12th century modernisation

Modernisaton has been the buzz word of any party trying to get into power for the last 15 years, (which is actually ironic enough to deserve a posting of its own.)

Anyway, true to his party's current modernising trend, a Conservative member tried to overturn a "market charter" dating back to the 12th century in the Commons chamber today.

I watched from the press gallery, thinking about how bizarre it was to be overturning something the man admitted himself probably didn't even exist, when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned round to be confronted by a man wearing livery.

"Good god, he's going to challenge me to a duel," I thought.

He didn't. But he did throw me out of the chamber for not wearing a jacket.

Before I could apologise for being such a cad, he held his hands out and said: "Sorry mate. They're not my rules, I quite like your shirt. They're the speaker's and they're hundreds of years old."