Dear Diary,
This week I have embarked on an informative and unforgettable experience. I spent the week as a work experience student under His Majesty’s Solicitor General for England and Wales, Mr Michael Tomlinson KC MP.
On Monday I was in the constituency office in Dorset with the rest of the students as well as Laura Miller and Frances (Michael’s wife). The atmosphere was incredibly friendly, welcoming and there was a real sense of family. It started out with getting to know each other with a little introductory game. Later, we developed our understanding of how Parliament works, parliamentary etiquette and procedures. We signed a confidentiality agreement and read Michael’s biography. Frances showed us around their fittingly rural farmyard office. We did an outreach task, researching the local area, a newspaper summary briefing of the week and a situational reaction task.
Day two. Elizabeth Tower, secret Westminster tube entrance and a House of Lords worthy only for the stout-hearted. The day began, for me at least, at 6 am with me eagerly eating my Special K - excited for the day ahead. I met up with the other students at Poole train station at 7 am for our 7:11 train to Waterloo. The day prior we were tasked with choosing a debate topic for our day, so we spent the entirety of the train journey discussing, eliminating, reinstating and finally concurring on a topic: one year compulsory national service in the UK. We choose teams at random and started prepping. The train pulled into Waterloo and we raced over to the Jubilee line, and embarked on our brief journey to Westminster. We then went into Portcullis House, opposite Parliament to collect out parliamentary passes and meet Simon and Hayley. We swiftly set fourth for our booked tour of Parliament, passing statues of unicorns and lions alike. Westminster abbey was absolutely breathtaking; such history, such tradition and outstanding importance for our democracy. During our tour of the House of Lords, the grandeur took its effect on some tourists. One lady fainted and sat on the bench recovering - rather cheekily as we were explicitly instructed only Lords may sit on the red benches. On the way to the House of Commons gallery, I saw Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and briefly introduced myself, he’s a real gentleman. We watched urgent mortgage questions being put to the government and enjoyed the back and fourth. Then we experienced the 10 minute spiking debate. We then met with Michael, grabbed a few photos and had a chat until he whisked away when the division bell rang rather conveniently as we were staving at this point. We then had a careers conversation with some of Michael’s civil servants about topics ranging from the Fast Track program to the importance of lobbying. Finally, after a fun filled day, we sneaked out of Parliament through the secret entrance into Westminster underground station and journeyed home.
On Wednesday, I wrote a report on the 10 minute spiking bill and completed other casework. My team then prepared for our debate on Friday, and had a little fun designing a fantasy governmental cabinet; JK Rowling was my PM and Jeremy Clarkson for minister for DEFD. I finished the day by writing a mini article for Michael’s website on retained EU law.
Thursday we started with a correspondence task, whereby we proposed responses Michael should take to differing, unique but wholly real, situations. Over lunch, and coffee Frances generously provided, we discussed our fantasy cabinet appointments.Laughter filled the room when someone appointed Mick Lynch for Minister for DWP. In the afternoon we stuffed some (many) envelopes with parliamentary surveys.
Finally Friday. Today we had a busy day. Michael was back from London and in the office. We were each afforded a nice chat with Michael, whereby we could ask any questions we might have and just generally converse. Much of the day was spent ensuring our team was fully prepared for the afternoons debate, we formulated rebuttals to injections we predicted the other team may pose. We then spent 45 mins canvassing, for my first time, around Corfe Mullen. Knocking on doors, handing out cost of living parliamentary surveys (obviously not party political as we were on government time) and asking if residents had any questions. I’m pleased to say we were warmly welcomed, and it was great to see how Michael interacts first hand in these situations. On the way back I congratulated Laura on becoming an approved conservative MP candidate. Now, the moment the week had all been leading to… the formidable debate. The debate was ran in proper fashion, Michael was Speaker of the House. My side was HM government and three students formed the Loyal opposition. I was rather nervous whilst I was sat listening to my honourable friend introduce the bill to the house. I was frantically searching for a pen as Michael had just announced artfully that out speeches would be cut to four minutes rather than six, in proper parliamentary fashion. As soon as I began to speak my nerves departed and I started to enjoy the moment, and responding to interjections was stimulating. THE END