You can be a member of parliament on the Isle of Man � in the decade of your choice! Vote on hot issues of the time � such as women�s rights � and influence the course of history for a day!

Debate in the island�s Old House of Keys (the former parliamentary chamber) is presided over by a Speaker brought back from 1854 - actually a hologram. Figures from paintings on the wall appear to come to life, thanks to plasma screen technology, and voice-overs complete the realistic effect.

The old parliament building has been restored to its 19th-century appearance, down to the reproduced wallpaper whose pattern was taken from an 1860 scrap found under paint. Expert analysis of further paint samples also created a faithful reproduction of period d�cor.

Thanks to detailed original inventories, the chamber is furnished and arranged as it was in 1866, an important Manx date for democracy when members of parliament started to be elected by the people instead of the old self-election system. The parliamentary chamber is known as the Old House of Keys, and the modern House of Keys is located in the island�s capital, Douglas.

The island�s parliament is the oldest continuous one in the world at 1,000 years. The Old House of Keys is the latest attraction of the Story of Mann, a network of museums and heritage sites all over the island which collectively tell the island�s history. They range from medieval Rushen Abbey to the �6 million House of Manannan, a heritage centre in Peel.

The Old House of Keys opens at the beginning of April, seven days a week. Admission is every hour. Further information can be obtained from Howard Parkin on 01624 648000.

Further press information from Linda Verrall or Geoff Saltmarsh at The Saltmarsh Partnership Tel: 020 7928 1600 Fax: 020 7928 1700 The Copperfields, 25 Copperfield Street, London SE1 0EN