Living Traditions of the Palace

Step inside the Palace of Westminster and discover the living traditions, hidden rituals, and untold stories that shape British politics. In this episode of Unseen Parliament, Rich Bunn shares insider anecdotes: from division bells and Black Rod’s ceremonial door slam to the centuries-old “hostage” tradition during the State Opening of Parliament.

Explore how history and humour collide in the corridors of power, revealing the quirks, customs, and everyday absurdities of working in the heart of UK democracy. Whether you’re a history buff, political enthusiast, or just curious about what really happens behind the scenes, this episode uncovers the secrets and living traditions that make Westminster extraordinary.

Keywords: Parliament, Westminster, British history, political traditions, UK politics, Palace of Westminster, living traditions, Parliament rituals, insider stories, State Opening, Black Rod, division bells, British democracy, political history, podcast, Buzzsprout

Transcript

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There are always stories in the Palace of Westminster. As the saying goes, if these walls could talk, just imagine how many secrets they'd be able to tell you. When I worked there, I felt an almost constant presence of history. And I think what made it especially worse, and particularly surreal, is how much of that history, how many of those traditions are not gone, but are still being enacted all around you. Today I'll tell you about just a few of them. This is Unseen Parliament. Stories from inside the Palace of Westminster. I'm Rich Bun. In the Palace of Westminster are many sounds the ticking of the over three thousand clocks, many of which are hundreds of years old and still wound by hand, the striking of Big Ben, the sound of the wood panelling creaking on a warm day, and often the occasional phone call of someone who has got lost. Because believe me when I tell you that it is very possible to get lost in what's not so much a building anymore as a sprawling labyrinth that's been layered over every fifty years or so with a different design. Even the names, well, to be honest, you might as well ignore them. Because once you're behind the scenes at Parliament, what it actually says on your map is probably not anything like what the staff call those rooms. I remember fairly early on being told something along the lines of go left of the snake pit, keep walking till you're in the yellow submarine, make sure you've gone down the nose corridor and meet me in the old Victuella's lodgings. And all of those names were totally unofficial. That of course is because the palace is old. It's carrying forward traditions that in some places still feel borderline medieval. Take, for example, the division bells which are fitted everywhere. Vote is called in the Commons by the ringing out of a bell through Westminster. And when I say Westminster, I'm talking about the area of London, not just inside Parliament, because you'll find those bells nearby in pubs and local offices and random corners that don't belong to them anymore. And of course this goes back to a time when politicians would nip out for a quick drink or a slow lunch. But the the the point is that many of them still ring out, which to me always felt bizarre, like they were a plague warning or announcing a great fire or that the French were coming. And once those bells are ringing out, the politicians still have just eight minutes to get to the chamber, from probably fourteen different buildings. I can tell you that the sight of six hundred politicians desperately rushing through a busy estate in the direction of the voting corridors is a strange thing indeed. Or consider the figure that represents the crown at Parliament, and that person is known as Black Rod, and yes, that's their real job title. Black Rod is the person who once a year during state opening walks ceremonially up to the chamber to have the door slammed in their face. Now it's a tradition, and theoretically it symbolises the Commons' independence from the monarchy. But it's still quite weird that this enactment of a real person dramatically having the door shut on their face whilst lots of tourists take pictures, and watch in satisfied delight. Whilst this is all happening, the king is getting changed in the robing room, ready to address everyone in his parliamentary speech. To ensure his safety, an MP has simultaneously been kidnapped and will now stay at Buckingham Palace until the King has left again. So much of the fun part of working at the Houses of Parliament, I think, is the absurdity. Working in a place where history and modernity try to exist side by side and are constantly colliding. The doorkeepers and the clockmakers and the locksmiths and the soja-t-arms and blackrod and the occasional searches that are done for Guy Fawkes. It's an extraordinary place. Confusing, frustrating at times, and often ridiculous. But extraordinary. Thanks so much for listening through to the end. I'm Rich Bunn, and if you've enjoyed this podcast, please think about subscribing or sharing with a friend. They're published every Tuesday, wherever you get your podcasts. Goodbye.