Parliament is falling down

A metaphor in search of a nation

UK parliament (Roman Boed)

Like many twenty-somethings armed with a freshly minted politics degree, a battered West Wing boxset and an alarming lack of imagination, I applied for a job in parliament. Things did not get off to an auspicious start. The first MP I worked for died before I even met him. The second was, well, one of these. At least the third was kind — and largely sympathetic towards my non-existent organisational skills.

I also got to work in all manner of offices. The parliamentary estate is a sprawling complex of buildings, courtyards and, oddly enough, car parks. The sort of place where the walls sweat in summer while in winter, the radiators clang as if a child Edwardian labourer is trapped somewhere behind the plasterwork.

Its most celebrated section is the Palace of Westminster, home to the Commons and Lords chambers, as well as Westminster Hall, which has hosted many historic events, including the trial of Charles I (found guilty, executed etc). But there is so much more.

Palace of Westminster and the Parliamentary Estate

Other buildings include Portcullis House, 1 Parliament Street, Norman Shaw North and South, Richmond House and Derby Gate. When the House is sitting, the place is heaving — there is a reason it is often referred to as the Westminster Village. The House of Commons service alone employs roughly 3,000 people, who do everything from supporting legislative scrutiny to more typical corporate functions.

The place is also falling apart. And not in the cute, rural-manor-needs-a-touch-up-if-the-thing-is-going-to-sell-in-this-market sense. Indeed, a 2023 report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee described it as “a building that’s leaking, dropping masonry and at constant risk of fire.” This would be bad even if the current Palace hadn’t been rebuilt in the 1830s following, you guessed it, a massive fire.

For this reason, fire inspectors patrol the complex on rotation. Despite this, 44 blazes have broken out in the last decade. The estate is also riddled with asbestos, with more than 1,000 incidents uncovered. Consequently, parliament spends around £1.5m a week patching up the place, but it is a losing battle. So we’re going to do something about it, then? You must be new here.