In this short 5-minute podcast from a former Health & Safety officer at the UK Parliament, Rich Bunn offers a personal glimpse on the hidden realities of the Palace of Westminster: its ageing fabric, fire risks, asbestos, and the delicate, often unseen work of managing health and safety within a historic seat of power.

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Step inside the Palace of Westminster and discover the living traditions, hidden rituals, and untold stories that shape British politics. In this episode of Unseen Parliament, Rich Bunn shares insider anecdotes: from division bells and Black Rod’s ceremonial door slam to the centuries-old “hostage” tradition during the State Opening of Parliament.

Explore how history and humour collide in the corridors of power, revealing the quirks, customs, and everyday absurdities of working in the heart of UK democracy. Whether you’re a history buff, political enthusiast, or just curious about what really happens behind the scenes, this episode uncovers the secrets and living traditions that make Westminster extraordinary.

Keywords: Parliament, Westminster, British history, political traditions, UK politics, Palace of Westminster, living traditions, Parliament rituals, insider stories, State Opening, Black Rod, division bells, British democracy, political history, podcast, Buzzsprout

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What do the Lords, ladies and politicians of Parliament eat behind the closed doors and inside the fancy dining rooms of the Palace of Westminster? And how much is it costing the taxpayer. Rich Bunn investigates.

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In one of the strangest recent episodes at the Houses of Parliament, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II led to a huge surge in the rodent populations of London. Rich Bunn looks at the fascinating, underground story of the Rats of Westminster.

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Accompany Rich Bunn as he goes on possible the strangest ever tour conducted at the UK Houses of Parliament: a SMELL tour, through the main scents of the Palace of Westminster.

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Delving into the supernatural legacy of the Palace of Westminster, Rich Bunn goes searching for poltergeists in the UK Houses of Parliament.

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What is it like to wander around the secret hallways and lost corridors of the Palace of Westminster? Rich Bunn takes you behind the gatekeepers and high tech security measures to show you the Parliament that almost no one sees.

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The Keeper of the Cats
Unseen Parliament with Rich Bunn

What if the Palace of Westminster had its own official Keeper of the Cats?

In this episode, Rich Bunn lifts the curtain on one of the more surreal but entirely real debates inside Parliament: whether deploying cats could solve its long-standing rat and mouse problem. Not in the distant past, but seriously proposed as recently as 2025. It had everything modern politics loves. Environmental credentials, public appeal, and undeniable social media charm.

So why didn’t it happen?

Rich takes you inside the argument. From senior figures quietly backing the idea, to operational staff raising very practical concerns about fur, damage, hygiene, and the small matter of cats disappearing into a thousand-room gothic labyrinth. Including, yes, the suggestion that a dedicated “Keeper” could track them via geotagging collars.

But this isn’t just about cats.

This episode explores the hidden ecosystem of the Palace of Westminster. A sprawling, half-medieval, half-crumbling Victorian complex that sits beside a river, houses multiple kitchens, and quietly sustains a remarkable cast of animals.

A building that looks like a symbol of order and authority from the outside, is operating more like a slightly chaotic ecosystem on the inside.

Sharp, funny, and quietly revealing, this episode blends insider knowledge with the kind of detail you won’t find on any official tour. And while the Keeper of the Cats never quite materialised, you may find yourself wishing they had.

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