All change – Portcullis House on Tuesday

Mark 32 Comments
780px-portcullis-house-london-arp
Photo: Arpingstone via Wikimedia Commons

The evidence session on Tuesday will take place in Portcullis House – opinions differ as to whether this is the ugliest building in London or just one of them. However, inside it is very nice, and modern – although lacking the charm of Sir Charles Barry’s and Pugin’s masterpiece over the road.

The evidence session will be in the Wilson Room which has been chosen because it has a larger than average capacity in the public ‘gallery’.  So more of you can fit in if you come – and you can look at artwork of Harold Wilson if the evidence session gets dull, though I have a feeling it might not.

The image above is taken from Westminster Bridge facing towards Parliament Square. If you could see it, Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) would be on your left across the road.

If you kept walking behind the guy in the red shirt and crossed the road in front of you and took a few more paces then you would be at the entrance/exit to Westminster tube station before you got to what looks like (but surely can’t be) an ice-cream van down the road.

So if you come out of Westminster tube station you will see Big Ben towering in front of you. If you turn left and walk 20 steps along the pavement, and turn left instead of crossing the road onto Westminster Bridge you find the entrance to Portcullis House.  Or in other words – somewhere between those two trees in the photo.

The evidence session starts at 14:15 with Jeff Knott of RSPB and myself until c14:45 (hardly any time at all) and we will be followed by Liam Stokes (Countryside Alliance) and Amanda Anderson (Moorland Association).

 

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32 Replies to “All change – Portcullis House on Tuesday”

  1. I cannot be there in person Mark but you know that I will be supporting you from here in not so sunny Yorkshire. Give them Hell.

    Paul

  2. It looks like a sort of Blast Furnace. Or is that to accommodate a lot of hot air (not you, Mark!) or heated exchanges? I see GWCT are attacking the RSPB again re: burning.
    Best of luck next week. You represent the 123,000. We’re there in spirit.

  4. I too cannot be there to support you much though I would have liked to have done. With 15 minutes to present your case, that’s roughly 140 supporters behind you for every second you speak. Good luck.

  6. Good luck Mark. You will need it being up against those pro-grouse shooters who will no doubt be bootlickin’ the government officials’ heather-trodding footwear.

  7. Sorry that I can only be with you in spirit not person but wish you and Jeff ATVB.

    Bootlickin’ ain’t robust evidence so the truth will out and the myths be busted and then to the next stage.

    One might be forgiven for pondering that Leadsom has announced a free vote on the repeal of hunting ban as a distraction to Ban Driven Grouse Shooting and all its associated mis management of upland moors? Let’s hope she puts it to the public along with a vote on BDGS/moorland mis management ….

  8. Every bit of luck Mark to you and Jeff for the 18th. As a tip, always try to be as positive as possible in any responses as the MPs will almost certainly not be so familiar with the grouse moor situation as yourselves. I would be there in the audience myself if I were not currently 10,000 miles in Australia. Look forward to reading your report after the the evidence session.
    Best wishes
    Alan

  9. In the (approximate) words of some far away ancient Viz character “give ’em one for me son’.

    Best of luck.

  10. I understand that everyone who signed the petition will be sent a video and transcript of the WH debate. Do you know if the evidence session on Tuesday will be filmed and made available to the public?

    1. Jonathan – the evidence session will be live on the parliament channel. That’s all I know.

  11. You don’t need luck, Mark.
    All you need is your cerebral marksmanship while firing off that substantial bandoleer of facts, figures and arguments. Enjoy.

  12. Enjoy yourself, Mark and good luck. I’m surprised the MA are trusting Amanda Anderson with this after some of her reported gaffes, hopefully she’ll make some more.

  15. All the very best for the upcoming session Mark…Surprised it’s such a short time, but I’m sure you’ll have lots to say…Looking forward to reading how it went later.

  16. Mark – do you think it is important to have a good turnout of supporters in the public ‘gallery’?
    I might be able to get there, but it would be a bit of a push, and I might be able to encourage one or two others. But I’m not clear whether this is really a ‘campaigning’ occasion.

    1. Alan Two – it is not a campaigning opportunity really. You have to sit quietly! But it is ‘an event’ and if I lived close-ish to London and had the time to spare, and the price of a train fare, i would consider attending myself. And I have attended some of these things in the past. But space is limited and so it is a slight gamble – although having said that maybe no-one will turn up at all.

      The focus is on the witnesses saying the right things and getting them into the public record. That’s why I am wandering around the house at the moment mumbling under my breath.

  17. Was hoping to come but I can’t now. Have set my TV box to record the session though. Best of Luck.

  18. Good Luck Mark,there’s a group of us coming down from the Calder Valley,who will be down there at Port Cullis House hopefully.

  19. You commitment to this campaign has been awe-inspiring, Mark. I believe it has inspired many others like myself to campaign for better outcomes on our moorlands.
    Good luck on Tuesday.

    1. Nick – many thanks! And good luck with your campaign to persuade the National Trust to drop grouse shooting from its land in the Peak District.

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