Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On 6 April 1978, MPs discovered the gym. A small, purpose‑built fitness suite opened inside Westminster, backed by ministers and partly funded by the MPs themselves. With heart disease cutting short too many parliamentary careers, supporters hoped that a bit of supervised exertion might keep members fitter – and in their seats – for longer. A keen advocate was the Minister for Sport, Denis Howell, who stressed that the aim was “proper control”, warning that there were dangers in middle‑aged men and women throwing themselves into energetic fitness regimes without it.
#ukparliament #mp #nicholasscott #denishowell #parliament #britishhistory #westminster
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On 6 April 1978, MPs discovered the gym. A small, purpose‑built fitness suite opened inside Westminster, backed by ministers and partly funded by the MPs themselves. With heart disease cutting short too many parliamentary careers, supporters hoped that a bit of supervised exertion might keep members fitter – and in their seats – for longer. A keen advocate was the Minister for Sport, Denis Howell, who stressed that the aim was “proper control”, warning that there were dangers in middle‑aged men and women throwing themselves into energetic fitness regimes without it.
#ukparliament #mp #nicholasscott #denishowell #parliament #britishhistory #westminster
To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below: gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/gymnasium-opens-for-mps-england-london-westminster-intms-news-footage/1213693194?adppopup=true
To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) - youtube.com/@FrontlinebyITN
🎥 Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/ITNArchive
🎥 Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
🎥 Check out our TikTok - tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955
