They are able to provide a portcullis badge for the centre of the wreath, but you will need to request this at the time you order the wreath, and only ‘Type C’ and ‘Type G’ wreaths can accommodate a central badge.
You have to order by telephone if you want the House of Commons badge because it’s not on the website: 0345 845 1945, and make sure you tell them that you want the green House of Commons badge – emphasis on ‘green’.
You can order wreaths at any time of year but, obviously, they are busiest in October and November, so do try to order in good time. They suggest that orders for Armistice Day should be placed before 24 October.
The Elizabeth Tower, home to Big Ben, has been shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA Stirling Prize, marking the first time a conservation project has ever been shortlisted.
Described by RIBA’s judges as a “veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship,” the restoration combined traditional skills and crafts with cutting-edge upgrades that made the building fit for the 21st century, and preserving it for future generations.
Over five years, the Tower underwent its most extensive restoration to date. Crumbling stonework was repaired, the clock mechanism meticulously restored, and vital improvements were made to fire safety, energy efficiency, and access. Specialist craftspeople and companies from across the UK played a key role, combining heritage skills with innovative solutions to ensure Big Ben continues to ‘bong’ for generations to come.
Friendly young professional looking for a cosy room in a shared house with good transport links to Westminster. My budget is around £800 pcm including bills, and I’m hoping to move at the beginning of September.
Ideally, I’d love to live with other young professionals in an LGBT-friendly, sociable home, bonus points if there’s some green space nearby for weekend strolls and coffee runs!
If you’ve got a place that might be a great fit, I’d be excited to hear from you.
We have been publishing cartoons by Hoby on the w4mp site for many years, and we know readers enjoy them. However their accessibility has always been an issue. From time to time we’ve experimented with ways to describe the cartoons in the alt-text of the image but it’s now clear that, with the right prompt, LLMs are good at the job.
Here’s the latest cartoon:
Hoby Cartoon for August 2025
And this is what Google Gemini came up with, given the prompt:
“this is a four frame cartoon featuring two characters, Trey and Sir Justin. Trey works for Sir Justin who is an MP. Please generate a description suitable for alt-text”
A four-panel, black and white cartoon featuring an MP, Sir Justin, and his aide, Trey.
Panel 1: Trey is at his desk in an office, with Big Ben visible out the window. He is on the phone with his boss, Sir Justin, who says, “Hello? Trey? Hi, it’s Sir Justin. Listen, you must be bored couped up in the office with all this nice weather we’ve been having.”
Panel 2: A close-up on Trey listening to the phone. Sir Justin continues, “Why don’t you come down to the constituency for a change of scenery and some fresh air?”
Panel 3: Trey looks flattered as Sir Justin says, “I need some help with an important event and I think you’re the only one with the requisite skill and expertise.” Trey replies, “That’s very flattering sir, thank you!”
Panel 4: The scene cuts to a golf course. Sir Justin, dressed in golfing gear, is holding a club. A dejected-looking Trey stands beside him, holding a heavy bag of golf clubs. Sir Justin thinks to himself, “Can’t believe I fell for that. Especially as it’s not the first time.” He then says to Trey, “Five iron please.”
Which is pretty good. So we’ll start doing this regularly.
Parliament is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), running from 12 – 18 May 2025. MHAW is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and share ways to support good mental health for all. This year, the theme for MHAW set by the Mental Health Foundation is Community.
Between June 2023 to June 2024 a cross-party group of civic technologists worked together to create the MP Office Manual. They are all keen to see MPs with well run offices contributing to a flourishing democracy in the UK.
The proposals in the manual come from in-depth interviews with current and former MPs office staff and expert advice from 30+ practitioners, allied with a survey of staff members and a review of current literature including all past guides and examples found on w4mp, Hansard Society, and Parliament.
We hope you find it useful – and if you have any suggestions for improving it please get in touch.
Interest in and use of AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, ChatGPT and Policy Mogul‘s AI Assistant continues to grow, and more and more staff members will have access to these services on their computers, tablets and phones. So far everything you read on w4mp is ‘generated by real people’ but who knows what’s coming next…
The Parliamentary Digital Service now offers a range of resources about for Members of both Houses and their staff. This includes newly created guidance on the use of AI, opportunities to learn more about AI, and information about Microsoft’s AI tool, Copilot.
The guidance, which has been considered by the House of Commons Administration Committee and House of Lords Services Committee, is intended to be a source of advice for those who wish to use AI to do so safely. It will be regularly reviewed and updated as required, so please keep an eye out for updates on ParliNet.
A version of Microsoft’s Copilot is available to all Parliamentary account holders. When you are logged into Copilot (https://m365.cloud.microsoft/chat/) with your Parliamentary account, this version applies the same data security as other tools provided for you through Microsoft 365. Please see page 10-11 in the AI Guidance for Members regarding the use of generative AI tools.
Resources and opportunities to learn more about AI are available on the AI resources for Members ParliNet page. PDS is also organising a number of seminars in conjunction with the Libraries of both Houses and you can register your interest by clicking the link within this page.
Read the report (on ParliNet) or pick up a printed copy from the Hub.
Have you heard of the Civil Service Sports Council?
It’s a fantastic organisation which supports its members with physical, financial and mental wellbeing, as well as providing hundreds of other benefits. Staff of MPs and Peers are eligible to join.
As the Parliamentary recesss comes to an end (before the usual adjournment for party conferences) the Hansard Society’s Parliament Matters Bulletin has a comprehensive run through the business planned for this week. You can read it on their website, or suscribe to their weekly email.
