Parliament or Old Bailey

Old Jan 8th, 2005, 08:56 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Parliament or Old Bailey

Quick trip - which would you do? I have passes to Parliament which means we could skip the lines. However the P.M. won't be there. I did the Parliament tour 30 yrs ago but don't remember too much as I was a young backpacker and more interested in the Beatles. Court and trials seem interesting. Comments, please.
mileaday is offline  
Old Jan 8th, 2005, 10:32 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't see moment what relevance B.Liar's 30 minute knockabout comedy act has in the decision. You're right, of course, to assume that unless it's PMQ, B.Liar won't be there. No Prime Minister in the last 200 years has turned up in Parliament so rarely. Even Churchill, when we had a real war on our hands, made more effort to hold himself accountable to the people who put him there than this Walter Mitty fantasist.

All of which said, it really depends on where you're from. If you're Australian, you'll probably find Parliament a bit mealy-mouthed, whereas there might be a certain charm in all those robes and things at the Bailey. If you're American, you'll probably be struck by the directness and lack of stuffiness in Parliament, whereas court cases are pretty much the same everywhere in the English-speaking world. The Bailey has a few more silly clothes than most US courtrooms, and a few procedural differences that might excite law experts. But for most of us, a serious murder or bank robbery is pretty much the same everywhere

If there's a celebrated trial on at the Bailey, though, there will be huge queues. If it's a bit of run of the mill stuff, you'll probably be better off over at Westminster.

Where the guartanteed absence of the sleaziest Prime Minister in our country's history surely adds toi the attraction.
flanneruk is offline  
Old Jan 11th, 2005, 01:29 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK. I emailed my chum who is an MP. He responded

"That being a Tuesday, business will start at 11.30am with one hour of questions to, I think, the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office. If there are any statements to be made they will follow at 12.30. We do not yet
have the main business of the day. We should get the provisional business on Thursday coming which should
be confirmed the following Thursday. I shall ask [staff member] to let you know what it is when we get it. At
this time of year it is likeliest to be a second reading of a bill or else an opposition day. I think the only bill which was carried over from the last session was the Gambling Bill and I don't think it is yet due back to the floor of the house."

I hope this helps you make up your mind and I'll give you an update when I get a further email.
sheila is offline  
Old Jan 11th, 2005, 08:47 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'll put in a vote for the Old Bailey. We had a hoot. The trials are posted outside so you can have a good look at what's going on before you go in. We also found that the line was full of regulars who were only too happy to advise us on the best trials.

You don't have to actually say what court you want to go into until you get to the top of the stairs, so you can listen to what others are talking about, then make your decision. We plan to go again, next time we're in England.
rickmav is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2005, 12:35 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's a Conservative Opposition Day in Parliament (MP emailed back last night). That means the Tories get to choose the business. It can be quite rumbustious.

sheila is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2005, 06:00 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sheila, Thank you so much for the information. We'll pick up our passes at the Embassy and look forward to a rumbustious session.
mileaday is offline  
Old Jan 15th, 2005, 06:20 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm trying to sort something else for you. Email me for info.
sheila is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
magnumholmes
United States
9
Apr 20th, 2005 02:59 PM
Arista
Europe
4
Nov 7th, 2004 10:22 AM
Plates
Europe
62
Aug 4th, 2004 07:43 PM
mrsgo
Europe
5
Jun 20th, 2004 09:06 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -