Swearing in

Usually takes days but the new Serjeant at Arms and his staff really got a production line going and it was mostly finished within the day. We are supposed to swear in in order of "seniority". Once the Cabinet, Shadow Cabinet and Ministers have done their stuff it is all supposed to be on a "time served" basis. It is always interesting to watch ego at work on these occasions. One Blair Babe was keen to go to the front of the queue becaue she was 97 intake but thought twice when she realised that Hazel Blears (a Minister - who could more legitimately have jumped the queue) was waiting patiently in turn.