The new UK Parliament will begin work today as members of both Houses return to Westminster following the general election last Thursday.
Business begins at 2.30pm when members of both Houses will attend the Lords Chamber to hear a Royal Commission from the King to hold the new Parliament.
The House of Commons will then proceed to elect a Speaker, while members of the Lords begin to take an oath of allegiance or make a solemn affirmation to the Crown.
Business continues on Wednesday when the ‘Royal Approbation’ ceremony for the Commons Speaker-elect is expected to take place followed by oath taking by members of both Houses.
The State Opening of Parliament will take place on Wednesday 17 July. The King’s Speech, written by the government, will be read from the Throne in the House of Lords chamber. Members of both Houses then get straight down to work debating the contents of the speech over several days.
Our five Edinburgh MPs going to Westminster include Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat), and four Labour politicians – Scott Arthur, Tracy Gilbert, Chris Murray and Ian Murray who is also the Secretary of State for Scotland.
Scott and Chris travelled with Lumo, Tracy with LNER, Ian by plane with other members of the Cabinet and, mainly since she hasn’t tweeted about it, we are not sure how Christine travelled to London.
Big Noise Wester Hailes
If your children are in P3 to P5 at Sighthill Primary School then they could join Big Noise Wester Hailes at Clovenstone Primary School every day this summer – more information below. Big Noise is a method of teaching young children to play an instrument and then play in an orchestra – and most of all have some fun doing it.
All images © Stewart Attwood Photography
Thistle Street shop closes
The lovely shop Covet which sold handbags and scarves and all sorts of accessories for 14 years has now closed on Thistle Street. Earlier in the year one of the co-founders, Blaise, stepped back and now the other co-founder, Anna Somerville – who is also an artist – has decided it is not possible to continue on her own. She will however continue to sell her art and her scarf and bag designs online.
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West End Fair
This month there is a fair set up in the grounds beside St John’s Church. It opens on 29 July and will be open 11am to 6pm every day until 25 August.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
