Few institutions are as treasured in the Palace of Westminster as the parliamentary choir – though perhaps the terrace canteen’s jerk chicken recipe runs it close. The choir is arguably the best embodiment of the cross-party spirit, in which Tory MPs, Labour peers and House staff members can all sing alongside one another. Or as the choir’s music director Simon Over once quipped: ‘There are just four parties in this choir – Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses and that’s it.’ The choir is best known for its hugely popular Christmas services of festive choral works, seasonal readings and audience carols held every December.
But now the future of the choir has been threatened by the scales of justice stacked against it. For while professional performers are not limited numerically – meaning a choir of hundreds could sing – for amateur singers like those in Westminster the cap remains at six. The choir’s chairman Lord German confirmed to Steerpike in line with other choirs, parliament has been forced to rehearse virtually, adding that: ‘We are unable to practice in our usual location – the Undercroft Chapel in parliament’ but that ‘we very much hope that we will be able to meet together soon as we have a busy schedule of concerts ahead of us.’
Mr S has learned of grumbles from some of those involved about the current situation, given the hours of rehearsals that takes place for the choir’s performances such as the forthcoming Bach B Minor Mass in November and the Christmas concert scheduled at St John’s the following month. Fortunately, help is being provided in the form of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music. Backed by Lord Berkeley, the composer and Radio Three presenter, the APPG’s chairman David Warburton MP has written to the Prime Minister urging him to ease the ‘obviously nonsensical’ Covid restrictions on choirs.
Warburton told Mr S that the current rules are ‘madness’ as ‘it’s hard not to be a bit bemused to see football fans, busy pubs, gyms and workplaces – never mind the one metre rule allowing plenty of hot air to circulate in the House of Commons itself – when choirs are standing outside, struggling to turn pages without dropping their umbrellas.’ Such a rule change would allow unpaid choirs up and down the country to rehearse inside once more, including those of Parliament’s own amateur choristers.
Let’s hope Warburton’s Tory colleagues all start singing from the same hymn sheet on this soon.
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