Gyles Brandreth

was this man, Jeremy Hanley, outside the building, because he remembered how nerve-wracking it was to go through the gates for the first time, to go through security, when you actually were a member and you didn't need to have things checked.

You could just walk in.

And he just showed me around.

He showed me where the eating places were, where the tea room was.

He showed me, you know, the rules were finding your place.

Because to get a seat, when people usually sit in the same place, you have to go in and place a prayer card on the seat where you want to sit.

And then you have to turn up for prayers at the beginning of the day.

And there's these sort of things that you wouldn't know unless there was somebody there to tell you.

Does that still happen?

That still happens to this day.

Because if all the MPs turned up, there wouldn't be room for everyone to sit down.

So if you want to bag a place, be sure of getting a seat.

You have to go in before proceedings begin.

And you place a prayer card, it's known as a prayer card.

in a little, on the back of the seat, there's a little thing, ticket holder, that you can put your name in.

And then, that's to book a seat, but to confirm your booking, you must be there for prayers, which is not shown on television.

It's a private...

moment of prayer before the speaker's chaplain comes and conducts, says a few, you know, says a prayer.

And it is lovely.

Rather charmingly, when saying prayers, you turn your back, your face backwards.