Year 12 Politics Trip to Parliament and the Supreme Court

Visiting Parliament and the Supreme Court gave me a powerful insight into how the political system functions. We Initially visited the Supreme Court where we were able to witness two cases being heard by the justices. The courts provided a calm, structured and focused atmosphere whereby the KCs and judges gave detailed legal reasonings towards the cases provided. This enhanced my understanding on how carefully the law is interpreted at the highest level. The two cases, one involving taxation and the other criminal, were very engaging especially as we witnessed divisive debates in action between the members of the court. After we left the Supreme Court we began our journey to Parliament where we were disrupted by a farmers union protest, reminding me how public voices can influence political debate and draw focus. It was also very exciting to see the tractors and even a cow cross the streets of Westminster and the attention it drew towards members of the public, carrying on the idea that everywhere and everything is political. Once we arrived at Parliament we were greeted by tour guides who informed and helped us navigate around Parliament. We visited the House of Commons which felt very surreal as I was standing in a room that I have only ever admired on TV. From gallery, we were able witness the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Yvette Cooper, answer urgent questions on decisions made by the UN Security Council the night before. This was very exciting and I enjoyed being able to observe first handedly discussions over national decisions. This made the whole experience incredibly mesmerizing as we were stepping into a place you normally only observe from the outside. We also had a Q&A session with the school’s MP, Josh Dean. We were able to ask him questions not only to help further our understanding of what we have been studying in A-Level Politics, but also question him on what he has been doing since taking office to make life in our constituency better for us. The Highlight of my day was casually passing David Cameron on our journey up to the House of Commons which expressed how close the public can come to major political figures within this environment. Overall, this day was a lot of fun and helpful for widening my understanding of politics and experiencing all the different aspects of democracy in one day. It helped me to further develop my understanding on the interconnectedness of legal decisions, political leadership as well as public opinion.

Athena Chrysostomou