On Monday 31st July, Local MP Luke Hall welcomed residents of Hakwesbury Upton and Inglestone Common to the Houses of Parliament. The trip is the first visit that he has organised since his re-election, fulfilling his promise to provide constituents with the opportunity to visit the heart of the British Democracy, to meet their MP where legislation is passed and debated.
The MP’s initiative which organises for a village or neighbourhood to visit Parliament is part of an effort to ensure communities within the area are able to visit the House of Commons, whilst also giving them an opportunity to engage with Local MP Luke Hall.
Each village tour involves a fully guided tour around Parliament by a Professional Tour Guide, with a visit to both the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. They were also given the opportunity to view the less publicly known places within the Westminster Palace, such as the Queen’s Robing Room, The Royal Portrait Gallery, Central Lobby, Westminster Hall and St Stephens Hall.
MP Luke Hall was also able to arrange for a special permission from the Black Rod to allow the guests to visit the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft in Westminster Hall and view the cupboard where the Suffragette Emily Wilding Davison locked herself in on the night of the 1911 consensus just one of the many small pieces of History that is contained within British parliamentary democracy.
Residents then met with Luke to discuss both local and national issues, as well as giving resident’s an insight into the daily workings within Parliament as their representative. The MP also gave a talk as the local MP, describing his journey from working in Retail within the area, to becoming the Member of Parliament for the area he has lived all of his life.
Luke Hall said: “I am really pleased to be able to continue with this initiative which is proving to be a really great way to hear first-hand what residents feel about the issues of the day within the place that our laws are made. As our MP I know how important it is to engage every community on these issues”