British parliament

One should perhaps offer some convincing reason for writing a book on Parliament when so many excellent books on this topic have already been written. Like others, I have found Parliament to be a subject of compelling political interest, and if no other reason presented itself, it seemed personally rewarding to work out an interpretation of how Parliament works, or appears to work. Parliament may be compared to a rich diamond lode, still worth mining, and many facets of Parliament are relatively unstudied and unrecorded.

More than that, Parliament has a significant role to play in modern times. In some respects Parliament is unique, and it is, foremost, an essential part of the complex network of government which the British have developed over the centuries. Yet, in a broader sense Parliament carries the flag for all of us. It often serves as a model for the parlia mentary bodies of other countries, and its Members are well aware that the actions taken at Westminster, or the manner in which Westminster does things, have an influence extending beyond the shores of the British Isles. Parliament is sedulously observed, its procedures studied and emulated, and training courses are conducted within the Palace of West minster for the benefit of parliamentarians and parliamentary officers of other countries.