Upstairs, Downstairs
Political documentary series. Michael Cockerell examines what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year.
In the second episode of this major four-part series, presenter Michael Cockerell explores the upstairs-downstairs world of the House of Commons. We see what goes on backstage at the state opening, when the Queen comes to open the parliamentary year, including a surreal traditional search for gunpowder. Behind the pomp and pageantry, we meet the army of skilled workers who struggle to keep the Commons show on the road. We follow MPs who want to introduce their own bills in the Commons and have to play a bizarre form of parliamentary bingo to get the chance. And we show how Labour and Conservative MPs conspire together to thwart their party whips.
In this episode we meet two very different MPs: Robert Halfon, a campaigning Conservative and thorn in the side of the government, who receives an unexpected call from Downing Street. And Thomas Docherty, Labour's deputy-shadow leader of the house, who goes to extraordinary lengths and makes unlikely alliances to guarantee time in the chamber for his party.
Last on
Clip
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The morning of the State Opening of Parliament
Duration: 01:56
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Michael Cockerell |
Executive Producer | Anthony Geffen |
Series Producer | Emma Whitlock |
Producer | Jack MacInnes |
Director | Jack MacInnes |
Participant | Robert Halfon |
Participant | Thomas Docherty |
Participant | Kate Emms |
Participant | Lawrence Ward |
Participant | Robin Fell |
Participant | Andrew George |
Participant | John Dowzell |
Participant | Peter Wosahlo |
Participant | Jacob Rees-Mogg |
Participant | Steve Rotheram |
Participant | Peter Bone |
Participant | Andrew Percy |
Participant | Angela Eagle |
Participant | William Hague |
Participant | Dennis Skinner |
Participant | David Blunkett |
Participant | Nicholas Soames |
Broadcasts
- Tue 10 Feb 2015 21:0091热爆 Two except Scotland
- Tue 10 Feb 2015 23:5091热爆 Two Scotland
- Wed 11 Feb 2015 23:2091热爆 Two except Northern Ireland & Scotland
- Wed 11 Feb 2015 23:5091热爆 Two Northern Ireland
- Sat 14 Feb 2015 21:0591热爆 Two Scotland
- Tue 3 Mar 2015 00:2091热爆 Two except Scotland
- Tue 3 Mar 2015 00:5091热爆 Two Scotland
- Sat 8 Oct 2016 17:0091热爆 Two Scotland
- Sat 8 Oct 2016 18:0091热爆 Two except Northern Ireland & Scotland
OU on the 91热爆: Inside the Commons
Learn more about the topics in this series with OU academics
OU on the 91热爆: Inside the Commons
Learn more about the topics in this series with OU academics
The inside track on British democracy
Visit the 91热爆's Taking Liberties website