Down at the palace of varieties.

We have long assumed that parliament was a mongrel between - a museum, church and school as so it proved last night on BBC Two in a revealing programme by the well known and respected veteran broadcaster Michael Cockerell in a fly on the wall documentary Inside the Commons. What are we to make of this Gothic horror show we called the House of Commons? Boy George Osborne was there with his best chum the prime minister Cameron. Poor Ed Miliband looked as distracted and bewildered as he always does. The only chap to come out of it with any honour was the Clerk of the House of Commons until October 2014 Sir Robert Rogers. He is trying to keep the ship of state afloat as the water pours in from all directions. Thankfully apparently one of his recreational hobbies is sailing. Getting your head around an institution founded so many years ago is no easy task. Sir Nicholas Soames (Churchill's grandson) still gets lost in the corridors of power. Two women new MP's are trying to find their feet with some help from the gallant staff. Nevertheless there is no book of instructions or induction as there would be in any self respecting company. Its sink or swim for all. Having said all this its a must see show if like me you love the palace of varieties.