PARLIAMENT OR PRISON?

White Ribbon, Volume 49, Issue 10, 18 November 1943, Page 4

PARLIAMENT OR PRISON?

A CONTRAST

"Sometimes I remark that I have spent three years in prison and three years in Parliament, and that I saw character deteriorate in Parliament more than in prison." This statement was made by Mr. Fenner Brockway (Britain) in his book, "Inside the Left,” which is the story of thirty years’ work of platform, Press, prison and Parliament. Brockwav continues: "It is true. Ihe conditions of Parliamentary existence are fatal to the average man unless he has compelling interests or activities. . . . The inevitable deterioration of their existence was hastened by the case with which drink could be obtained. i lie Houses of Parliament are classed as a Ro\al Palace and accordingly there are no licensed hours; drink can be had all day and night. I do not wish to exaggerate the drunkenness which occurred at the House, but it was rare during my period in Parliament for one or more members not to be intoxicated after nine o’clock at night; the tcmi>er of the debates always rose after this hour, and unseemly interruptions were common. One Member had the habit when lie drank too much of maintaining an unceasing ‘hear, hear’ like a small machine gun. There w»n one occasion when the Cabinet Minister responsible for winding up a debate on unemployment could stand onlv with difficulty. By this I was utterly shocked, and left the Chamber, remarking to Dr. Marion Phillips, beside whom 1 was sitting, that a workman would lx- sacked if he were found drunk at his bench. I know it is the habit of Members of Parliament, and even of exmembers of Parliament, to be silent on this matter. I am writing of it not because I am unconscious of human frailty in myself, but because the drunkenness which occurs at the House of Commons is only a reflection of the futile, wasted existence which large numbers of M.P.'s are encouraged to live by the procedure of Parliament. It causes many i>ersonal tragedies known to everyone who lias been in the House.