The Leper in the Commons

When I was appointed political correspondent of the Evening Standard in the early 1990s, I knew very little about the House of Commons and urgently needed to remedy my lack of knowledge.

Most days, once the final edition had been put to bed, I would put in an extra stint and wander down to the member’s lobby – a small foyer at the entrance to the Commons chamber where MPs mingle before a vote. As a lobby reporter, I had the privilege of joining them, observing the parliamentary intrigue, and had the right to introduce myself to any MP I wished.

I soon made friends with one of the policemen who stood at the door. He would tell me the members’ names and which party they belonged to.

There was one sad case of a Tory who had lost his seat in the 1992 General Election. Suffering from dementia, he thought he was still an MP and liked to turn up immaculately dressed and stride confidently towards the entrance to the chamber, where my policeman friend would gently intercept him.