2nd March 2006, 08:20 PM
An example of how lobbying MP's regarding archaeology can be multi-faceted...
In the early 90's I was invited to attend the Houses of Parliament to meet the then Labour Shadow Arts Minister, after having written to complain about heritage cuts the Government were proposing. I got as far as the terrace bar with an MoL colleague, met the Labour MP, who then went back into the building to buy us a drink. We were left alone with another guest of the MP, who turned out to be the chief executive of an Inner London Borough. I mentioned to the CE that we were there also lobbying on behalf of the local museum archaeologists based in this London borough, but was a bit taken aback when she said 'Why? They're rubbish. Which is why [u]we</u> want to shut them down'.
In the early 90's I was invited to attend the Houses of Parliament to meet the then Labour Shadow Arts Minister, after having written to complain about heritage cuts the Government were proposing. I got as far as the terrace bar with an MoL colleague, met the Labour MP, who then went back into the building to buy us a drink. We were left alone with another guest of the MP, who turned out to be the chief executive of an Inner London Borough. I mentioned to the CE that we were there also lobbying on behalf of the local museum archaeologists based in this London borough, but was a bit taken aback when she said 'Why? They're rubbish. Which is why [u]we</u> want to shut them down'.