“The House of Commons exchanged Brexit debate for classical music when an MP, a TV presenter and two parliamentary staffers performed as a string quartet inside the famous chamber,” reads an unsigned article in Wednesday’s (6/19) Belfast Telegraph (U.K.).“Known as the Statutory Instruments, the ensemble of Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire, Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman, councillor Katherine Chibah and Emily Benn, former general election candidate and granddaughter of former Labour MP Tony Benn, were given permission to play in the chamber on Tuesday evening by Speaker John Bercow. After the performance, in which they performed part of Debussy’s String Quartet in G Minor, Mrs. Debbonaire said music can encourage people to see ‘different perspectives’ in politics…. The Statutory Instruments, who describe themselves as ‘probably the first UK Parliamentary string quartet,’ are set to play a charity concert in the Palace of Westminster at 1pm on July 2…. ‘What I’m hoping for is that people will have the opportunity to be calm or uplifted,” said former shadow culture secretary Mrs. Debbonaire…. All four members of the quartet have a background as trained musicians.”
Posted June 21, 2019
