that's including all your Commonwealth countries that _have one_ but which don't actually *have it* on a day to day basis.

[@raffiklausner5016]

You missed the ceremonial dragging of the speaker to his seat

[@RealWatch1]

slamming the door has to be one of the very best quirks

[@TomSalesJr]

I wish that Dennis Skinner mocking Blackrod had entered into the constitution

[@napalmholocaust9093]

The width for swords may be for the original sheathed ones at the hip before the ban. I've worn a basket hilt, it sticks out far behind. They were not worn up and down, more at 30°'s off horizontal or a bit less.

[@stephenrobins4756]

You could have mentioned the lobby between the two houses where anyone can speak to their MP. This is where the term "lobbying" comes from.

[@edwardblair4096]

If you haven't already, you should put together a playlist of some of your pre-brexit political and Parliament explainer videos. They were very interesting to watch

[@DanielEarlester]

The weirdest political tradition is MPs can table amendments that face little to no scrutiny but if they have enough support can be made law. This means if an MP thought strawberries should be the legal currency and could convince the majority of MPs the same then we would all be buying stuff with strawberries. This has led to some horrific laws being passed.

[@tulliusexmisc2191]

"...MPs had slunk off for a cheeky mid-afternoon pint. Many of these now though don't work." Nadine Dorries, for example.

[@gameofender4463]

I wonder, if Britain/the UK became a republic, what would the name of the country be. Can’t really be a “United Kingdom”. Maybe it would be the “Union of Britain” or “Commonwealth of Britain” or something else.

[@TheFactsMan]

United Republic

[@JoeeyTheeKangaroo]

I'd rather not break these traditions. I'm not a monarchist but the monarchy controls the military & prevents a government coup, it's a safeguard in case any tits in the commons get any ideas.

[@matthewparker9276]

They'd probably call it The Republic of the United Kingdom of Great Britton and Northern Ireland. Each time they change the form of government they can just add an extra word or two to the name.

[@gameofender4463]

@@TheFactsMan “United Republics of Britain”, maybe. I think “Union of Britain” is quicker/easier and sounds better.

[@gameofender4463]

@@JoeeyTheeKangaroo I agree.

[@someinteresting]

Don't worry, even after you explain what is snuff the reaction is still WTF. 🤣🤣🤣 Never change.

[@ShinyaMerveilles66]

As an American, the concept of a black rod being shut out of a building for being common and independent is familiar, hilarious and hits home depending on the context

[@GRHmedia]

You missed a huge aspect. The British government betraying the citizens in favor of foreigners. Stomping on their citizens rights and traditions in favor or not upsetting people or Oh my goodness offending someone.

[@mattbrichacek8978]

Bro that snuff box is the Stanley cup of parliament door keepers.

[@CrysolasChymera2117]

PARLIAMENTARY SNUFF BOX. I'm flubbergasted.

[@aduro9519]

When the monarch speaks in the House of Commons fir the State Opening of Parliament, the commons send a hostage, theoretically to execute them if the monarch is killed.

[@beauchum]

You could discuss the Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds. Also what about an episode on the 6 Great Officers of State

[@PRDRprince]

Missed the bed for the monarch in the speakers’ room

[@wolfgang6517]

Symbolism is important. The closing of the door on the Black Rod´s face for example goes is the living incarnation of Britain´s democratic system while the Kings Speech embodies the Monarchy role within the state. These traditions are the living embodiment of Britain´s organic democratic and royal institutions, unbreakable for centuries past and centuries yet to come.

[@iainawatson]

Didn't take in a word of this after "Barton-in-the-Beans" was mentioned because that was then all i could think of.

[@bernardk5137]

In 1998, the Modernisation Select Committee came along and ruined everything. “In practice this means that an opera hat which is kept at each end of the Chamber has to be produced and passed to the Member concerned. This inevitably takes some time, during which the Member frequently seeks to use some other form of covering such as an Order Paper. This particular practice has almost certainly brought the House into greater ridicule than almost any other, particularly since the advent of television.'”

[@FurretG]

You forgot to mention the parliament can’t parliament without the mace. Also the commons should’ve continued the tradition started by Denis Skinner, of quipping every time the black rod summons the commons. He did it for decades. This should’ve made it a part of the convention already.

[@PabloTBrave]

650 benches is too many most debates I've seen apart of PM QT have less than 20 MPs attending its dispicable

[@rm6763]

You missed lots. You could do a long show. Including that a MP cannot resign … they are instead appointed as a warden of something or other and because a MP can’t be a MP and hold a position in the King’s staff, they are automatically fired as being a MP.

[@theconqueringram5295]

*Speaker of the House of Commons clears throat* Speaker of the House of Commons: "PRIME MINISTER!"

[@dhfconst]

This video was hilarious. 😂

[@suspiciousafternoon]

fascinating, but odd

[@michaelchantler334]

The Commons wasn’t designed to be adversarial, in the 14c they met in St Stephen’s chapel in the old Palace of Westminster so the design is that of quire stalls you would see in a church.

[@edmerc92]

Choir?

[@Troy-McLore]

3:35 I properly laughed out loud at that 😄

[@guss77]

Parliamentarians taking quite a bit of recess and not working a full year is quite common: here, where I live, the parliament has a month and a half vacation during spring and 3 months holiday through summer and fall. The US Congress also "works" only about 30 odd weeks out of the year, but at least they have the excuse that they have to campaign for their next election throughout their service 😅

[@UnwittingSweater]

So how does the tobacco ban being read today affect the snuff box?

[@abtinbarzin8369]

Many people have already mentioned how the Speaker has to get dragged into his new seat, so here are some other ones: During Prime Minister's Questions (and possibly other points as well), MPs have to speak by talking to the Speaker and through them to the other MP (eg. "Mr Speaker, is it not true that the Member from Old Bexley and Sidcup did such and such action?"). Isn't there a rule saying that in certain cases, you have to wear the Commons' hat to be allowed to speak on a matter? I vaguely remember such a rule, but searching online didn't bring up any results. Also, something about how because MPs aren't allowed to speak out of turn, when they want to cheer/show support for something, it's usually done via loud grumbling/muttering?

[@kaithompson3074]

My favorite traditional position of the British Government is the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, which is held by a cat.

[@alphamanticore2344]

2:09 "most"