A DAY in the life of an MP was the topic for discussion when Watford MP Claire Ward addressed a group of senior citizens at a Garston church on Monday, June 24.
Miss Ward guided her audience over the Palace of Westminster and spoke about her role in the Government.
As her parents are local councillors in Borehamwood, she said she had always dreamt of going into Parliament.
After qualifying as a solicitor, she was first elected in 1997 at the age of 24, and re-elected in 2001.
That first Labour Parliament for many years, brought a great many women into the Palace of Westminster and this led to several amusing experiences for Miss Ward and her fellow female parliamentarians, she told the senior citizens group.
Miss Ward said that on one occasion, some of her women colleagues went to the members' showers only to be told they could not use them.
"They were for the benefit of members only," they were informed.
When they replied that they were also members, they were told firmly but politely that the showers were for the male members only.
To which one of the women replied: "Not any more".
June 26, 2002 17:30
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