Well, what a night (in the words of the song). Fruitful afternoon meeting with current client about more work, and then to Westminster for the Vox Politics debate on how blogging might affect politics. Interesting, wide-ranging debate, though not sure we came up with many answers, but then not sure I expected to. Ran into a plethora of diverse buddies: Mike, Tom, Gert, Steve, Stephen. Long story, but ended up going for a drink with Tom Watson MP and a bunch of other blog-enabled folk in the Strangers Bar at the Palace of Westminster. Lembit Opik came by, and there was much talk of blogging (as well as Ready Steady Cook, which Tom has been on, lucky guy). Great view over the river, by the way.
While the standard of debate was high, the topic was pretty broad ranging (if blogging's the answer, what's the question? Is it about enabling the citizenry, or the politicians? Is it political or democratising? How much to weblogs draw people into the civic process? ... You get the picture), I was utteryly side-tracked by a green TV screen in the corner of the chamber that had Communications Bill, Lords Amendement 44 in large friendly letters, as well as who was speaking, and how many minutes in they were. Tessa Jowell was speaking for 25 minute chunks, while everyone else seemed to have a couple of minutes.
What is The Palace of Westminster like inside? Quite a lot like a cross between an ever-so-slightly run down private school and the rather English headhunting firm I lasted at for less than a year: lots of green and cream paint, old oak, and the desire, if only the governors could raise the finance, to repurpose parts of the building in a more contemporary way. Lots of people in suits having conversations in corridors.
I've often felt that I have an outmoded sense of public duty, and being inside the epicentre of decision making, I realised that I may be one of those "oddly democratic people" who popped up in debate. More, later.
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