Mike Penning wins chance for local school choirs to sing Christmas carols at Parliament
6th August 2009
Mike Penning has welcomed a change of heart by Commons bureaucrats over their “no choirs at Christmas” ruling.
Hemel Hempstead MP, Mike Penning, has received a letter from the new Speaker of the House of Commons that overturns a previous instruction from Commons bureaucrats banning school choirs from singing Christmas carols in Parliament.
For each of the past four years, Mike has invited a local school choir to sing Christmas carols to MPs in the atrium of Portcullis House which houses MPs offices, restaurants and meeting areas. In the week before Summer recess, Mike received an email from Commons officials telling him this would no longer be permitted.
On raising the matter in the House of Commons, Mike told the Speaker that this would be a serious disappointment for young people and that the Commons ought to be doing more to encourage young people to visit Parliament.
In his letter this week Mr Speaker said:
“I appreciate the interest children have in visiting Parliament and the thrill of performing particularly in the weeks before Christmas”.
He agreed that choirs would be allowed to perform as long as they gain approval in advance.
Mike said:
“I am very pleased at this ruling. It made no sense whatsoever to ban school choirs from singing Christmas carols in Portcullis House. No one has ever complained that I am aware of. It is a great opportunity for young people to visit Parliament and I am delighted that I will again be able to invite a local school choir to come and sing at Christmas.”
