As I mentioned in a previous post, I had to be in Hull last Wednesday for the summer graduation ceremony. After the ceremony, the Politics Department holds a reception in a marquee on the lawn by the Wilberforce Building, which houses the Politics Department. It is the tradition to have a group photograph of those graduating on the four-year British Politics and Legislative Studies (BPLS) degree. They spend the third year of the degree on placement at Westminster – and have the delight of me teaching them in their second, third and final years.
Following a subtle hint by one or two of this year’s graduates (e.g. ‘Will you be putting a picture on your blog?’) here is a picture of me with Hull’s finest.
“A picture of me with Hull’s finest.”
But how many are actually from Hull ?
Congratulations to all in the group. I wonder how many go on to have an active career in politics ?
Carl.H: I perhaps should have said the finest produced by the University of Hull. This particular degree has a particularly good track record for producing graduates who pursue a career in politics, working in Parliament, for the parties, for political consultancies, as parliamentary officers for firms and charities, and as journalists. What is affectionately known as ‘the Hull mafia’ is well represented in Westminster.
4 yrs for a BA. Gulp!
Having just scanned the Centre for Legislative Studies site it lists the 2005/6 student placements. Looking at some of the MPs….
Croft: Whoops. Thanks for the reminder – I must get the website updated…
Mmm…sticking one’s hands into one’s trouser pockets doesn’t work for Mr Clegg either.
ladytizzy: Yes, I noticed that. Mind you, I was at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party this afternoon and I noticed the Duke of Edinburgh kept putting his thumb in his pocket.
Dear Lord Norton,
How interesting to read about The Duke’s thumb. Which one was it? Or does HRH only have one as your comment suggests?
Wannabeexpat.
Wannabeexpat: It was his left one. I couldn’t see his right one, but I am sure he has one.
I don’t know how the expression is used in Britain, but “Hull’s finest” brings up law-enforcement connotations…
About that thumb—is it opposable?
The Duke of Waltham: Not sure about law enforcement, but they are very well behaved.