November 5th celebrates the saving of Parliament from Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. However as I was told last night, every year the security teams which protect MPs, Peers, Staff and their visitors carry out additional checks in the parts of the building that Guy Fawkes used to hide his gunpowder. I was told that story whilst at a meeting in Committee Room 11 of Parliament, a room which overlooks the River Thames, so some way from the main entrances to the Palace of Westminster. I was at a meeting to launch a new organisation which was previously known as the Christian Socialist Movement in a room that would comfortably seat 80 people, with 120 others. It like the Conservative Christian Fellowship and Lib Dem Christian Forum has been an organisation which offers a place for Christians from the party concerned to meet and in the case of the CSM to remind one another of some of the roots of the Labour Party. Living in Brighton & Hove and working professionally within the Churches means that every time one of the three main parties visits town, one of these three organisations requests help to create a meaningful link with local churches. Over the years the CSM has been the most energetic in its desire to do this. I went to the launch of Christians on the Left to find out if they believed in their own name, could I as someone who is not a Labour Party member, who has no intention of joining the party, perhaps even if I was a member of another party such as the Green Party or an Independent standing against Labour Party candidates, could I find a home within an organisation called ‘Christians on the Left’. The response from Stephen Timms in front of 120 people was that I could. They are affiliated to the Labour Party, but do not ask for members of CotL to be supporters of, let alone members of the Party. If this is a meaningful and robust intention, this has the potential for a change that I would consider to be in the right direction for our democratic institutions.

Meanwhile outside although within our hearing was the Million Mask March. When I came out of Westminster Tube Station all I could see was gridlocked traffic, 100’s of Police Officers and dozens of flashing blue lights. I have no idea how many protestors were present but we could hear their shouts from our committee room which suggests there were more than a few hundred that the BBC reported on their website. Although many of the protestors may be like Russell Brand (who was present), people who never vote, their desire to change the nation for the better is as legitimate and clear as those working inside the building that I was in. I was assured by the organisers of Christians on the Left that some of their members were outside with the mask wearing protesters.

My third vignette of democracy came as I was leaving, being in the Palace of Westminster I decided I should observe Parliament in action. The MPs had gone home early, but the Lords were still in action debating the lobbying Bill on which I have written previously. The experience was so out of kilter with the way in which people outside Westminster would attempt to resolve such important issues. Here where 20 men (before I left one female peer did arrived in the chamber) debating a matter on which Hundreds of their colleagues will vote. What was the point of their deliberations? The words uttered will appear in hansard this morning, but will that really change hearts and minds amongst those entitled to vote? Why use a chamber that can seat hundreds for a debate that involved so few? The Peers in the Chamber were significantly outnumbered by the security staff and those recording the debate. The Chamber itself is very grand and redolent with history, yet out of touch with a modern nation struggling with austerity on one side, and the wealth of celebrities, bankers and footballers on the other.

Finally on the way home, twitter broke the news that Mark Pritchard MP has been caught out using OUR Political authority to assist HIM earning £36,000 a year as a consultant (plus 3% for any deal secured) on top of his wage as an MP. His claims that he has done nothing wrong is such a sad indictment of a small group of men (and no doubt one or two women) who have so misunderstood the mood of a nation that they claim to represent. All we need is for him to do now is to stand up and explain that he has the full support of the people he speaks to on the doorsteps of Shropshire and who he is paid to represent in Parliament! This news story follows on from the revelations this weekend of the levels of expenses that Mark Pritchards colleagues have been claiming for the running costs for second homes. If these men and women are really listening to electors, they must have some very sympathetic voters. They must also listen to people who disagree with them!

Based on my evening, democracy certainly seems alive in some places. However the gap between the Million Mask March and some of our more responsible MPs or Lords is substantial. Those who claim to be our leaders have responsibility to listen and respond to the whole nation if they are really going to provide leadership! Those using Parliament to create business opportunities for themselves need to find a new role!