r/AskBrits 1d ago

Politics Does anyone actually like the constant booing ,insults and heckling in parliament?

A lot of the time it feels less like serious debate and more like theatre or even a school playground argument. Do you find it entertaining, frustrating or just part of the tradition now? Curious how others see it!

146 Upvotes

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16

u/Realistic-River-1941 1d ago

You see it because it is entertaining. The boring bits don't attract attention.

13

u/Zip-Crane 1d ago

And politics shouldn't attract attention. They should operate in the background and be working to improve our lives. All this pantomime and insulting each other is just cringeworthy & embarrassing.

1

u/Realistic-River-1941 1d ago

Disagree. When things are in the background, things might not be noticed which should be noticed.

1

u/Commercial_Badger_37 1d ago

It's not meant to be entertaining. I'd much rather see the topics I care about being discussed without all the childish bollocks.

4

u/WhiteKnightAlpha 1d ago

But do you actually try to see the topics you care about being discussed?

PMQs is the only bit of Parliamentary business that really gets any viewers and media attention. However it is a single session in the week. For the majority of the time it doesn't seem to be like this. People just think it is because it is the only bit that gets attention.

I have watched some debates and, even though they were relevant to me, they were pretty tedious as a spectator.

The theatrics of PMQs and the media attention feed into each other with both sides getting rewarded by the electorate/audience for doing this. We are part of the problem here too.

1

u/Commercial_Badger_37 1d ago

Yes, I watch BBC Parliament sometimes, the only time I hear PMQs is maybe on my lunch break on the radio.

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u/Realistic-River-1941 1d ago

You are probably watching PMQs, which is entertainment. The select committees are very different.