Groundhog Day

It is a strange event voting in the House of Commons. Unlike many other Parliaments - where you can vote by pressing a button on a desk, in Britain, you have to walk through what is termed a 'Division Lobby'.

As you walk through there usually is a long queue and your name is ticked off on a register. You have eight minutes to vote so MPs always have to be fairly near the Division Lobby when the votes takes place. Sometimes there are a succession of votes and it feels a bit like Groundhog Day as you traipse through the Aye or No Lobby with the same colleagues you were with just a few moments before.

The one advantage of this unique way of voting is the chance it gives you to catch up with MPs and even Ministers. You can raise things with them when it might take weeks to make an appointment or get a reply to a letter.

Nevertheless, the voting is a test of endurance, especially when the votes are late at night starting from 2200. Tonight we were away just after 2300- last Tuesday by 0230. I am sure there will be more long nights ahead - especially during the Autumn session when all the new Legislation comes through.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device