Beamish, the living history museum in County Durham, invites visitors to ‘step into the past’. It shows how people lived in the early 20th century and attracts plenty who want to see what life was like in a simpler and – in some ways – better time.

On Tuesday evening, we had a Beamish moment in the House of Commons. Sir Geoffrey Cox rose to speak on the subject of the government’s abolition of jury trials. The Tory grandee brought real expertise that is rare these days in the Commons. Unlike the numerous MPs who claim the title despite having actually just sat on HR tribunals for the Cats Protection charity or CBeebies, Sir Geoffrey is a real lawyer, a barrister with silken decades to his credit. His speech made you believe that MPs came to the House with learning, real passion and the weight of impressive lives and careers behind them. Stepping into the past, indeed.

Most people wouldn’t want the Lord Chancellor to be in charge of choosing a Boots meal deal

Most people wouldn’t want the Lord Chancellor to be in charge of choosing a Boots meal deal

Sir Geoffrey made the longest speech against the government’s attempt to do away with jury trials for a number of offences. Knowing the parliamentary arithmetic, he tried reasoning with Labour backbenchers and tempting them to defy the whip. ‘It must be non-ideological,’ he cried, ‘there are some things that have to be above politics.’ It fell on deaf ears; worse, loyalist backbenchers began to squeal and heckle at him. Like Boxer the great carthorse in Animal Farm, Sir Geoffrey stirred himself to continue with a wounded dignity, raising the ire and contempt of the........

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