Traditional vaudeville features a variety of interspersed acts none of which bear any relation to the previous one. The performances are often frenetic, chaotic and bordering on the farcical. Shedding of garments occurs frequently.
Similarly barmy scenes played out in the House of Commons yesterday during yet another lengthy day of Brexit madness.
The main event occurred shortly after 5.30pm just as members began debating the evening’s indicative votes aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock. Peter Kyle (Lab, Hove) was up on his feet, arguing the merits of a second referendum.
The source of mirth was coming from up in the public gallery. As Kyle spoke, a troupe of ten climate change protesters had casually ambled down to the front, removed their togs and were now showing our political class their bare behinds
Kyle is by no means the worst performer in the House, so there was some puzzlement when the chamber gradually began echoing to the sound of childish titters.
Was it something he’d said? Had Dennis Skinner (Lab, Bolsover) perhaps issued one of his charming soliloquies?
The source of mirth was coming from up in the public gallery. As Kyle spoke, a troupe of ten climate change protesters had casually ambled down to the front, removed their togs and were now showing our political class their bare behinds.
Ed Miliband's reaction to the protest in the House of Commons
Well, after everything which has happened recently they can hardly complain they didn’t have it coming.
What took place over the next half hour was pure comedy slapstick. The protesters, a youngish bunch, their beneath-the-stairs modesty mercifully protected by garish black thongs, thrusted, gyrated and boogie-woogied their half-naked bodies in front of the chamber.
The Metropolitan Police were duly summoned. Still the swampies did not go quietly. Riotous scenes followed as the coppers made desperate lunges to catch the perpetrators. Hair flew, limbs flailed.
Best of all, since the protective glass in front of the gallery is soundproof, the entire shenanigans took place in silence to the rest of the chamber. It was like watching a saucy
