I can’t remember if anyone has so far described ‘long table’? If not – it is an ancient custom in the House of Lords. In three of the restaurants (the Home (pronouced Hume and dedicated to Lord Home – a Tory Prime Minister in the 1970s) Room, the Peers’ Dining Room and the Barry Room there is a long table at which the latest peer to arrive for a spot of dinner (or lunch) sits next to the last entrant. So the table fills us from one end and no one, by tradition, can choose to sit in splendid isolation.
This is a very helpful custom since it enhances the existing cross party camaraderie that distinguishes the House of Lords from the House of Commons – where MPs tend to sit in party groups. It is also very informative; in the informal context of supper at the end of the day with a glass or two of wine one learns a great deal about party policies and tactics and the opportunity for co-operation across party lines comes up all the time.
Long table tends to reinforce the lower priority given to party politics and highlight the shared task of scrutinising and revising legislation.
Baroness D’Souza needs to do some basic historical homework. Lord Home – as Sir Alec Douglas-Home – was in office as prime minister from October 1963 until October 1964, not the 1970s! In Edward Heath’s ministry he served as foreign secretary, June 1970 until March 1974.
Dear Lady D’Souza,
Thank you so much for posting this really interesting bit of life ‘behind the scenes’.
One thing though, Lord Home was not Prime Minister in the 1970s. He was Prime Minister from 1963-64 firstly, and for a very short period of time, as The Earl of Home and secondly, having disclaimed his peerage, as Sir Alec Douglas-Home.
Howridiculous.
What a chivalrous response from the Doctor! But it would seem he too should do some homework. Lord Home was Prime Minister as The Earl of Home from his appointment by Her Majesty on 19 October 1963 until he disclaimed his peerage and became Sir Alec Douglas-Home on 23 October 1963. And he did not become Sir Alec Douglas-Home MP until 7 November 1963.
Howridiculous.
So he was Prime Minister for two weeks without being a member of either House…
I stand utterly corrected and with apologies.
References schmefrences.
I’d like to eat and banter there.
Lily
Baroness D’Souza,
I must apologise on behalf of some others here for their very sharp tongues. Your simple and minor mistake was totally set upon disproportionately.