UK Parliament Week 2017

Our Parliament is known as the 'Mother of all Parliaments,' and with its origins dating back to 1016, it is certainly one of the most historic parts of London. 

I've been fortunate to work in Parliament and have experienced the hallowed halls and glorious architecture in all their splendour. You are conscious that you are walking in the footsteps of history whilst playing a part in shaping the future. You'll spot a familiar face (or two) whilst getting a coffee, and form your opinions whilst listening to debates in the chamber. You'll understand how hard parliamentary staffers work and the roles of the thousands of staff who help to keep the parliamentary estate ticking over. You'll realise the tremendous job the police and security staff do in keeping us safe- and their role in ensuring democracy is accessible for us all. And importantly, you'll realise how lucky we are to have a Parliament that is steeped in history and is open for us to experience. 

Working to improve the digital literacy and imagination of MPs last year was a fantastic experience, and one which demonstrated positive change in a short space of time. For me, the project has given birth to other amazing opportunities, and I am now fortunate to be continuing that work with politicians both in Westminster and in Wales. 

UK Parliament Week is a great initiative to raise awareness of the work of Parliament and our elected representatives. Learning about the democratic system and voting were some of my favourite PSE lessons in school, and I only wish I had had the opportunity to learn more and even visit Parliament as part of a school trip. These experiences are now available for students across the UK and if you're in high school and reading this - hassle your teacher to take your class to Westminster! 

Whilst much has been made (and continues to be made) of the reputation of Parliament in the press, it is my firm belief that we be much less richer without our great democracy and the Palace that sits on the River Thames. 

Find out more about UK Parliament Week by visiting the Parliament website or the @YourUKParl Twitter feed.

24 Hours in London

I've spent a fair amount of time working in London this year. But aside from the early mornings and late nights, I've managed to explore parts of the city and visit attractions that I haven't got to before!

As part of the AccorHotels '24 Hours In Campaign' I'm sharing what I would visit and see over a day in London. You too can take part in the campaign and enter the competition to win a 9 day European break, with stops in Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin! Click here to find out more.

Here's how I would spend 24 Hours in London!

9am: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at my hotel base- I like to stay at the Doubletree Hilton Westminster. Great location, facilities and fantastic customer service.

10am: Set off for sightseeing! I'll take the short walk from the hotel to visit my old stomping ground, the Houses of Parliament. A tour of the Palace of Westminster is not to be missed -my favourite part is the Commons chamber.

12pm: After absorbing a tonne of history, refreshments are required! After a quick coffee pit stop, I'll head up Whitehall to visit the National Portrait Gallery. It has one of the best gift shops in London!

1.30pm: Time for lunch. I'll visit one of the many restaurants tucked off Piccadilly. Or, I'll pick up a healthy salad at Whole Foods.

2pm: Refueling done, I'll indulge in a little retail therapy on Regent Street. I'll visit my favourites- Russell & Bromley,  J.Crew and Uniqlo as well as checking out the new Tory Burch store!

5pm: I'll head back to the hotel for a little rest and relaxation... and to check out the damage done on my credit card!

7pm: After getting ready, I'll jump in a cab and make my way to The Delaunay in Aldwych for a fantastic evening meal and a few cocktails at the Savoy!

10pm: Walking off calories consumed, I'll take in the sights of the London skyline and magical Westminster along the River Thames.

11pm: Back at the hotel, I'll catch a quick night cap in the Millbank Lounge before heading for some rest and an early wake up call!

Which is your favourite city and how would you spend 24 hours? Don't forget to take part in Accor Hotel's '24 Hours In Campaign' challenge! 

72 hours in London

I've been working in London for the past three months in Parliament, so it was great to return to the city for a little non work adventure!

Friends from Australia were visiting the UK so along with my parents we met up with them and visited some of the quintessential London sights. Westminster Abbey, the Imperial War Museum and Parliament (hello again!) were on the list, as well as a little retail therapy on Regent Street.

We also headed to the BBC and watched the live filming of the Six O Clock- a pretty cool experience! One of the highlights was the Fashioning the Reign exhibition at Buckingham Palace and the chance to see many of the Queen's clothes up close. Her wedding dress and coronation gown were spectacular and definitely the standouts of the exhibition.

Enjoy some of my photos from my trip- my video shot on my GoPro is to follow!

Memorials to great British composers and Prime Ministers at Westminster Abbey.

Back at Parliament!

Afternoon tea on the terrace at Buckingham Palace.

Swooning over the new arrivals at J.Crew

At the Beeb!

A New Dawn for Parliament: light sculpture celebrating women’s votes revealed

UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

I'm working on a big digital project in Parliament at the moment, and I've been really lucky to see the New Dawn light sculpture in person!

One hundred and fifty years since the campaign for women’s votes began, New Dawn, an artwork celebrating all the individuals involved, was revealed in Westminster Hall, the oldest part of Parliament.

Located above the entrance to St Stephen’s Hall, viewers of the artwork literally stand in the footsteps of the hundreds of thousands of women and men who came to Parliament to fight for women’s right to the vote.

New Dawn is a contemporary light sculpture by artist Mary Branson and a permanent addition to the Parliamentary Art Collection, as well as the first piece of abstract art commissioned for permanent display in the historic palace. Measuring over six metres high, the massive scale of New Dawn is intended to reflect the size of the campaign, and the unique hand-blown glass scrolls that make up its dawning sun reflect the many individuals who were involved in the movement and the special contribution they made to modern democracy.

The artwork draws on the visual language of Parliament itself. The scrolls are a direct reference to the Act Room at the Parliamentary Archives, where the legislation which brought women the vote and a say in the laws that govern them is stored.  The glass scrolls are mounted on a portcullis structure – the principal emblem of Parliament – raised over the entrance to St. Stephen’s Hall, symbolising women’s long-awaited access to democracy. The circular scrolls combine with the metal portcullis to create 168 distinct ‘Venus’ symbols, representing the women who fought for their right to vote.
New Dawn has also been influenced by the campaigners it celebrates.  The rainbow of colours used in the artwork reflects the numerous organisations that were involved in the struggle, including the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, the Women’s Social and Political Union, the Women’s Freedom League and the Men’s League for Women’s Suffrage.

The title of the piece comes from the language of the campaigners themselves, many of whom conceived of the vote as offering a ‘new dawn’ for women.

The lighting of New Dawn’s sun shape will rise and fall over a twelve and half hour cycle, linked to the tide of the Thames.  The ebb and flow of the illumination reflects the ever rising tide of change that campaigners were certain would bring women the vote in time.  Each scroll is individually lit, and the appearance of the artwork will change moment to moment, encouraging onlookers to consider the work more deeply and to reflect on the value of the vote and women’s role in democracy.
New Dawn will be revealed on the 150th anniversary of John Stuart Mill MP presenting the first mass petition calling for women’s votes in the House of Commons.  This date is generally seen as the beginning of more than seventy year’s campaigning for the vote, involving hundreds of thousands of people across the UK.

If you're in London this summer, make sure you check out New Dawn! It is spectacular in real life.

London through Instagram

If you're a follower of my Instagram feed, you'll know that I am currently working in London. It's an exciting project, combing my love of digital and politics into one- and something that has never been tried out before! I'll be sharing more details over the coming weeks, but for now, here are some of my photos from in and around the city!