The
British Parliament: More than Meets the Eye When we talk about the British Parliament, it's easy to think of it as just a bunch of politicians arguing in a big room. However, there's more to this institution than meets the eye. In this article, we'll delve into some lesser-known facts and trivia about the UK's legislative body. 1. The Palace of Westminster is Home to Bats Yes, you read that right. The famous Palace of Westminster (which houses the Houses of Parliament) is home to a colony of bats. Specifically, the Nathusius' pipistrelle bat. While it might seem odd for a government building to have a population of mammals living inside it, the bats aren't actually causing any harm or damage to the building itself. 2. The Queen Can't Enter the House of Commons While the Queen technically has the power to dissolve Parliament and call a general election, there's one place she can't go: the House of Commons. This is because the monarch is forbidden from entering the lower chamber of Parliament. There's no specific reason for this rule, but it's been in place for centuries and is still observed today. 3. Some Seats in the House of Lords Are Hereditary While most members of the House of Lords (the upper chamber of Parliament) are appointed, there are still 92 seats that are hereditary. This means that they are passed down within certain families and are not subject to election or appointment. This might sound like a relic of the past, but it's still a feature of the UK's political system today. 4. The Palace of Westminster Used to Have Fireplaces That Burned Coal During the 19th century, the Palace of Westminster had central heating that relied on burning coal in fireplaces throughout the building. This might seem like a risky and outdated way to heat a government building, and in fact, there were several fires that broke out as a result. Today, the Palace is heated using a more modern and safer system. 5. The Speaker Is Not Allowed to Vote The Speaker of the House of Commons (who is selected from among the MPs) is responsible for keeping order and ensuring that parliamentary procedures are followed. However, they are not allowed to vote on any issues - even if they are also an elected MP. This is to maintain impartiality and ensure that the Speaker remains neutral. As you can see, there's more to the British Parliament than just debates and speeches. From bats in the Palace of Westminster to hereditary seats in the House of Lords, these facts and trivia shed light on some of the more interesting and unexpected aspects of the UK's political system.
