Forty PolIR students recently visited Parliament for a morning of events. Students were given a tour of the estate, starting in the 11th century Westminster Hall and including a walk around the House of Lords (where the accompanying staff member got ticked off for sitting on the benches; apparently, only Lords are allowed to sit down in the chamber).
The tour was briefly interrupted as students had to wait and watch law literally being made in front of them, as legislative amendments written on paper were marched – by foot – between the House of Lords and House of Commons. Students also got to sit in on a debate in the House of Commons. The visit provided students with a valuable insight into parliament’s rich history and its modern role in the law-making process.