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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Why not turn Parliament into a museum?
With the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster round the corner, CHRIS WILLIAMSON explains why he would favour a permanent location for a people’s parliament in the Midlands or the north of the country

LAST month, MPs voted to leave the Palace of Westminster in 2025 so that essential refurbishment works can take place. The building is well known to be falling apart, packed full of asbestos and far from accessible to those with disabilities.

But more than this, the Palace — because, let’s remember that’s what it is — is a Harry Potter-esque warren of aristocratic symbolism. It’s meant to cow politicians from humble backgrounds but fill the Eton attending gentlemen with confidence.

Brilliant stuff for a museum day trip, but the place to hold the seat of a modern democracy? I think not.

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