Ghosts Of Old Political Divisions Drift By As British Parliamentarians Honour Mandela

"It is with sadness that we meet here today to remember Nelson Mandela, but it is with gladness that we can say this: It was a long walk to freedom, but the walk is over, freedom was won and for that Nelson Mandela has the deepest respect of this house and his enduring place in history," he said.In his tribute, opposition Labour party leader, Ed Miliband, acknowledged the deep historical links between South Africa and the UK.

"We honour a man who showed the true meaning of struggle, courage, generosity and humanity. But we gather here in our parliament in Britain also to recognise that the history of our country was bound up with his struggle," he said.

Former prime minister, Gordon Brown, who worked with Mandela to raise issues around child poverty, chose to entertain lawmakers with stories of Mandela's cheeky side.

"He admired and respected Her Majesty The Queen," said Brown as he retold the story of Mandela personally telephoning Queen Elizabeth II to get an African rain princess invited to Buckingham Palace.

"The story goes of the conversation, that words only Mandela could use, 'Hello, Elizabeth, how's the Duke?' And while the official minutes say that the Queen was non-commital, he got his way," said Brown to roars of laughter in the House.

Former Conservative cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher, Malcom Rifkind, praised former South African president, F.W de Klerk for his role in negotiating the end of white rule. But he drew gasps and cries from the Labour benches when he said: "And in some ways it was more difficult forde Klerk than Mandela."

Rifkind went on to explain that it was harder to give up power than receive it.

Former Labour cabinet minister, Peter Hain, grew up in South Africa but moved with his anti-apartheid campaigning parents to UK in exile when a teenager. He went on to become a leading anti-apartheid campaigner himself in Britain and spoke in detail of his experiences with the Mandela family.

He also used the occasion to accuse Conservative politicians, who, at the time Mandela was in prison called him a "terrorist" of complicity with the apartheid regime.

Hain said of Mandela: "He had to become a freedom fighter, to lead an underground campaign of guerilla activity similar to the French resistance against the Nazis. And even when the majority in this parliament and the government of the day was not on his side, he still cherished our parliamentary democracy."

The debate in the Commons will go on until 2200gmt Monday. The House of Lords also spent Monday honouring Mandela.