As the Westminster political complex buzzed with first-day school excitement on Monday, 334 new MPs arrived to collect their passes and familiarise themselves with the surroundings. However, for some their tenure had ended, and their time was not to return after the holidays.
Steve Baker, of the Conservative Party and previous state minister at the Northern Ireland office, had lost his Wycombe seat in the recent election. Now he was back, clearing out his office surrounded by the hustle of eager, fresh-faced Labour MPs exploring the place like holidaymakers beneath the New Palace Yard colonnades.
Often ribbed as the “Brexit hard man” of the Tories, Baker’s expression on Monday was solemn and fatigued after letting his six employees go. Election defeats can be ruthless in various ways.
Despite his future likely being in the private sector, Baker seemed at peace with the outcome. With a medical doctor as his spouse and an RAF pension to fall back on, he would not be in financial hardship.
But he did have one half-serious, half-jesting lamentation. He commented, “New Taoiseach [Simon Harris] and Keir Starmer are discussing a ‘reset’ of British-Irish relations. Hadn’t I already accomplished that? Please, you must agree…”
Baker had acted as the Tory party’s spokesperson at the 2022 autumn conference, extending an apology to the Republic for Britain’s rigid stance on Brexit. This led to a softening of relations and paved the way for the Windsor Framework agreement six months later. Though Baker no longer has his seat at Westminster or his political career, he can still claim that achievement.
At the opposite end of the colonnade, past the dimly lit pedestrian tunnel under Bridge Street, and up the escalators was the bright, spacious atrium of Portcullis House – the parliamentary estate’s modern addition. Here, more newly elected MPs and their defeated competitors unhurriedly intermingled on the concourse linking the Westminster canteens.
Reflecting on her electoral defeat, Hannah Bardell, previously representative for Livingston from the Scottish National Party, displayed a stoic attitude. “Such is life,” she commented jovially. The Party has suffered a severe defeat, exceeding that of the Conservatives, and must recover quickly to prevent another potential failure at Scotland’s forthcoming devolved parliament elections in 2026.
Emily Thornberry of the Labour Party accepted heartfelt commiserations from party affiliates after the surprising decision of the new prime minister to overlook her for the position of Attorney General, a role she previously held in opposition. Despite losing her spot in Starmer’s front office, Thornberry managed to secure an election victory. Assuring those around her, she stated, “I’m all right.”
Newly elected Labour MP for Beckenham and Penge in South London, and recent head of the party’s Irish society, Liam Conlon, was seen. Conlon, the son of Sue Gray, a senior advisor to the newly appointed prime minister, wore evidence of the arduous election on his feet. Brandishing an inaugural Westminster access pass, he had a gleeful look in his eyes, as if holding an Olympic gold medal.
Located in Westminster Hall, close to where Queen Elizabeth had lain prior to her funeral in 2022, was a makeshift processing unit, relocated from Whitehall, issuing access passes. Gleeful new Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs lined up in the “new members’ reception area” to obtain their entry cards.
A provisional desk was strategically placed within Portcullis House for “Temporary locker allocation”. A mentorship program was in operation, where each new MP was paired with a member of the parliamentary staff, ranging from administrative staff to kitchen staff, to guide them through the parliament building. Neon green and white-striped lanyards made the new politicians immediately identifiable as they wore their passes with pride.
At the renowned Downing Street, two commodious removal lorries had occupied the space in front of Number 10, just a short distance up the lane. Laborers were busy transporting furniture from the main entrance to the vehicles. These belongings could have been the property of Rishi Sunak, the previous conservative prime minister who was defeated, his office having been situated in Number 10, or perhaps they were possessions of Jeremy Hunt, the ex-chancellor of the exchequer who resided in the flat above.
There was a notable change of power happening. Clearing out the remnants of the past.