British House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. Parliament also includes the Sovereign and the upper house, the House of Lords. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 646 members, who are known as "Members of Parliament" or "MPs." Members are elected by the first past the post system of election for limited terms, holding office until Parliament is dissolved (a maximum of five years). Each member is elected by, and represents, an electoral district known as a constituency. The House of Commons is the source of the vast majority of government ministers and, since 1963, every Prime Minister.

The chamber in film and television

In 1986, the British television production company Granada Television created a full-sized replica of the House of Commons debating chamber at its studios in Manchester, for use in its adaptation of the Jeffrey Archer novel First Among Equals. The set was highly convincing, and was retained after the production – since then, it has been used in nearly every British film and television production which has featured scenes set in the chamber. From 1988 until 1999 it was also one of the prominent attractions on the Granada Studios Tour, where visitors could watch actors performing mock political debates on the set.

Related Topics:
1986 - Granada Television - Manchester - Jeffrey Archer - First Among Equals - Film - Television - 1988 - 1999 - Granada Studios Tour

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In 2002 the set was purchased by the scriptwriter Paul Abbott so that it could be used in his BBC drama serial State of Play. Abbott, himself a former Granada Television staff writer, bought it personally as the set would otherwise have been destroyed and he feared it would take too long to get the necessary money from the BBC. He currently keeps it in storage in Oxford.{{ref|ref01}}

Related Topics:
2002 - Paul Abbott - BBC - State of Play - Oxford

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