BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!

Subject: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:40 PM

Today saw the State Opening of Parliament. Queen Elizabeth knocked on the door and was refused entry (as usual) etc.
Today is the 26th of November.

When King James I went to open Parliament it was on 5th November (as Guy Fawkes would confirm).

Just wondering if anybody else has noticed that the Idle Beggars sitting in the House these days are turning up for work a full THREE weeks later in the year. How can they justify having an extra 3 weeks holiday?

Just a thought!
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:46 PM

Geoff - I always prefered Funkadelic myself. I'm not familar with the Idle Beggers - was that one of Bootsy Collins bands ??

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:57 PM

Was he half of Bootsie and Snudge?

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 05:07 PM

I'm sure you could do a British Version of Aussie Politics in Song to cheer yourselves up!

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 05:21 PM

Every bloody year the same - standing outside and banging on the door like that..... does no one remember where they put the bloody key?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: HuwG
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 10:32 PM

The official who actually knocks on the door is the "Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod", or "Black Rod" for short.

Quite what else he does is mystery to me. One celebrated holder of the post was the former Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks. He always appeared to be very busy with paperwork at his desk in front of the Lord Chancellor. In his memoirs he admitted that he was actually whiling away the time by doing his football pools.

HM is never actually allowed into the Commons; which is why the MPs have to troop into the Lords to hear her parrot the Queen's Speech. The last monarch to burst into the lower chamber was Charles I, who was trying to arrest 5 recalcitrant MPs (Pym, Hampden, Holles, Hesilrige and Strode). He was trying to forestall a Civil War; this action helped start it.

I am not too sure whether the recent reform of the Lords, from a hereditary house to an almost wholly-appointed one will make much difference to UK politics. I am reminded of a line from the comedy program "Yes, Minister" (which starred the late actors Paul Edington and Nigel Hawthorne), commenting on a minister who has fallen from grace. "Well, he was apparently as drunk as a Lord last night. So, after a decent interval, I suppose they will make him one".

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 05:34 AM

Where is the great Guy Fawkes [ great Yorkshire HERO ] now that we need him.
lapsed socialist, Eric

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 05:42 AM

What are the joys of the Cabinet lot?
Skiving, bloody well skiving.
What are they doing as likely as not?
Why skiving, bloody well skiving.
They drive to the house, on the front bench they sit,
They answer each question with wisdom and wit,
But we've seen the results and we know its all . . . . . .
'Cause they're skiving, bloody well skiving.

- "Skiving" - Dave Diamond

Subject: RE: BS: Parliament Opens - Idle Buggers!
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 07:02 PM

With the traditions involved in British Parliament - HM probably doesn't want to acknowledge that troublesome rich merchant class - but many of those are now in the Lords.... :-) Her PM put thme there... :-)

Robin