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Inside the House of Commons: Behind the Scenes at Westminster

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I had the honour of meeting John Biffen, then Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons, member of Margaret Thatcher's cabinet, currently the Rt. Hon. the Lord Biffen, a number of times back in the mid-1980s when I worked in the House of Commons. He was personable, witty, and, after decades in office in the House of Commons, full of stories and tales to tell. Indeed, when Biffen left the Cabinet, he was invited by publishers to write a tell-all book that surely would have sold well for a brief spell while journalists picked over the details of Biffen's recounting, but which would ultimately have placed Biffen among the countless other former leaders and Cabinet ministers who tried to have one last swipe before fading from the public eye.

To his credit, Biffen resisted this impulse, choosing instead to honour his time and association with the Parliament by writing an interesting and engaging narrative history and account of the procedural bits that make the place work. As Biffen states from the outset, when one says 'Palace of Westminster', one takes into account the building and the history as much as the politics and workings of the place.

Perhaps his most poignant observation comes fairly early in the text, in which he talks about the historical basis of much of what transpires within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster. MPs and Lords are living with history, dealing with things often intended for a different era; the struggle to maintain tradition and allow for modernisation for the sake of efficiency and effectiveness remains ever present. 'The challenge remains, however, to maintain the House of Commons as a workshop. It must never become a museum.'

Biffen's long association with the House of Commons at all levels from opposition back-bencher to Cabinet minister gives him a unique perspective to share the manner of operation of the place. He has included in this text not only his own experiences, but those of many others from all sides of the political boundaries. Audiences who can now watch the Question Time and other procedural functions on television still often lack the background material and history; they also lack the real-time back-story -- while this text doesn't give to-the-minute information, it gives a good sense of the kinds of things that go on behind the scenes.

Biffen discusses Question Time, both for ministers and for the Prime Minister. In his role as Leader of the House and Lord Privy Seal, Biffen would have to occasionally stand in for Thatcher during PM Question Time if she was out of the country; he described the experience as exciting, but rather like 'the office boy in the boss's chair'. This description shows both Biffen's humour and his tendency toward self-effacing commentary. Do not be deceived by this -- Biffen is a shrewd politician and a keen observer, which is one of the things that makes this book such a delight. Other parliamentary procedures Biffen discusses include Ministerial Statements, Private Notice Questions, Private Member's Bills, Early Day Motions, Adjournment Debates and more.

In a separate section, Biffen talks about the 'grander' happenings, such as State Openings, Budget Day, Maiden Speeches and the like, as well as some of the customs and conventions of the House, including who sits where and why, and how they dress (or how they should not). He also talks about the various services, such as the Library, a combination of tradition and modernity -- each MP who writes a book traditionally deposits a signed copy in the library, and Biffen recounts with relief that many choose to write on subjects other than economics and politics. Indeed, by this convention, this book is also in the library there.

The final section looks at possible reforms of procedure and constitution (remember, there is no written document of a Constitution similar to the American one -- things go by custom, convention, precedent, and Parliamentary approval, and has worked remarkably well for a very long time). The increasing relationships with Europe via the EU are one such. Alas, this text was finished quite some time before the devolution to regional governments, so issues such as the advent of the Scottish Parliament, etc. are not addressed.

If I am ever to teach British politics again, I would be inclined to use this text side-by-side with the 'Yes, Minister' text, and invite students to pick out which is real and which is not. Biffen's writing is not intended for academics or historians, however, but is meant to be an accessible work for the commons about the Commons. In my opinion, he succeeds admirably.

I visited London in July 1990, and while there, toured the Houses of Parliament. John Biffen's book was available in the gift shop, so I purchased it. It is very well written and gives details about the history and procedure of the House of Commons in a very readable format. The book also explains the nature and origins of the Speaker's role in controlling debate and other conduct in the House. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in the subject matter.