parties, they cease to vote (except to break ties) and do not participate in party political activity until the next election. ^3 Eric Joyce was suspended from the party on 23 February 2012 following his arrest on suspicion of assault. He resigned from the party on 12 March 2012, and now sits as an Independent. [10] . Nadine Dorries was suspended from the Conservatives anticipating an investigation by the Chief Whip. [11] ^12 Although Sinn Fin maintains offices at Westminster, the party's policy of abstaining from participation in the House of Commons (on account of disputing the UK Parliament's claim to jurisdiction in Northern Ireland and the requirement for Members to swear an oath to the Queen) precludes its MPs from taking their seats. [18] Gerry Adams , elected for Sinn Fin in Belfast West in 2010, resigned his seat in January 2011; the seat was later won at a by-election by Paul Maskey of Sinn Fin. ^13 Denis MacShane resigned on 5 November 2012 after revelations regarding his parliamentary expenses. A by-election will take place in November 2012 to elect his successor. ^15 Actual government majority includes the Conservative -- Liberal Democrat coalition, and excludes members that do not vote (Sinn Fin, and the Speaker and his Deputies) and vacant seats. The chamber in film and television In 1986, the British television production company Granada Television created a near-full size replica of the post-1950 House of Commons debating chamber at its studios in Manchester for use in its adaptation